Bears Board of Directors vote to advance stadium project in Hammond, Indiana

(WAND) - The Chicago Bears Board of Directors has voted to advance the stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.

The exact site is still yet to be selected.

In a statement, Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren said, "We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."

“Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said. "We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”

A proposal in the Illinois state legislature was meant to provide incentives for the NFL team to build its new home in the state.

The Illinois Senate passed a bill on Monday to help Arlington Heights and Chicago create local stadium authorities. This would help the Bears avoid paying property taxes on a new stadium in the state.

However, the House did not bring it up on the last day of session.

House Speaker Emanuel Welch said, “In April, the House passed an economic development package that was the product of extensive negotiation with the Bears and other stakeholders. That bipartisan legislation reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development and provide property tax relief for working people.

“While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills—not taxpayer-funded stadiums.

"Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois. However, it will take time to get it right."

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said, “The Chicago Bears have been saying for some time now that Hammond, Indiana is their main focus. Today’s statement isn’t fundamentally different than what the team said in February after Indiana voted to give the Chicago Bears more than a billion dollars in taxpayer money if they move to Indiana.

"But that didn’t stop their conversations about a future here in Illinois, and it doesn’t appear that today’s statement will either. We are ready and willing to re-engage with the Chicago Bears when they realize Illinois will always be the best place for them.”

"The Chicago Bears choosing Indiana over Illinois should be a wake-up call, and Governor Pritzker owns this failure. The loss of one of our state’s most iconic franchises is a significant blow to our economy, our reputation, and future investment," said House GOP Leader Tony McCombie. "Families and employers have been leaving Illinois in search of greater opportunity. Now it appears the Bears may be doing the same. After years of one-party control, this is both a failure of leadership and an embarrassment for our state. Illinois taxpayers are left paying the price while jobs, investment and economic growth cross our borders."

"We have heard from the Indiana Governor that his State moves at the speed of business. Gov. Pritzker needs to understand that failing to produce a serious proposal after three years to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois isn't good faith negotiation - it's dysfunction," said Senate GOP Leader John Curran. "It's time for Gov. Pritzker to Bear Down, address the infighting in the Democratic legislative caucuses and bring Republicans substantially into the process to help produce a bipartisan plan that protects taxpayers, grows our economy and keeps the Chicago Bears in Illinois for generations to come."

Governor JB Pritzker's office sent out the following statement:

"The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress. Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith. Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers."

The Bears' lease for Soldier Field runs through 2033, but the team can pay a fee to break the lease early.

The team announced in September 2021 that they had signed a purchase agreement for 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights, about 30 miles northwest of Chicago. The $197 million deal with Churchill Downs Incorporated was finalized in 2023.

In September 2022, the team unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan for Arlington Heights that called for an enclosed stadium that could host Super Bowls and Final Fours. Conceptual renderings also included a year-round entertainment district with shopping and restaurants.

After Kevin Warren was hired as team president in January 2023, the team shifted focus toward building a new stadium next to Soldier Field.

Plans changed again in May 2025 with the Bears announcing "significant progress" with local leaders in Arlington Heights. Facing challenges securing tax incentives in Illinois and public money for infrastructure, the Bears shifted focus to Northwest Indiana.

The Indiana State House of Representatives committee passed a bill in February that established a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a stadium. The team said it was doing its due diligence on a tract of land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.

The Bears have played in Illinois since the team’s founding in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys. Since moving to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned their stadium, playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 or Soldier Field since.