The Chicago Bears are prepared to invest $2 billion in a new stadium development near Wolf Lake in Northwest Indiana after experiencing difficulties advancing construction projects in their home state of Illinois.
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston announced Thursday morning that State Bill 27 had been approved, establishing a stadium authority and creating what Indiana Governor Mike Braun described as a “framework for a final agreement” in an official statement.
While this development represents major progress, it does not constitute a legally binding agreement that would definitively end the Bears’ 55-year residency at Soldier Field.
The announcement followed Illinois policymakers canceling a planned session to discuss stadium proposals aimed at retaining the team in or near Chicago. Recent Illinois negotiations centered on taxpayer funding, with the Bears offering to cover more than half the projected costs for potential locations in Arlington Heights, Illinois, or a lakefront reconstruction in Chicago.
An Illinois House committee dedicated to “megaprojects” under the revenue and finance committee canceled its scheduled Thursday morning meeting as the Bears confirmed stadium development was moving forward in the Hammond, Indiana region.
The Bears organization released a statement saying: “The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date. We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator (Ryan) Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe. We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”
The Hammond location sits approximately 22 miles from Soldier Field, while Wolf Lake is roughly 20 miles away. Transportation access would include the South Shore line and Amtrak service, which runs along the Lake Michigan coast through Indiana into Michigan. By comparison, Arlington Heights sits 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago with Metra service and proximity to O’Hare Airport and major highways.
Governor Braun stated: “Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears. We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal. If approved, the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 27 puts forward the essential framework to complete this agreement, contingent upon site due diligence proceeding smoothly. The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we’ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers. We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”
This situation mirrors a recent development with the Kansas City Chiefs, who earlier this year announced plans to leave their longtime Missouri home at Arrowhead Stadium for a new facility in Kansas. That agreement provides the Chiefs with additional revenue opportunities and fulfilled the franchise’s financial objectives for shared funding that Missouri declined to support.
The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, with the exception of the 2002 season when they temporarily relocated to Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois in Champaign during Soldier Field’s major renovation.
