Grounds crew members glow snow off the sphere at Soldier Area throughout the first half of an NFL soccer divisional playoff sport between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago.
Nam Y. Huh/AP
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Nam Y. Huh/AP
Illinois lawmakers will debate laws this week that would persuade The Chicago Bears to remain within the metropolis’s suburbs, after Indiana’s legislature final month handed a invoice that may open the door for a brand new stadium to be in-built northwest Indiana. Here is what it’s essential know:
What’s Indiana providing?
On Feb. 26, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed into regulation a invoice that licensed funding for a brand new stadium within the Indiana city of Hammond, which is about 28 miles from Chicago.
“I am thrilled to signal Senate Invoice 27 to create the framework to construct a brand new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana. Now let’s get this throughout the purpose line,” Braun mentioned in a submit on X.
The Bears mentioned in an announcement — issued shortly after the invoice handed, however earlier than the governor signed it –- that the staff was “grateful” for Indiana’s management “establishing the framework for a stadium improvement in Northwest Indiana.”
How is Illinois responding?
In 2023, The Bears bought a 326-acre, $197.2 million property in Arlington Heights, Ailing., for a possible new stadium. However largely on account of considerations over property taxes, the timeline on building stays unclear.
Though the Bears mentioned they deliberate to pay for the stadium itself, a staff advisor report launched in October revealed the Bears are literally in search of $855 million in public funding to cowl the stadium’s infrastructure prices.
Illinois lawmakers this week will return to the state capital, Springfield, to debate a invoice that may give builders of huge building tasks, often known as “mega tasks,” a break on property taxes. Whereas this might pave the best way for building on a brand new stadium, critics say it may additionally hike up property taxes whereas giving breaks to a greater than $8 billion franchise.
However now that Indiana has taken concrete steps to entice the staff to cross the state line, Illinois lawmakers are feeling the stress to maintain maintain of the staff.
In his first “State of the Village” handle since taking workplace final yr, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia hinted that the Bears will strike a take care of Indiana if Illinois does not act within the subsequent few weeks.
“Ready till the tip of Might, I believe, is a no-go for the Bears,” Tingalia mentioned. “They’ve already been via the [wringer] too many occasions.”
Why do the Bears need a new stadium?
Soldier Area, the place the Bears have performed since 1971, is the NFL’s smallest stadium with 61,500 seats.
The Bears don’t personal Soldier Area, however as a substitute hire the stadium, and their lease runs via 2033. Proudly owning their very own stadium would give The Bears management over operations, scheduling and income from ticket gross sales, concessions, parking and extra.
Soldier Area is an open-air stadium, and staff executives have additionally mentioned they need to construct an enclosed stadium that may enable for wintertime internet hosting of different main sporting occasions, such because the Tremendous Bowl or NCAA Closing 4 video games.
Though the Bears have but to announce the place their new stadium shall be, Kevin Warren, the staff’s President and CEO, mentioned in an open letter that the staff wants to guage alternatives along with Arlington Park, together with northwest Indiana.
“The stakes for Illinois are important: 1000’s of union jobs, year-round sights and world occasions made potential by a set roof stadium that would offer long-term income for the State,” Warren mentioned. “For a challenge of this scale, uncertainty has important penalties.”
