Sports
Chicago Bears Score Massive Win as $2B Indiana Deal Advances
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Chicago Bears fans, get ready for a potential game-changer. The team just scored a massive victory in their long-running stadium saga, but it might mean saying goodbye to Soldier Field—and possibly Illinois itself .
Indiana Just Did What Illinois Wouldn’t
Here’s what happened: Indiana lawmakers fast-tracked legislation that would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority—a powerful new board with the ability to issue bonds, acquire land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, and lease a brand-new stadium to the Bears .
And here’s the kicker: the Bears have reportedly agreed to invest $2 billion in the project .
“The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date,” the Chicago Bears said in an official statement. “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” .
For context, Wolf Lake sits just across the state line—about 20-30 miles from downtown Chicago and roughly 20 minutes from Soldier Field . That means Bears fans could theoretically keep their lakefront views, just from the Indiana side.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun didn’t hide his excitement.
“Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears,” Braun wrote on X . “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” .
House Speaker Todd Huston put it even more bluntly: “There’s a shared commitment between both parties to make this happen” .
Illinois Drops the Ball—Literally
Meanwhile, back in Illinois, things couldn’t look more different.
A key Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee hearing scheduled for Thursday—one that was supposed to discuss the “Mega Projects” bill covering the Bears’ $5 billion Arlington Heights plan—was suddenly canceled .
And here’s where it gets awkward: a spokesperson for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said the Bears themselves requested the pause.
“Illinois was ready to move this bill forward. After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the ILGA pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill,” spokesman Matt Hill wrote on X. “This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois” .
Translation: Illinois thought they were making progress, while the Bears were busy cutting a deal next door.
Some suburban officials are absolutely furious about how this has played out.
“Our region has been asleep at the wheel for the past three years,” Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica told reporters. “It’s a problem. It’s the only reason that Indiana looks like a more viable option than the Chicagoland area” .
What’s Actually in the Indiana Deal?
Let’s break down what Indiana is offering, because this isn’t just talk anymore.
Senate Bill 27, now heading to the full House, would establish:
- The Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority—a state body with power to acquire land and issue bonds
- A Northwest Indiana Stadium Board to oversee operations
- A Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Area in Hammond
The financing model mirrors what Indiana used for the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium back in 2005 . That means regional taxes on food, beverages, hotels, and admissions would help fund the project .
Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott is practically glowing about the possibility.
“Hammond is uniquely positioned for this moment. We’re part of the Chicagoland region. We’re only 20 minutes from Soldier Field,” he said Thursday. “We’re ready to help write Indiana’s next great chapter” .
McDermott called the project “truly transformative” and promised to “do whatever it takes to make this project a success and to welcome the Bears to their new home” .
“This move by the State of Indiana and the Bears tells the rest of the country that Indiana is not just keeping up—it’s leading” .
The Clock Is Ticking
Here’s the timeline you need to know: Indiana’s legislative session ends February 27 . That’s just days away. The full House must vote on SB 27 before then, and given Thursday’s unanimous committee vote, momentum is clearly on their side.
Illinois, by contrast, has until the end of May to figure things out . But with the Bears now publicly committing to the Wolf Lake site and Indiana moving at “the speed of business,” those extra months might not matter.
Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr, citing sources close to the situation, told NJ.com that “this Bears moving to Indiana thing is not just gaining momentum, it feels like an inevitability barring a major change of course from the state of Illinois. This is wild” .
What About Arlington Heights?
Let’s not forget: the Bears have owned the 326-acre Arlington Park property in suburban Arlington Heights since 2023 . They paid nearly $200 million for it. The racetrack has been razed. The potential has always been there .
But the team wants a property tax freeze for up to 40 years and more than $850 million in infrastructure support . Illinois lawmakers have been dragging their feet for three years .
The “PILOT” (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) bill—House Bill 2789—was supposed to get a hearing Thursday . That got canceled .
Meanwhile, Indiana swooped in, passed a bill through committee unanimously, and secured a $2 billion commitment from the Bears .
You don’t need to be a political strategist to see which state is winning this game.
The Political Math Problem
Here’s the thing about Illinois: even if they wanted to match Indiana’s offer, they’ve got a major political obstacle .
More than three dozen state lawmakers have Chicago addresses, nearly all of them Democrats. And House Speaker Chris Welch has an unofficial rule: no bill gets a floor vote unless it has at least 60 Democratic votes .
Getting Chicago legislators to vote for a bill that helps the Bears leave Soldier Field—especially with more than half a billion dollars in remaining renovation debt—is a heavy lift .
State Sen. Bill Cunningham put it bluntly: “We obviously don’t want to see the Bears move to Indiana, but at the same time, we’re not going to get into a bidding war using taxpayer dollars. We’re just not going to do that” .
But here’s the problem with that stance: Indiana is already bidding. And they’re winning.
What This Means for Fans
If you’re a Bears fan, here’s what you need to know:
- The team is serious about Indiana. This isn’t a bluff to pressure Illinois. The Bears issued a formal statement, committed to due diligence near Wolf Lake, and praised Indiana leadership .
- The timeline is short. Indiana’s legislature must act by February 27 . If the full House passes SB 27, this thing becomes very real, very fast.
- Soldier Field’s days are numbered. The Bears’ lease runs through 2033, but they could break it early for a penalty—$84 million if they left in 2026, dropping to about $55 million by 2029 .
- You’d still be “home.” The Wolf Lake site is roughly 20 minutes from Soldier Field . Hammond positions itself as part of the Chicagoland region. You might cross a state line, but you wouldn’t cross the continent.
- Indiana would have two NFL teams. The Colts in Indianapolis, the Bears in Hammond. That’s never happened before in a state this size .
The Bottom Line
This is happening. It’s no longer theoretical.
The Chicago Bears have found a dance partner who actually wants to dance. Indiana moved fast, spoke plainly, and offered a framework that works . Illinois, by contrast, canceled hearings, got surprised by press releases, and watched their three-year head start evaporate .
“The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business,” Governor Braun said .
You can decide for yourself whether that’s a dig at Illinois. But it sure sounds like one.
The full Indiana House still needs to vote. The due diligence near Wolf Lake still needs to happen. Nothing is final until contracts are signed .
But for the first time in this long, drawn-out stadium saga, we’re not talking about possibilities. We’re talking about momentum. Real, legislative, bipartisan, 24-0 momentum .
And that, Bears fans, is a massive win.
What do you think? Should the Bears cross the state line, or should Illinois step up? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.