Grounds crew members glow snow off the sector at Soldier Subject in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer divisional playoff recreation 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 inbuilt northwest Indiana. Here is what you could know:
What’s Indiana providing?
On Feb. 26, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed into legislation a invoice that approved 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 aim line,” Braun stated in a put up on X.
The Bears stated in a press release — 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, Unwell., for a possible new stadium. However largely on account of issues over property taxes, the timeline on development stays unclear.
Though the Bears stated they deliberate to pay for the stadium itself, a staff advisor report launched in October revealed the Bears are literally looking for $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 development initiatives, also called “mega initiatives,” a break on property taxes. Whereas this might pave the way in which for development 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 strain to maintain maintain of the staff.
In his first “State of the Village” deal with since taking workplace final 12 months, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia hinted that the Bears will strike a cope with Indiana if Illinois would not act within the subsequent few weeks.
“Ready till the tip of Might, I feel, is a no-go for the Bears,” Tingalia stated. “They’ve already been by the [wringer] too many instances.”
Why do the Bears need a new stadium?
Soldier Subject, the place the Bears have performed since 1971, is the NFL’s smallest stadium with 61,500 seats.
The Bears don’t personal Soldier Subject, however as a substitute hire the stadium, and their lease runs by 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 Subject is an open-air stadium, and staff executives have additionally stated they wish to construct an enclosed stadium that may enable for wintertime internet hosting of different main sporting occasions, such because the Tremendous Bowl or NCAA Last 4 video games.
Though the Bears have but to announce the place their new stadium can be, Kevin Warren, the staff’s President and CEO, stated in an open letter that the staff wants to judge 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 stated. “For a mission of this scale, uncertainty has important penalties.”
