By WMBD TV
HAMMOND, Ind. — The Chicago Bears could soon be headed to Indiana after the team’s board of directors voted to advance its stadium project, and leaders in both states seem to have mixed reactions to the move.
On Friday, the Bears announced that its board of directors voted to advance its stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, promising to “transform the region.”
City, state leaders react
Following the announcement, reactions began pouring in from city and state leaders.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued a statement welcoming the bears to Indiana.
Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!
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.
Thank you to Speaker Huston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality.
Welcome to Indiana!
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. welcomed the move, calling it an “excellent choice.”
The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment.
The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment.
I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I’m grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen Ryan Mishler and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!”
Senator Jim Banks of Indiana called the announcement “great news,” and welcomed the team to the state.
This is great news for The Region! This will be an economic boom for the state of Indiana and I look forward to cheering on the Bears in Hammond.
Back in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson had a different reaction and said the city would continue to engage in discussions regarding the future of the team.
Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions; today’s announcement is not surprising.
It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal.
Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.
A spokesperson for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office said the governor remains open to a solution that would keep the bears in Illinois.
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.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch also weighed in on the decision and said the state remains open to efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois.
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 reiterated what Pritzker’s office 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.
Stadium Saga
The stadium project saga has been in the making for nearly five years. In Sept. 2021, the Bears announced that they were purchasing a 326-acre plot of land at Arlington Park. It was finalized in 2023.
However, the following year, Warren and company held a press conference on the lakefront and announced they were pivoting to building a new stadium on the lake in Chicago.
In 2025, the State of Indiana got involved and passed a bill to create a stadium commission to potentially lure the Bears to Indiana. Hammond, Gary and Portage presented plans.
The Bears signaled that they were not interested in Chicago and, in a statement, said Arlington Heights and Hammond remained the only two viable sites moving forward.
To counter the deal Indiana presented to Indiana as pressure ratcheted up on Illinois politicians in Springfield, the Illinois House passed a megaprojects bill. However, it did not have enough votes to pass through the Illinois Senate. The Senate responded with an 11th-hour bill proposal that would allow cities in Cook County with a population over 70,000 to create their own stadium authority to help build and finance stadiums.
While the Senate passed that bill by a 37-17 vote, it didn’t happen until early Monday morning, hours after the May 31 spring legislative session deadline had passed. The House declined to take up a vote at that late hour, so Illinois lawmakers left Springfield with no deal on the table for a Bears stadium.
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
