Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Jun 23
Chicago Bears Weigh 3 Stadium Paths as Illinois, Indiana Keep Talks Alive
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Jun 23

Chicago Bears Weigh 3 Stadium Paths as Illinois, Indiana Keep Talks Alive

3 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Jun 23

Summary

  • Illinois and Indiana officials said the Bears are still actively discussing a new stadium, with Hammond leaders reporting fresh contact this week and Gov. JB Pritzker saying the team has sought state guidance.
  • Three tracks are now in play: Hammond says the Bears have closely studied a third Indiana site, the team still controls the Arlington Heights racetrack property, and new Illinois proposals keep surfacing.
  • McCook last week pitched a 150-acre quarry site, while state Rep. Curtis Tarver floated the former U.S. Steel South Works property on Chicago's Southeast Side; Mayor Brandon Johnson again pushed to keep the team near Soldier Field.
  • Springfield could still shape the outcome because the Bears are reviewing two stadium-related bills passed this spring, and Pritzker said he would consider a summer special session if a plan gains enough support.
  • No timeline has been announced, leaving the interstate bidding contest unresolved as the Bears decide where to build.

Insights

After voting for an Indiana move, why are the Bears still negotiating with Illinois officials?
With a billion-dollar subsidy on the table, are taxpayers funding a new stadium or a private company's profits?
Will a new stadium, regardless of location, price out the average fan in favor of luxury experiences?