Bears Announce Indiana Move After Illinois Stadium Plan Stalls

After much anticipation, the Chicago Bears are moving to Indiana. The storied NFL franchise announced the move on June 5.

In a statement, Bears chairman George McCaskey and president and CEO Kevin Warren said that the team’s board of directors met on Thursday and voted to advance its stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the site to be chosen.

“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,” they said.

“It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun celebrated the announcement, welcoming the team to the Hoosier 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,” he said in a post on Facebook.

“An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”

This comes as the Illinois legislature failed to pass a megaprojects bill that would have given the Bears tax certainty. Illinois lawmakers recessed without legislation that would have enabled the team to build a stadium in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. It passed the state Senate but stalled in the state House. 

In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, Matt Hill, a spokesperson for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, criticized the Bears.

“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,” he said.

“Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith,” Hill continued. “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.”

Meanwhile, in Indiana, Braun signed legislation in February to attract the Bears to the state.

The Indiana Senate overwhelmingly approved the legislation, 45–4. The Indiana House of Representatives passed the bill on Feb. 25.

“We made it clear from the beginning that Indiana is open for business,” Braun posted on X at the time.

“I’m thrilled to sign Senate Bill 27 to create the framework to build a new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana. Now let’s get this across the goal line.”

The Bears said the team appreciated the bill being signed into law.

“Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Governor Braun signing SB 27, establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana,” said the team in a previously emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

“We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”

The proposal established the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority and a Northwest Indiana Stadium Board to oversee the development and operations of a proposed stadium complex in Hammond, which is 28 miles from downtown Chicago.