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The latest chapter in the Chicago Bears stadium saga unfolded this week when an Indiana House panel unanimously approved legislation laying out a funding framework for a potential NFL facility.
Senate Bill 27 cleared the House Ways and Means Committee and now goes to the full House for a vote. The House must pass the bill before the legislature adjourns at the end of February.
The bill would establish the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, giving the new agency the power to oversee land acquisition and coordinate financing for the construction of a state-of-the-art facility near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
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A general view of the exterior of Soldier Field is seen during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins on August 14, 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, House Rep. Todd Huston and Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott jointly announced Thursday’s 24-0 committee vote.
“Indiana is open for business,” Braun said. “We have identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final agreement.”
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The Bears responded to the news, releasing a statement describing the development in Indiana as “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.”
“We are committed to completing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision of building a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area of Hammond, Indiana,” the team’s statement added.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized his position that the NFL franchise should remain in the city that bears the team’s name.
“The Bears belong in the City of Chicago,” he said at a press conference.
“I’ve said repeatedly that the door is always open for talks. (Bears CEO) Kevin Warren called me yesterday, we didn’t get a chance to connect. I still believe their best position is in Chicago, and the evidence speaks for itself.”
A general view during the US National Anthem before an NFL game between the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field on December 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports)
The Bears have alternated between developing land in Arlington Heights and rebuilding on Chicago’s lakefront at Soldier Field before moving back to the suburbs. The Bears have played at historic Soldier Field since 1971. The lakeside stadium first opened in 1924 and has undergone several renovations over the decades.
The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday morning on a bill that would allow the Bears and any other developer of a large enough project to negotiate long-term property tax rates with local tax officials. But it was cancelled.
A general view of the Chicago Bears’ helmets before the start of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Paradise, Nevada. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
“Illinois was ready to move this bill forward,” wrote Matt Hill, deputy chief of staff for communications for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, on the X. “After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, Bears (Illinois General Assembly) leaders requested to pause the hearing to make further adjustments to the bill. This morning we were surprised by an Indian statement.”
The Bears hosted two playoff games at Soldier Field in January, defeating division rival Green Bay in a wild-card round thriller. The following week, the Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Bears in a cold divisional round in Chicago.
Bears inch closer to Indiana after House plan clears stadium goals, Gov. Braun declares state ‘open for business’
