Indiana Gov. Mike Braun extends gas tax relief, eyes Chicago Bears stadium move
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun details the expansion of the state’s gas tax suspension, which gives Hoosier drivers over 62 cents per gallon. gallon in relief. He highlights Indiana’s strong economy and fiscal responsibility as the state actively pursues the Chicago Bears and criticizes Illinois’ handling of stadium negotiations. Governor Braun expects a decision on the Bears’ potential move to Hammond, Indiana, within weeks.
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We’re watching the end of an era unfold in real time as an NFL legacy with a century of history in its signature American city moves forward with plans to leave town: The Bears advance their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.
The team announced Friday afternoon that it has taken this important step toward pulling up stakes from Chicago and even the state of Illinois.
The Bears’ board of directors met Thursday night and voted to advance the stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana — with an exact stadium site to be chosen.
“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana and the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs that stretch north of the city,” Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement.
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“It will bring Chicagoland together and provide new opportunities for its residents and businesses.”
This is the first time the team’s board has voted on a stadium location. So this is notable and significant, but an NFL source told Pakinomist there’s a chance Illinois is still able to convince the team to stay in state. These chances were characterized as demanding “a Hail Mary” political effort.
And this: That Hail Mary, even if it works, will still move the club out of Chicago with the only Illinois location as a likely landing spot in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Chicago Bears helmets are shown before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., on Sept. 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
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The NFL has been meeting with both the Bears and officials from both Illinois and Indiana for the past six months, and the league’s Stadium Committee is aware of the latest decision by the club.
“The club has kept the stadium committee and the league office informed of all developments,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN in a statement.
The NFL apparently has no stated concerns about the Bears moving out of Chicago. The New York Giants moved out of New York and across state lines to New Jersey. They were followed by the New York Jets.
The Raiders left Oakland for Los Angeles, then left Los Angeles and are now in Las Vegas. The Rams also left Los Angeles for St. Louis and then returned to LA
And St. Louis Cardinals are now the Arizona Cardinals.
Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey introduces new Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren during a news conference at Halas Hall in Chicago, Illinois on January 17, 2023. (Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)
New, shiny, money-making stadiums have a way of luring NFL teams.
Chicago, and to a lesser extent, Illinois, haven’t exactly been keen on helping the Bears build a new, shiny, money-making stadium within their borders.
A “megaprojects” bill died in the Illinois Senate last Sunday. The proposal would have allowed the Bears to negotiate payments in lieu of paying property taxes on the Arlington Heights, Illinois, property they currently own.
Sunday at 11 p.m., Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) introduced legislation that would allow cities in Cook County with more than 70,000 residents (such as Arlington Heights and Chicago) to create their own sports stadium authority. The Bears would then have paid for the construction of the new stadium, to which the franchise has dedicated $2 billion in funding.
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The bill would have given the team property tax security, but it failed.
Indiana passed similar legislation for the Bears in February, and the bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stand together during a news conference amid reports of federal deployments to Chicago on September 2, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
So as it stands now, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and JB Pritzker are looking pretty bad.
These are the politicians who, either through inaction or poor planning, have failed to push through legislation to help keep the Bears, first in Chicago, and second in the state at all.
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They could possibly go down as the politicians who oversaw the departure of a franchise founded in Illinois in 1920 that was moved to Chicago by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and owner George Halas in 1921.
Here we are over a century later and the Bears have one foot out the door to both Chicago and Illinois.
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