Publicly, the Bears have said their “sole focus” for the site of their new stadium site is Hammond, Ind.
But the storied franchise playing its home games in a different state is not a done deal — potentially far from it.
After there was reporting in August that commissioner Roger Goodell had met with select state lawmakers, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a statement on Thursday saying he had met with Goodell.
“The Governor’s Office has remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer,” the statement reads. “Today, Governor Pritzker was grateful to meet in Illinois with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Pat Ryan, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Rep. Kam Buckner, and Sen. Bill Cunningham.
“The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers.”
Ryan is a Bears minority owner, and the namesake of Northwestern University’s Ryan Field, which was recently rebuilt and is set to open on Friday when the Wildcats play Penn State.
Interestingly, none of speaker Welch, Rep. Buckner, or Sen. Cunningham represent Arlington Heights — which is the suburb of Chicago where the Bears purchased a 326-acre property for a new stadium and development. But all three do represent districts in and around Chicago.
The league also issued a statement on the meeting, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:
“The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Governor Pritzker and legislative leaders today,” the statement reads. “Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans.”
It’s unclear what the solution will be for the Bears and their stadium going forward. But it does appear that at least the league is working to keep the club playing its home games in its home state.