Chicago Bears issued firm stadium ultimatum with $5bn project in limbo and time running out

The Chicago Bears want to be in their new home by 2029 and the clock is ticking.

Building stadiums takes time, and the franchise has yet to pick a site after deciding to leave Soldier Field.

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A $5 billion project to redevelop the former Arlington International Racecourse into a domed arena and mixed-use development has hit a snag as local lawmakers debate the contribution of public money.

Bears CEO Kevin Warren wrote a critical open letter to fans, claiming the Illinois Legislature wouldn’t make the team a priority in 2026 and opening the door to a relocation across state lines.

The city of Gary, Indiana, has rolled out the welcome mat and state representatives are putting wheels in motion.

A unanimous committee vote sent a bill allowing the financing of a stadium to the Senate floor.

Governor Mike Braun declared that the Hoosier State, which is riding high after winning a national championship, is “in play.”

“My goal is just to keep being in play as the whole thing unfurls,” Braun told the IBJ. “And I think it’s more than just kicking the tires to create a bargaining position.

“But take nothing for granted. We won’t get ahead of our skis, but we’ll certainly be timely on all the things we need to do to be in a position to take advantage of it.”

Senate Bill 27 would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority — an entity that could buy land and enter into leases with NFL teams, as well as boasting the ability to issue 40-year bonds.

The state would own the stadium, which could prove a sticking point for the Bears as owners were keen to ensure the franchise controlled its own home for the first time in history.

That was part of the reason for leaving Soldier Field and the iconic lakefront location.

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“There is movement, OK–you see the bill. We wouldn’t be doing that unless we thought that was necessary and timely,” Braun explained. “And I would hope that something more concrete develops here within 10 days to couple weeks.”

House Speaker Todd Huston wants a firm commitment from the Bears before anything lands on the governor’s desk.

“I think if we’re going to move this legislation, [it] would be with a commitment that when we passed it, the deal is done,” he said.

Indiana’s push has spurred Illinois officials into action.

The Bears are happy to finance the stadium, but were keen for help with the surrounding infrastructure upgrades.

There is still plenty of work to be done, and those at the forefront of the Illinois bid are bullish.

“There are many that still think … it’s only a bargaining posture from the Bears,” Braun said. “I think that that’s one opinion.

“I think the Bears have been working on it for a long time and tried to get it to where it would have worked out staying in Illinois, in Chicago. But I think they were looking elsewhere.”

Chicago Bears take control of NFC North

The Bears enjoyed a significant upturn on the field in 2025 in Ben Johnson’s debut as a head coach.

Caleb Williams is starting to look like a franchise quarterback and caught the eye with a ridiculous throw under extreme pressure in a Divisional Round defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Winning the NFC North was a huge milestone, as was a Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers in what had been one of the NFL’s most lopsided rivalries in recent years.

The race for Super Bowl LX, which can watch here, is over and work now begins to ensure the team the christens the new stadium, wherever it may be, is worthy of the outlay.

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