NFL sets hard deadline for $5bn stadium relocation as two-state battle for franchise peaks
The Chicago Bears are now just weeks away from officially announcing where they will build their new stadium.
Over the past few months, all signs appear to have pointed to the NFL’s second-oldest franchise moving out of Soldier Field in Illinois and across state lines into Indiana.
This comes despite proposals to build a new $4.7 billion domed stadium in suburban Arlington Heights, with the Bears having purchased the 326-acre Arlington Park racetrack property for $197 million back in 2023.
But at the eleventh hour, and with negotiations still at a roadblock, Indiana lawmakers announced that they had struck a deal with the Bears to bring the team to Hammond, northwest Indiana.
This came after the passage of Senate Bill 27, which outlines a set of investment promises pertaining to the Bears being able to build their stadium at the Wolf Lake site in Hammond.
Bears Chairman George McCaskey acknowledged that the possibility of moving across state lines would be a huge adjustment for many fans, but highlighted how the New York Giants and New York Jets as teams who made successful moves, with the two both residing in New Jersey at MetLife Stadium.
“Somehow, the republic has survived,” McCaskey said. “When the Bears moved from Wrigley Field to Soldier Field, it required an adjustment.
“When we went to Champaign (while Soldier Field was renovated in 2002), it required an adjustment. And whether we go to Arlington Park or to Hammond, there is going to be an adjustment period.”
A potential Bears relocation to Indiana involves a stadium project estimated at $2 to $3 billion. The team has committed $2 billion in private funds, while seeking roughly $885 million in public infrastructure support for a new site.
Illinois lawmakers, on the other hand, have pushed back a vote on a property tax bill which, if passed, would allow any developer of a “mega project” that surpasses $500 million to negotiate directly with local governments for up to 40 years.
The passage of this bill is crucial if the Bears are to stand any chance of remaining in Illinois.
Republican vote could be key to staying in Illinois
Illinois state Rep. Brad Stephens could yet emerge as a key vote in what is a Democratic supermajority, with a number of House Republicans planning to meet with Gov. JB Pritzker about the stadium plans.
“I think that the whole lakefront development idea that they originally threw out there was great, but it didn’t work for, you know, the groups that opposed it and so be it,” Stephens said, via Abc7Chicago.
“And the Bears have done, I think, a decent job on finding alternatives. And, you know, for me and from my viewpoint, Indiana’s not one of those alternatives. I think that there’s a number of us on the Republican side that really want to make sure that the Bears stay in Illinois.”
Stephens also went on to note that the mega-project bill doesn’t just impact the Bears, with it also set to impact Springfield.
According to a report from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, the NFL‘s stadium committee are set to meet with the Bears brass after the 2026 NFL Draft, on the week commencing April 27 to share their latest developments.
The committee is chaired by Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf.
McCaskey, along with with Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II, Jed York of the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans owner Adams Strunk, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams presidents Sashi Brown and Kevin Demoff, and Dallas Cowboys COO Stephen Jones form the committee.
A vote at the spring owners meeting on May 19-20 in Orlando, Florida could happen happen, though it is undetermined whether the Bears will have made a decision on how they’d like to proceed forward by then.
Chicago Mayor still pushing for previously rejected site
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hasn’t yet given up hope of persuading the Bears to construct a facility downtown at the site of former Michael Reese Hospital, according to a report from Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher back on April 6.
The Bears had previously rejected that location, due to the fact that it is considered too narrow, while the active train tracks running through it further adds to it being considered a logistical nightmare.
Furthermore, this appears to once again highlight the divide among Illinois legislators, while those in Indiana – who are now back in full operation after a period of recess – seem to be sitting back and are in wait-and-see mode.
During the NFL’s Annual League Meeting, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren was asked about the possibility of whether the solution to their ongoing stadium location saga would come in the downtown area.
It was a resounding no.
NFL Stadium Status
Chicago Bears – NFL sets hard deadline for $5bn stadium relocation as two-state battle for franchise peaks
Kansas City Chiefs – Chiefs owner issues response as Kansas City’s $4bn cross-state relocation plan hits roadblock
Jacksonville Jaguars – $5.6bn NFL team to relocate 150 miles away to 90-year-old stadium as decision made
Cleveland Browns – NFL team stung by new $2.6bn stadium as owners release statement
Tennessee Titans – Inside $2.2bn NFL stadium revealed as new ‘stolen’ uniforms and logo slammed after leak
“We strongly believe the only site in the state of Illinois, in Cook County, is Arlington Heights,” Warren told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and Chris Simms.
“Because when you see that property having 326 acres, with a train station there, and the things that we would be able to do. There are some great sites. …
“It’s imperative that you want to make sure that you have an opportunity to do a surrounding mixed-use development wherever you build your stadium. So you’ve got to have that space to do it.
“And the biggest thing is that ingress and egress tailgating, game-day experience.”
Bears hope to have made final decision by the summer
With Soldier Field set to be abandoned regardless of where the team winds up due to political reasons preventing the team from building a site nearby their current home, it seems as though an official decision is now just mere weeks away.
“We’ve been working on our stadium and feel very strongly that we are making progress,” Warren also said at the annual meeting in Phoenix.
“We are in an excellent position. The target is to make sure that we have a decision made by … late spring, early summer.”
This timeline matches up with May 31 end of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session.
“If we can get this wrapped up by late spring, early summer, then we have to finish the design, because we want to make sure it’s kind of site-specific,” Warren added, when speaking Shaw Local News. “The goal is to do everything we can to be open in 2030.”
Although the location of where they will build their new stadium is still yet to be determined, Warren has already outlined his non-negotiables.
“We wanna make sure our fans can feel the outdoor elements from a lighting standpoint, which is critically important,” Warren said, via Hoge & Jahns. “The roof will have some translucent capabilities, the ETFE.”
This matches that of what a local architectural design firm proposed in a last-ditch effort to sway the Bears’ mind.
“I think everyone needs to rally behind this. We’ve got one shot at getting a stadium in Illinois. It’s in Arlington Heights and every legislator should support that plan,” Ernie Rose said with Touchdown Arlington.
“There’s certainly a sense of fatigue around here. Back-and-forth, all the changes, but I think we’re in the final stretch.”
Now, only time will tell whether the Bears moving out of state becomes a reality.
Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
