NFL team begins work on new $5bn stadium as debate over cross-state relocation rages on

Jul 8, 2026 - 09:45

The Chicago Bears have taken another significant step towards building a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

While the historic NFL franchise is yet to officially confirm a site for their proposed $5 billion project, they have begun geotechnical surveys around Wolf Lake.

A render of the proposed Chicago Bears stadium, shared by Manica — The Bears have taken another step to confirming their new stadium site

According to StadiumDB, three potential sites are being evaluated for the new home field and mixed-use entertainment district, around the lake that straddles the Indiana-Illinois state line.

Work includes soil sampling and environmental assessments, which is a standard phase before selecting a final location.

New aerial video shared by Fox32 on Monday showed a closer look at two sites that remain under consideration.

SkyFox showed views of both a 300-acre site near Lost Marsh Golf Course and an 83-acre property at Wolf Lake Terminals, just west of Interstate 90.

Sports stadium insider Marc Ganis believes the Bears’ decision to take soil samples from the area signals the continued interest in the city.

“It indicates direction, it indicates focus, it indicates spending money in Hammond,” Ganis said.

While the team suggested months ago that they would announce a final decision on relocation in late spring or early summer, there has still been no official word.

The delay has sparked a number of proposals from Illinois, with the tiny town of McCook making a late play to keep the Bears from moving across state lines.

State Rep. Curtis Tarver II has also urged the team to remain close to Soldier Field, and relocate to a former US Steel South Works site on Chicago’s southeast side.

Public funding plan sparks Bears stadium debate

However, funding remains an issue, and much of the appeal for the Bears moving to Indiana comes from an offer of around $1bn in taxpayer money.

Indiana has expressed its willingness to pay a large chunk of the new stadium’s construction cost, which could make up around $3.2bn of the overall $5bn project.

The public contribution would be financed through taxes generated by the development itself, but also includes a controversial new 1 percent food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties.

That has become a sticking point, with the proposal drawing critics.

Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs has argued residents shouldn’t help finance the stadium, and that tax revenue should be invested in local services, rather than being spent supporting a wealthy sports franchise.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun, though, is confident opposition from Porter County officials will not derail the project.

“I think that is so tangential to everything else, that’s not going to make a difference,” he said last week.

A sign welcomes motorists to Hammond, Indiana on Jan. 13, 2026. Indiana took another step Friday to potentially lure the Chicago Bears to the state with lawmakers set to consider creating an agency to build a new stadium for the team — The Bears are expected to relocate to Hammond but there is backlash over funding

A general view of Soldier Field during a game between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 10, 2024 — Soldier Field has been home to the team for decades

“If they choose not to put any skin in the game, they’re not going to have any say-so for what happens from all the economic benefits we’re going to get from it.

“And I think that is maybe a small group, maybe not the consensus, but we’ll see.”

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