Chicago Bears Announce Major Name Change Update

Warren said the Bears currently have no stadium agreement in Illinois. He also said the team does not have an offer from the state.

“Although there have been occasional meetings with the State of Illinois, our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana,” Warren said.

The Bears’ Board of Directors voted in June to advance the Hammond project. Since then, team officials have continued working on possible locations in the city.

Warren identified two sites under consideration. He confirmed that crews wrapped up initial work at Lost Marsh, while the team is still doing its homework on the Wolf Lake Terminal location.

Even with the progress, Warren insisted the Bears won’t rush into anything. He made it clear the team wants to get this decision right for its long-term future.

This stadium search has dragged on for years. The goal is to build a modern indoor dome that can host top events year-round and generate additional revenue outside of football games.

The Bears originally looked at building on Chicago’s lakefront and later tried moving forward in Arlington Heights. However, those plans stalled out after state lawmakers refused to pass the property tax deal the team wanted.

That’s when Indiana stepped in to make a serious push. State officials even set up a new stadium authority earlier this year to sweeten the deal and lure the team across state lines.