Chicago Bears stadium saga takes another unexpected turn

The Chicago Bears’ long-running stadium search has taken an unexpected turn, with a new report indicating the franchise is close to a deal that would keep the team in Illinois rather than relocating to Northwest Indiana.

According to Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business, lawmakers in Springfield could vote as soon as November on legislation that would pave the way for a new stadium. The most likely site remains Arlington Heights, where the Bears purchased the former Arlington Park property in February 2023.

While the framework would also allow Chicago to compete for the project, the suburban location is viewed as the primary option.

The proposed measure would enable a municipality to establish a stadium authority that would own and operate the facility. Because the stadium would be publicly owned, it would be exempt from property taxes, delivering the long-sought tax certainty the Bears have demanded. The authority would also be eligible to collect additional sales tax revenue generated by the project.

Under the plan, state taxpayers would face no financial liability for the venue itself and would only support surrounding infrastructure such as new roads, a condition consistent with previous statements from Gov. JB Pritzker.

The development marks a sharp shift from the team’s recent posture. In August, Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren declared Hammond, Indiana, the franchise’s “sole focus” after Illinois lawmakers failed to advance a stadium bill during the spring session. Indiana had moved quickly to offer tax guarantees and a package that could provide roughly $1 billion in public support.

Progress in Illinois has reportedly been aided by the involvement of Bears minority owner Pat Ryan and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who has engaged with Pritzker and legislative leaders. Warren has taken a less prominent role in the latest talks.

Not everyone is convinced. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. dismissed the report, stating that the Bears’ only focus remains Hammond and that Illinois options, including Arlington Heights, are not under consideration.

The deal is not yet finalized, and some revisions to the legislation still need to be resolved. Similar efforts have stalled before, leaving the ultimate outcome uncertain as the Illinois General Assembly prepares for its fall veto session.