The Part That Changes The Math
The Chicago Bears Board of Directors voted Thursday to advance a stadium plan in Hammond, Indiana — roughly 25 miles from Soldier Field — moving the franchise closer to leaving the state it's called home for more than a century.
"There is more work to do, but barring anything very strange, it's a done deal," one source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. A league source told ESPN's Courtney Cronin that Indiana is "in the lead," though "Illinois can still get back in the race."
The numbers are doing most of the announcement work here, which is usually how teams prefer it.
The Detail Worth Keeping
The franchise agreed to purchase the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse property for $197 million in 2021, finalizing the buy in 2023. The team had also expressed interest in hosting the 2031 Super Bowl in a new domed stadium.
Illinois senators passed a last-minute bill allowing Cook County cities with over 70,000 residents to establish their own stadium authorities — similar to the authority in Northwest Indiana — but the state House adjourned without voting on the measure. The legislation, introduced by State Senator Bill Cunningham, would have let the Bears fund the stadium themselves and lease it from the city to avoid property taxes.
Where It Goes From Here
The team's lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, though they can buy their way out of that agreement, per the Chicago Tribune. The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, originally arriving in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys.