The Chicago Bears haven’t done anything to hide their stadium intentions. Quite the opposite. They’ve been forthright with what they want for a long time. Everything pointed to them wanting to build a brand new complex in Arlington Heights. They own the land and have reached the necessary agreements with local municipalities on its cultivation and property taxes. The only hurdle remaining was passing legislation in Springfield that would help them build out the infrastructure to make it viable. Governor J.B. Pritzker and the democratic government have dragged their feet on this for the better part of a year.
After being snubbed from any discussions on the matter last October and then told they weren’t a priority for 2026, the Bears reached their breaking point. They re-opened their search for a new home, this time including northwest Indiana as a possibility. Marc Silverman of Waddle & Silvy revealed on his program that while Arlington Heights remains the preferred home, the Indiana idea is gaining steam. In fact, it’s gotten to a point where a decision will be made within the next month.
The Chicago Bears are putting pressure on Pritzker.
It is clear they want a resolution to his problem soon, one way or the other. The Bears have held that property in Arlington for three years. Team president Kevin Warren said his goal was to have shovels in the ground by 2025. That deadline came and went. There hasn’t been any progress towards that goal. Indiana is determined to lure the Bears away and has put together an enticing offer. The team would be allowed to pick their preferred location and would receive full support from the state, including infrastructure and zero property taxes, to get the project done.
Not only that, but the new legislative bill expected to help this process along offers a lease term where the NFL team would have the option to buy the stadium for the cost of the outstanding debt, or for $1 once the project is fully paid off. The team would also keep all the revenue from non-football events. This has been a primary objective for the Chicago Bears from the beginning.
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Meanwhile, Illinois keeps dragging its feet.
Warren and the McCaskey family know the state legislature’s spring session runs through the end of May. If nothing gets done by then, it won’t get done this year at all. The Bears knew they had to find a way to exert pressure on Pritzker’s regime. Letting it leak that early March is their line in the sand will certainly get the message across. By now, it feels like the only thing left to do on the Indiana front is say yes. The Bears are giving Illinois one last chance to come to the table with something real.
| Location | Why yes | Why no |
| Downtown Chicago | Greatest revenue opportunities | Team would not own the stadium |
| Arlington Heights | Team would own the stadium | Insane property taxes |
| Indiana | Tons of public financial support | Would leave Illinois for first time in a century |
From a pure business standpoint, Indiana is the obvious decision. There isn’t even a close second. However, it can’t be all about business. There is a lot of history at stake here. The Bears have played in Chicago since 1920. This decision would forever change that legacy. It isn’t one they want to make without exhausting every possibility.
