Sports Mockery reported not too long ago that tensions were rising inside Halas Hall. They stemmed from ownership, particularly George McCaskey, who was growing increasingly frustrated with team president Kevin Warren over his handling of negotiations for the new stadium. McCaskey has been led to believe the executive was an expert on getting stadiums built from his time in Minnesota. However, it has become clearer with each passing day that Warren’s reach exceeds his grasp.
Things were already on uncertain ground when the Bears president kept pivoting directions, going from Arlington Heights to downtown Chicago, back to Arlington Heights, and now flirting with the idea of moving to northwest Indiana. That was not something McCaskey wanted. However, he felt compelled to go along with it as the talks with Springfield kept stalling.
Finally, the two sides seemed to be gaining momentum towards a deal that would finally give the Bears infrastructure help and property tax certainty. Then Thursday happened. It started with the megaprojects bill hearing on the House floor being cancelled. Shortly after, the Bears released a statement applauding Indiana for passing a bill intended to help fund the construction of a new stadium district, most likely in Hammond.
The public statement caught Springfield by surprise, and many viewed it as a tasteless move by Warren. According to former sports journalist George Ofman, so did McCaskey.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
Common sense once again eluded Kevin Warren.
It’s become apparent for some time that the Bears president is exceedingly tone-deaf when it comes to such matters. He constantly releases statments on the stadium at odd times, such as during the lead-up to the Bears highly-anticipated playoff clash with the Green Bay Packers. Before that, he went on national television and plugged the stadium subject like some wrestling promoter trying to create buzz for a pay-per-view. The guy has no concept of how to handle the media narrative, and it’s made him look like a bumbling fool.
Now he’s finally at the doorstep of a deal. The Bears have a route to infrastructure funding and property tax incentives. All he has to do is get it over the finish line in the legislature. Governor J.B. Pritzker is finally on board to make a deal. Then Kevin Warren fumbles the ball again, nixing the hearing and putting his foot in his mouth at the same time. This created a media firestorm that left the organization looking chaotic. Nothing Warren has done to this point comes across as competant.
| Location | Status / Key Milestone | Primary Draw / Project Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hammond, IN (Wolf Lake) | Active Frontrunner | Called the “most meaningful step forward” in Feb 2026 after Indiana approved a dedicated stadium authority. |
| Arlington Heights, IL | Owned Site | Purchased the 326-acre Arlington Park for $197.2M in 2023. Currently stalled due to property tax disputes. |
| Chicago Lakefront | Formal Proposal | A $4.7 billion domed stadium plan south of Soldier Field presented in April 2024; lacked state funding support. |
| Gary, IN (3 Sites) | Active Proposal | Includes the West End (near Hard Rock Casino), Buffington Harbor, and Miller Beach. |
| Portage, IN | Active Proposal | A $5 billion privately funded waterfront project named “Halas Harbor” proposed in early 2026. |
| Michael Reese Site | Considered | A Bronzeville location explored as an alternative to the Museum Campus within Chicago city limits. |
| Naperville, IL | Pitch Received | Submitted a formal pitch in June 2023 when the team expanded its search beyond Arlington Heights. |
| Waukegan, IL | Pitch Received | Expressed interest in June 2023 to host the team in a new lakefront district. |
| Aurora, IL | Pitch Received | Mayor Richard Irvin made a public case for the city as a potential host in 2023. |
| Country Club Hills, IL | Pitch Received | Pitched a site in late 2023, citing the mixed-use model of SoFi Stadium. |
Warren should be grateful the Bears had a winning season last year.
If not for head coach Ben Johnson’s instant success, there is a real possibility the president might’ve gotten fired for the series of setbacks he has overseen in the past year. That playoff victory over Green Bay may have saved his bacon without even realizing it. However, the continued frustration from the McCaskeys puts his job status in question. The longer this saga goes on without a resolution, the more tenous things become. Warren needs a win in the worst way.
Luckily, the bill is set for a new hearing date next week. If it goes through, the last hurdle will be clear. The Bears will get their property tax clarity and be free to negotiate with Arlington Heights on a fair rate. Estimates have it somewhere between $8-10 million. As for Kevin Warren, even if this does get across the finish line, it is fair to wonder whether the McCaskeys decide to keep him around. It’s worth noting that outside of Minnesota, he has never lasted at a job longer than four years, including his run as Big Ten commissioner.
That seems pretty telling.
