Ever since Indiana became a viable contender for the Chicago Bears‘ new home as they search for a stadium site, they’ve expressed the utmost confidence that they would emerge the victors. After all, Governor Mike Braun and his supporters successfully pushed through legislation to give the team tax breaks and funding options. All they had to do was pick a location in the northwest region that suited their needs. It looked like the Bears were close to doing exactly that. However, the process has carried on for months. It shouldn’t be taking this long, right?
Well, another announcement from the organization arrived on Friday. While the team insisted they remain active in their process of determining their preferred site in Hammond, they expressed newfound optimism about a deal with Illinois after state leaders met with their top brass.
Much of this newfound momentum came after Bears part-owner Pat Ryan stepped in to lead the negotiations with Governor J.B. Pritzker. This apparently drew the first negative reaction from Indiana that we’ve seen, with the Northwest Indiana Times reporting that Braun is all but threatening to revoke those tax incentives if the Bears don’t make a decision.
“Gov. Mike Braun is strongly urging the Chicago Bears to finalize their plans for a Hammond stadium immediately or risk losing the tax savings and funding opportunities offered by Indiana.
The warning from the Republican chief executive comes as the professional football team renews its interest in a potential Illinois stadium deal ahead of the upcoming six-day meeting of the Illinois General Assembly.”
They clearly sense the Chicago Bears are close to something big.
Pritzker has never offered concrete details on the process for years. That changed this week when he told reporters that the plan is to put together a bill proposal for the hearings on November 17th. If things go smoothly, there should be a vote in the first week of December. Presumably, if it passes both the House and Senate, Pritzker could have it signed before the end of the year. That means the Bears would be free to choose their building spot in Illinois and begin construction early in 2027.
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The most interesting wrinkle in all of this is that an undercurrent of momentum exists that could see Chicago re-enter the fray. Remember, the bill proposal would likely allow municipalities with 70,000 or more residents to establish sports authorities, enabling them to negotiate with the Bears on a stadium site. Multiple development teams in Chicago are gearing up to make a run at the team. One is pushing for them to replace the White Sox in Bridgeport by building a new stadium over Guaranteed Rate Field. Another believes the massive South Works property would be an ideal site for development.
Indiana knows they’re in a bad spot.
Throughout the process, they’ve felt confident they have the best offer on the table. That said, there is no way to sweeten the pot at this point. They are all in. The Bears still haven’t said yes. It feels like a clear indication that they have always preferred to stay in Illinois. The problem has always been their inability to make headway in Springfield with legislation. Adding Ryan to the mix, with an assist from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, seems to have done the trick.
Braun’s subtle scare tactic is a clear sign of weakness. He realizes Indiana’s position is slipping and all the work he’s done over the past few years might’ve been for nothing. A lot of people won’t be happy about that. They were made certain promises. Such failures have consequences. Still, nothing is certain until the pen is put to paper. Answers should be had a month from today.
