The Chicago Bears seem to be on a precipice. Whichever way they lean within the next two weeks is likely to determine their future home as a professional football team. On the one hand, they’re in talks with Illinois about obtaining the necessary legislation for their Arlington Heights property. On the other hand, the state of Indiana is putting on a full-court press to lure them to the northwest region, where infrastructure and property tax incentives are already in place. One would have you believe this is something that unfolded quickly. Thomas McDermott poked holes in that theory.
He is the mayor of Hammond, Indiana. It is a township in the northwest region, just 28 miles from downtown Chicago. Many believe it would be a likely site for a new Bears stadium were they to cross the border. Here is where it gets interesting. The common belief is that Indiana offered Hammond as one of the potential sites in negotiations. McDermott revealed a different truth during an interview with Carmen & Jurko for ESPN 1000. Not only did the Bears reach out first, but they did so all the way back on Thanksgiving.
Thomas McDermott opened some fascinating doors.
Remember, Bears president Kevin Warren issued an open letter to fans in mid-December, stating that the team had decided to explore northwest Indiana as a potential site. In reality, the team had been laying the groundwork for weeks. This would indicate they are far more serious about moving there than we initially believed. From the start of the saga, it’s been clear this was little more than an elaborate leverage play meant to bring Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker back to the negotiating table.
If what Thomas McDermott says is true, these are not the actions of a team that is bluffing. Their plans for a move south are further along than we thought, which would also explain the report from fellow ESPN 1000 member, Marc Silverman, that the Bears expect to make their decision by early March at the latest. If Illinois drops the ball between now and then, it sounds like the shift to Indiana will happen fast, and that Hammond is the preferred location. It feels like the eleventh hour is fast approaching.
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The appeal of Hammond for the Bears is easy to see.
As already mentioned, it remains close to downtown Chicago. In fact, it’s not much further from the city center than Arlington Heights is. There are large tracts of land the team can choose from to lay the foundation for the stadium. Hammond is also said to have favorable business laws, offering lower liability rates for employees. If the Chicago Bears aim to build an elaborate complex filled with several businesses, this is appealing. The fact that most of the land is near a lake doesn’t hurt the aesthetic either.
It sounds like the Bears have picked their spot. All that is left to do is see if they can still salvage Arlington Heights. Progress has been made in talks over the past three weeks. Illinois passed a new law that will help businesses with infrastructure funding, a major issue for the team. Now they need clearance to negotiate a fair property tax rate. Knowing how this team operates, expect a decision before the next big NFL event.
In this case, it’s the scouting combine on February 23rd.
