{"id":35691,"date":"2026-06-09T17:58:24","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T00:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/chicago-bears-saga-continues-as-team-signals-move-to-indiana\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T17:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T00:58:24","slug":"chicago-bears-saga-continues-as-team-signals-move-to-indiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/chicago-bears-saga-continues-as-team-signals-move-to-indiana\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bears saga continues as team signals move to Indiana"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech\">\n    <button class=\"text-to-speech__button button\"><br \/>\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"text-to-speech__button__icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/static\/img\/play.svg?313321260226\" alt=\"-\"><br \/>\n        Listen to the article<\/p>\n<p>            <span class=\"text-to-speech__button__audio-length\">3 min<\/span><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls\">\n        <audio controls=\"\" class=\"js-text-to-speech\" preload=\"none\"><source src=\"https:\/\/text-to-speech.divecdn.com\/newspost\/822411\/2026-06-09_15.27.47\/chicago-bears-hammond-indiana-arlington-heights-taxes.wav\" type=\"audio\/mp3\"><\/source><\/audio><\/p>\n<div class=\"text-to-speech__controls__text\">\n            This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">feedback<\/a>.\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><span><span>Dive Brief:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>The NFL\u2019s Chicago Bears have signaled they\u2019ll move the chains, leaving not just the Windy City, but the state of Illinois, in the latest update of the franchise\u2019s stadium saga.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Chicago Bears board of directors have voted to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagobears.com\/news\/statement-from-chicago-bears-chairman-george-h-mccaskey-and-president-ceo-kevin-warren\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>advance the team\u2019s stadium development in Hammond, Indiana<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, according to a Friday announcement from George McCaskey, Bears chairman, and Kevin Warren, the franchise\u2019s president and CEO.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Despite the announcement, the potential Indiana stadium, just across the state line and still part of metropolitan Chicago, is not a sure thing. A competing site in Arlington Heights, a Chicago suburb where the Bears own 326 acres, is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/morning-edition\/2026\/06\/08\/bears-hammond-indiana-arlington-heights-chicago-police-ice-yellow-banana\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>still in contention to hold the stadium<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"standard-heading\"><span><span><span><span><span>Dive Insight:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The main site in Indiana lies along Wolf Lake, which borders Indiana and Illinois and is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/bears\/2026\/06\/06\/bears-stadium-hammond-indiana-arlington-heights-whats-next-kevin-warren-george-mccaskey-roger-goodell-dome-nfl-commissioner-browns?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=060826%20Morning%20Edition&amp;utm_content=060826%20Morning%20Edition+CID_d4774482a660d8dcc755682fcae8f420&amp;utm_source=cst_campaign_monitor&amp;utm_term=have%20a%20lot%20of%20work%20to%20do%20on%20the%20Hammond%20site%20before%20they%20can%20finalize%20a%20deal&amp;tpcc=cst_cm\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>located around 25 miles from Hammond\u2019s downtown<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, per the Sun-Times. However, NBC Chicago reported on Monday that the Bears are <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/news\/sports\/nfl\/chicago-bears\/chicago-bears-considering-second-hammond-indiana-stadium-site-sources\/3945592\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>now considering a second Hammond location<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Plans for a new stadium on the outskirts of Chicago have materialized and changed multiple times over the past four years. In September 2022, the team <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/potential-new-chicago-bears-stadium-nfl-create-48k-jobs\/631357\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>shared a concept of a domed stadium in Arlington Heights<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, but emphasized that it was far from a done deal.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the years went on, however, the prognosis was positive. In April 2024, the Bears revealed a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/chicago-bears-release-stadium-plans-dome\/714401\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>$4.2 billion new stadium plan<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> along Chicago\u2019s lakefront. Then, in September, Bears CEO Warren emphasized his <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/nfl-stadium-construction-commanders-browns-titans\/760844\/#:~:text=The%20Chicago%20Bears%20have%20committed%20to%20moving%20away%20from%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20historic%20Soldier%20Field%20and%20out%20into%20a%20forthcoming%20stadium%20in%20Arlington%20Heights%2C%20Illinois%2C%20with%20the%20hopes%20of%20bidding%20to%20host%20a%20Super%20Bowl%20in%202031%2C%20according%20to%20an%20open%20letter%20from%20Kevin%20Warren%2C%20the%20Bears%E2%80%99%20president%20and%20CEO.\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>hope to host a Super Bowl<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> at the site as soon as 2031.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Trouble brewed over tax incentives, which have prevented the Bears and Illinois from moving the ball down the field. This led to the state of Indiana attempting to court the team across state lines.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A bipartisan bill in the Indiana legislature <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/indianapolis\/2026\/02\/19\/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>approved upwards of $1 billion<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> for new stadium construction, Axios Chicago reported on Feb. 19. The bill was <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/chicago.suntimes.com\/bears\/2026\/02\/26\/bears-stadium-hammond-indiana-hammong-senate-passes-bill-27-arlington-heights-george-mccaaskey-kevin-warren-nfl\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>signed into law by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> on Feb. 26, per the Sun-Times.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Meanwhile, the Illinois legislature has hit roadblocks on its own plan to woo the Bears. The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/illinois-lawmakers-fail-to-pass-bears-bill-despite-goal-line-push\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>lawmaking body failed to pass a bill<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> meant to incentivize the franchise to build in Illinois during its waning spring legislative session, Capitol News Illinois reported. However, state Rep. Dan Ugaste announced that he would introduce a <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcchicago.com\/chicago-sports-bears-sox-cubs-bulls-blackhawks\/illinois-lawmaker-to-reveal-new-plan-in-effort-to-keep-bears-out-of-indiana\/3945777\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>bill that aims to address the gnarled property tax issues<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, NBC Chicago reported Tuesday.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bears currently call Soldier Field home. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.isfauthority.com\/facilities\/history-of-soldier-field\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Opened in 1924<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span> as Municipal Grant Park Stadium, the venue has played host to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.profootballhof.com\/teams\/chicago-bears\/team-history\" target=\"_blank\"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Chicago NFL home games since 1971<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constructiondive.com\/news\/chicago-bears-hammond-indiana-arlington-heights-taxes\/822411\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This article was originally posted at Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Listen to the article 3 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Dive &#8230; <a title=\"Chicago Bears saga continues as team signals move to Indiana\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/chicago-bears-saga-continues-as-team-signals-move-to-indiana\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Chicago Bears saga continues as team signals move to Indiana\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[457],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-construction-dive","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35691\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}