Chicago Bears Vote to Advance Stadium Development in Hammond, Indiana, Ending 100-Year Run in Illinois

The Chicago Bears made their most decisive move yet in the long-running stadium saga on Friday, announcing that the team’s board of directors has voted to advance its stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. The announcement, delivered in a joint statement by Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren, marks the biggest step toward leaving Illinois in the franchise’s more than century-long history.

“Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected,” the statement read. “We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

How It Came to This

The Bears have been chasing a new stadium for years, purchasing 326 acres of former Arlington Park racetrack land in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in February 2023 for $197.2 million. The plan was to build a $5 billion domed stadium on that site, complete with a mixed-use entertainment district capable of hosting Super Bowls, NCAA Final Fours, and major concerts.

But the deal repeatedly stalled over property tax disputes and the question of who would fund roughly $826 million in surrounding public infrastructure. The team wanted the Illinois state legislature to pass a so-called mega projects bill that would provide property tax certainty and state infrastructure support. After years of negotiation, the Illinois House adjourned the spring legislative session without passing the bill — the final straw in a frustrating process that had dragged on since at least 2021.

Indiana moved aggressively to fill the void. In February 2026, the state signed Senate Bill 27, creating a Northwest Indiana stadium authority with the power to acquire and finance stadium construction. Governor Mike Braun welcomed the Bears’ announcement Friday with barely concealed glee, posting: “Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come.”

The Illinois Fallout

Illinois officials responded with a mix of frustration and defiance. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon noted that the Bears had signaled Hammond as their main focus since February, calling Friday’s announcement “not fundamentally different” from prior statements. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch drew a sharp contrast between the two states, arguing that Indiana was willing to raise taxes and commit over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars while Illinois had focused on “the needs of working families.”

Governor JB Pritzker’s office struck a more resigned tone. “The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location,” the statement read, adding that Pritzker “still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office tried to keep the door open, noting that the Bears themselves stated this board vote “does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal” and that no final site has been selected. The city said it would continue discussions “until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond.”

What the Move Means for Bettors

A Bears stadium in Hammond, Indiana, would be a significant development for sports betting in the region. Indiana has legal, regulated online sportsbooks and a robust gambling framework. For Illinois bettors, the irony is sharp — a team they root for, and bet on, may soon play their home games across a state line in a jurisdiction with its own set of sports betting rules in Indiana. Hammond sits roughly 25 miles from downtown Chicago, meaning many Bears fans would find themselves attending games in a legal sports betting state, with mobile wagering options that differ from what they are accustomed to in Illinois.

The NFL moved quickly to signal awareness of the situation. Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking at the recent league owners meeting, acknowledged only two viable sites in the Bears’ view — Arlington Heights and Hammond — and noted the league was tracking the Illinois legislative situation closely. With the spring session now closed and no special session currently planned, the path back to Illinois has narrowed considerably.

What Comes Next

The Bears’ Friday statement is carefully worded. The vote is to “advance” development in Hammond, with the “exact site to be selected.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter quoted a source saying, “Barring anything very strange, it’s a done deal.” Warren, speaking to reporters, confirmed the focus is on Hammond, though the final site within the Hammond area has not yet been pinpointed.

The Bears have committed over $2 billion of private funding toward the project. If Hammond is confirmed, Illinois will be left holding the 326 acres of Arlington Heights land the franchise bought but will apparently not build on — a $197.2 million parcel that now represents one of the most expensive unfulfilled stadium ambitions in NFL history. The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, but as of Friday, their 100-year run in Chicago appears to be nearing an end.