Chicago Bears Nearing Deal to Stay in Illinois for New Stadium
Months of speculation about a move to Indiana appear to be ending as the team moves closer to a stadium agreement within Illinois.
The Chicago Bears are reportedly nearing a deal that would keep the NFL team in Illinois, according to a report from Crain's Chicago Business. This development comes after months of the team publicly exploring a potential move to Hammond, Indiana.
The agreement would likely involve building a new stadium on the Arlington Heights site, which the Bears previously purchased with the intention of constructing a new venue. Negotiations had stalled on the Arlington Heights project, leading the team to publicly focus on the Indiana site.
Sources indicate that the Illinois legislature may vote on a bill in November to authorize the stadium project. The proposed legislation would permit any municipality to establish an authority to own and operate a stadium without incurring property taxes. Taxpayer funds would be limited to financing infrastructure improvements around the stadium site.
Key figures credited with facilitating the potential deal include Bears minority owner Pat Ryan. Team chairman George McCaskey and team president/CEO Kevin Warren reportedly took a less active role in recent negotiations, with input also coming from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Despite exploring options outside of Illinois, McCaskey stated Thursday that the team would retain its name regardless of location. "No. We will be the Chicago Bears whether we're in Arlington or whether we're in Hammond," he said.
The Chicago Bears have played all of their home games in Illinois throughout their 107-year history. The team's current lease at Soldier Field is set to expire in 2033.