The Chicago Bears won't be building a stadium in Illinois anytime soon.
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren declared Thursday, Aug. 13, at the team's Lake Forest headquarters that Hammond, Indiana is the franchise's "sole focus" for a new stadium and mixed-use development. The McCaskey family has committed $2 billion in private money toward the project, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has personally visited one of the two Hammond sites under consideration, according to Patch.
"Even though we've had occasional meetings with the state of Illinois, our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world-class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana," Warren told reporters at Halas Hall.
The announcement carries a particular sting for suburban fans who once hoped the team would land at the former Arlington Park site in Arlington Heights, roughly 12 miles from Elmhurst. The Bears purchased that 326-acre property for $197.2 million in 2023 but failed to secure stadium legislation in Springfield. Bears Chairman George McCaskey said the Arlington Heights pitch was "unsuccessful" and that the property's future "will take care of itself in time."
Two Hammond sites, one vision
Warren identified two properties: the Lost Marsh Golf Course, where due diligence is complete and the land is confirmed viable, and the Wolf Lake Terminal site, where environmental studies continue. He said the team may merge both into a single larger development.
Indiana has authorized up to $1 billion in public funding through a combination of food-and-beverage, hotel and admissions taxes in Lake and Porter counties, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Warren said stadium costs are rising by nearly $150 million per year, adding urgency. He declined to set a timeline for a final decision.
Illinois talks at a standstill
McCaskey called discussions with Illinois lawmakers since the board's June 5 vote to focus on Hammond "minimal." The Bears have no written proposal before the state, he said.
Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at the Illinois State Fair the same morning, confirmed the Bears have not presented bill language to his administration. The Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session, scheduled Nov. 17–19 and Dec. 1–3, represents the next window for any Illinois stadium legislation.
Warren said the team's longstanding requirements for an Illinois project, property tax certainty and infrastructure certainty, have never been met.
Local connections
The Bears reaffirmed in February that Halas Hall will remain in Lake Forest regardless of where the stadium lands, according to the Tribune. McCaskey said the franchise will keep the "Chicago Bears" name no matter the outcome.
Closer to home, the Elmhurst History Museum opens "Bear Down: Football in the Windy City" on Aug. 28, an exhibition exploring more than 100 years of Bears history and the team's relationship with Chicago. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3, 2027.
The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033.
