Why the Chicago Bears could be moving to Indiana
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While Illinois is trying to keep the team in Chicago's suburbs, Indiana lawmakers are offering a plan to finance a new stadium (Image credit: Nam Y. Huh)
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News Why the Chicago Bears could be moving to Indiana March 14, 2026 6:56 PM ET By Lydia Calitri Grounds crew members glow snow off the field at Soldier Field during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, in Chicago. Nam Y. Huh/AP hide caption toggle caption Nam Y. Huh/AP Illinois lawmakers will debate legislation this week that could persuade The Chicago Bears to stay in the city's suburbs, after Indiana's legislature last month passed a bill that would open the door for a new stadium to be built in northwest Indiana. Here's what you need to know: What is Indiana offering? On Feb. 26, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed into law a bill that authorized funding for a new stadium in the Indiana town of Hammond, which is about 28 miles from Chicago. "I'm thrilled to sign Senate Bill 27 to create the framework to build a new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana. Now let's get this across the goal line," Braun said in a post on X . The Bears said in a statement — issued shortly after the bill passed, but before the governor signed it –- that the team was "grateful" for Indiana's leadership "establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana." How is Illinois responding? In 2023, The Bears purchased a 326-acre, $197.2 million property in Arlington Heights, Ill., for a potential new stadium. But largely due to concerns over property taxes, the timeline on construction remains unclear. Although the Bears said they planned to pay for the stadium itself, a team consultant report released in October revealed the Bears are actually seeking $855 million in public funding to cover the stadium's infrastructure costs. Illinois lawmakers this week will return to the state capital, Springfield, to debate a bill that would give developers of large construction projects, also known as "mega projects," a break on property taxes. While this could pave the way for constru...
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