Bears advancing – The Chicago Bears say their stadium project is advancing in Hammond, Indiana, after their board voted to focus there. But city and state officials—along with the NFL’s approval process—make clear the move is far from settled.
On a Friday that brought yet another turn in the Bears’ long stadium saga, the team announced it was advancing its stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana—while insisting no exact site had been picked.
For fans in Chicago. the timing lands with a familiar mix of hope and suspicion: the Bears have talked about leaving before. shifted plans for years. and now appear to be pressing again toward northwest Indiana. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded sharply. saying the announcement isn’t surprising and that any relocation can’t be treated as a done deal without shovels in the ground.
At the same time, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. framed the vote as a win. calling it a “transformative investment” and thanking state leaders for helping push the deal over the goal line. Whether that language matches the reality of a project still waiting on environmental questions. financing terms. and league approvals is the crux of what comes next.
The Bears’ board vote puts Hammond at the center—without a final site
The Bears’ immediate message is simple: on June 5, 2026, the team said it was moving forward with its stadium development plan in Hammond. The announcement came after the team said its board of directors voted to further focus stadium efforts on Hammond, Indiana.
But the team also said that no “exact site” has been chosen.
That distinction matters because it leaves room for both delay and dispute. Even before any final selection. the Bears said they investigated an area in the Wolf Lake region of Hammond from an environmental perspective. The Chicago Tribune reported that a nearby golf course was “built on top of a mountain of slag. ” and that the location sits near several hazardous waste sites. across the street from an oil tank storage complex. and in the shadow of the Midwest’s largest oil refinery.
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia—an architect who has publicly weighed in on sites during the Bears’ broader search—told the Tribune. “I would throw up the red caution flags immediately.” He added that he had worked on enough sites with gas stations or dry cleaners or other hazardous material to understand how it can contaminate the ground. saying. “I would be very concerned about selecting a site like that.”.
Hammond’s celebration has been paired with downplaying risk. McDermott downplayed concerns, saying, “This is an industrial area and we do have legacy issues we’re dealing with,” but that he’s “not worried about the Bears finding anything that’s a deal-breaker.”
Even as the Bears push toward Hammond, Chicago’s leaders insist the decision still isn’t locked
Johnson’s reaction to the June 5 announcement showed how close the politics remain to the day-to-day fight. He said the Bears’ Friday plan “is not surprising,” noting the team has stated intentions in multiple jurisdictions and that the vote does not mean a move to Hammond is “a done deal.”
He added: “Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City of Chicago will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.”
McDermott offered a starkly different emotional register in his statement that followed the Bears’ announcement. He said the Bears chose Hammond because they “see what I have said for years. ” describing the city as “a successful city of opportunity and possibility.” He also said Hammond and all of Northwest Indiana will “benefit from this transformative investment. ” and credited cooperation from Indiana state leaders—naming Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen Ryan Mishler, and local legislators—for helping secure the outcome.
The leverage question has been a theme for years, but the Bears’ own record of shifting positions keeps resetting expectations
The Bears’ case for Hammond builds on a longer sequence of stadium pivots and political friction. Their immediate relocation argument appears to be that there is simply no viable option in Chicago.
On May 21, 2026, the Bears declared that all plans to build a stadium within the Chicago city limits are done. In a statement. the team said it had “exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago. ” that its initial goal was to remain in the city. and that “there is not a viable site in the city.” It said the future stadium would be either Arlington Heights or Hammond. Indiana.
As momentum continued, the Bears reinforced the new focus on June 5, with chairman George H. McCaskey and team president and CEO Kevin Warren describing a Hammond stadium as a project that would “transform the region. ” connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs.
Johnson’s skepticism remains grounded in the timeline logic of infrastructure and approvals. His public posture has been consistent: no shovels, no certainty.
The Bears have already said they are choosing between two sites—Arlington Heights or Hammond—even though Illinois lawmakers argue the team’s approach has strained trust
The question of whether Illinois can still reverse the outcome comes down to more than sentiment. Illinois lawmakers have repeatedly argued that public spending is the sticking point, and they have questioned the Bears’ need for taxpayer-backed financing.
Emanuel Chris Welch. speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. said Friday: “Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump. at the store. and on their insurance bills − not taxpayer-funded stadiums.” He also said Illinois “remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois.”.
In response to the Bears’ shifting stadium positioning, Matt Hill, a spokesman for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. said in a statement that the team has a storied legacy in Illinois but has spent “the last six years. and especially the last few months. shifting their position on a stadium location.” Hill said those changes “have hindered their progress.”.
Hill added that Pritzker “has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois” and “still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”
Arlington Heights is the other contender, and the financing tension there was never resolved cleanly
The Bears bought 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights in 2021, on the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse. Warren claimed in December that the team has not asked Illinois to build the stadium.
Instead. he said the Bears requested “a commitment to essential local infrastructure (roads. utilities. and site improvements). which is more than typical for projects of this size. ” and also sought “reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing.” Warren said the Bears listened to state leadership and relied on guidance. but that the efforts “have been met with no legislative partnership.”.
Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said he was hopeful about keeping the Bears in Illinois. even as he acknowledged the challenges. In a statement Friday. he called it “clearly a fumble for the state of Illinois” and said his “commitment to the residents and businesses of Arlington Heights is unwavering. ” adding that he would keep representing the interests of the community as opportunities and next steps are considered.
Tinaglia’s argument clashes with the Bears’ portrayal of what happened in Illinois. Their own December open letter said they were told by state leadership the project would not be a priority in 2026.
In that December 17. 2025 letter to Bears fans. Warren announced the team planned to explore an expanded search after hitting a roadblock in negotiations with the state of Illinois over their current plan. The expanded search included both Arlington Heights and “opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region,” including “Northwest Indiana.”.
Warren wrote that the team had not asked for state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium at Arlington Park. He said the Bears sought only essential local infrastructure and “reasonable property tax certainty to secure financing.” He also wrote. “We have been told directly by State leadership. our project will not be a priority in 2026.”.
Before Hammond became the headline, the Bears’ stadium search moved through a series of fits and starts—many tied to taxes, funding, and timing
The Bears’ stadium timeline is filled with official announcements, public statements, and reported setbacks. Here is what their documented path includes:
On September 29, 2021, the Bears announced a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Churchill Downs, Inc. for the site of the Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois—32 miles away from Soldier Field.
In July 2022. then-Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed adding a dome to Soldier Field in an effort to encourage the Bears to remain in the city. The team rejected the proposal, doubling down on the Arlington Heights site. In a statement to the Daily Herald. a Bears spokesperson said: “The only potential project the Chicago Bears are exploring for a new stadium development is Arlington Park.” The spokesperson added that. as part of the mutual agreement with the seller. the team was not pursuing alternative stadium deals or sites. including renovations to Soldier Field. while under contract.
In September 2022, the Bears released renderings showing preliminary plans for the Arlington Heights stadium and surrounding district.
On February 13, 2023, the sale of the Arlington Heights site went final with a $197.2 million price tag. The Bears said the purchase of the site does not guarantee they will build the new stadium and surrounding “entertainment district.”
In June 2023, the Arlington Heights development plan stalled. WTTW reported the snag came from Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi’s valuation of the Arlington Heights property higher than the team anticipated. leading to a high property tax bill. The Bears said in a statement that the property’s original assessment at five times the 2021 tax value and a 2022 settlement with Churchill Downs being three times higher “fails to reflect the property is not operational and not commercially viable in its current state.”.
In early 2024, negotiations over property taxes reached a $100 million impasse, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. That impasse drove the Bears’ attention to a different site south of Soldier Field within Chicago city limits.
In March 2024. ESPN reported the team’s new plan involved committing more than $2 billion toward building a new. publicly owned domed stadium. Kevin Warren told ESPN. “The Chicago Bears are proud to contribute over $2 billion to build a stadium and improve open spaces for all families. fans and the general public to enjoy in the City of Chicago.” Warren said the future stadium would bring “a transformative opportunity” by boosting the economy. creating jobs. facilitating mega events. and generating millions in tax revenue.
In April 2024, the Bears revealed renderings for the proposed stadium project south of Soldier Field, estimated to cost $4.7 billion. Pritzker criticized the idea. saying: “I’m highly skeptical of the proposal that’s been made and I believe strongly that this is not a high priority for legislators and certainly not for me. when I compare it to all the other things.”.
On October 9. 2024. Warren said the Bears were focused on a stadium project on the lakeshore in Chicago. south of Soldier Field and Chicago’s Museum Campus. and offered a tentative timeline. He said in comments. “We’re continuing to make progress. ” and that they stay focused to be “able to be in the ground. start construction sometime in 2025. ” saying the team was having regular meetings with key business leaders and key politicians.
On April 2, 2025, the Chicago Tribune reported momentum shifted back toward Arlington Heights. Warren said after the conclusion of the 2025 owners meetings: “The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights.” The Tribune reported progress had been made to resolve “tax dynamics” that had led the Bears to pivot away from Arlington Heights one year prior. and Warren stood by his goal to begin construction at one of the sites by the end of 2025. He said: “My goal still remains to be able to move dirt around in 2025. ” adding that preconstruction work needs to happen.
On September 8, 2025, Warren penned an open letter to Bears fans declaring Arlington Heights “the only site within Cook County that meets that standard” on the day of the team’s season-opening game.
Cronin reported the Bears had to scrap their plan for a lakefront stadium again due to taxes and clashing visions for how the development project would be funded. Cronin wrote the team was unable to alleviate concerns about “the burden placed on taxpayers to fund the infrastructure.”
On December 17, 2025, the Bears announced an expanded search, including Northwest Indiana, after Illinois negotiations hit a roadblock. ESPN reported the Bears were seeking tax breaks and $855 million in public funds. Illinois lawmakers balked, leading to another roadblock in the Arlington Park vision.
Then the political path in Indiana changed the calculus
The Bears’ move toward Hammond accelerated after Indiana signaled it could build a financing framework quickly.
In February 2026, momentum built for a Northwest Indiana move. On Feb. 19, Indiana governor Mike Braun posted on social media on X that Indiana “identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond,” a city bordering Chicago and the Illinois border.
That same day, Indiana’s state House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed an amended version of Senate Bill 27. The bill would create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority charged with issuing bonds to finance construction of the stadium.
The Bears released their own statement via NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport on Feb. 19 declaring Senate Bill 27 “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.” Rapoport also reported that Illinois lawmakers canceled a meeting set for Thursday morning in the state House where a project bill involving the Bears was to be discussed.
Matt Hill. Pritzker’s Deputy Chief of Staff. wrote on X that Illinois “was ready to move this bill forward” after a productive three-hour meeting on Feb. 18, but that Bears leaders had asked the Illinois General Assembly to pause the hearing for tweaks to the bill. Hill wrote they were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana while ignoring Illinois.
Within a week, Indiana legislators voted to approve Senate Bill 27, and Braun signed it into Indiana state law one week later on Feb. 26.
A key shift followed from the Bears themselves: Chicago city limits were declared off the table
On May 21, 2026, the Bears said plans for a stadium within Chicago city limits were done. Their June 5 statement said they were moving forward with development in Hammond.
McCaskey and Warren framed Hammond as a project that would connect Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs, and as something that would bring “new opportunities” to residents and businesses.
Johnson, again, kept his skepticism tight to the mechanics: without a final site selection and without shovels, Chicago would keep engaging.
The NFL will still be the final gate, even if local politics line up quickly
The Bears’ stadium uncertainty is not only a question of who wants the team. The league’s role is explicit: for now, the NFL is closely monitoring the situation, but it will ultimately be involved because its owners must approve a new stadium.
That includes approval of construction parameters, environmental impact, and the financing plan.
One detail sharpens why the process can’t be rushed. Chicago’s Soldier Field is described as the NFL’s smallest stadium by capacity for home games. with room for 61. 500 fans. Arizona’s State Farm Stadium has the next-lowest capacity at 63. 400 seats for Cardinals games. but it can expand to 73. 000 for bigger events such as the Super Bowl.
A new stadium in the Chicagoland area would likely have the chance to host at least one Super Bowl, given the NFL’s pattern of rewarding new facilities with a Super Sunday date. Recent one-off Super Bowl sites listed include Detroit, North Texas, Indianapolis, and New Jersey.
A new stadium could also become a candidate for significant Big Ten and college football playoff games, and it could attract other major sports and entertainment events.
For the Bears, the story now turns on the kind of “next step” that can’t be talked into existence
Right now, the Bears have voted to focus on Hammond, announced progress on June 5, and declared that the future is either Arlington Heights or Hammond. But they have also said no exact site has been selected.
That gap—between a board vote and a shovels-in-the-ground future—is where politics collide with financing and environmental scrutiny. Hammond’s leaders are already calling it a transformative investment. Chicago’s mayor says it isn’t settled until a site is finalized and construction begins.
And even after local decisions, the NFL’s approval remains the last—and potentially decisive—checkpoint for how the stadium is built, what risks are addressed, and who pays.
The Bears’ next public move will likely be the one Johnson has been waiting for: a final site selection in Hammond that can survive both scrutiny and timelines.
Chicago Bears Hammond Indiana Soldier Field Arlington Heights NFL stadium Kevin Warren George McCaskey Mike Braun Illinois legislature Senate Bill 27 Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority
So they’re definitely leaving right? I mean they wouldn’t keep talking about it otherwise.
I don’t get why they’re calling it a win in Hammond if “no exact site” is picked?? Sounds like PR. Chicago should be mad but also what else is new.
Brandon Johnson is right though, you can’t just count it as real till the shovels are in. But I swear the NFL approvals part is always the same song and dance and then suddenly it’s approved. Feels like they’re already packed their bags.
Hammond is acting like it’s done, but then the Bears say no site picked? That’s like saying you’re buying a house while still deciding between apartments. And the article makes it sound like “doubts linger” like the money might fall through, which I guess is why Chicago side is suspicious.