Chicago Bears release statement as Indiana committee passes Hammond stadium bill (chicago bears)
The Chicago Bears issued a formal statement Thursday after Indiana legislators unanimously advanced a bill that would create a new stadium authority and clear a path for a potential franchise move to Hammond. State leaders and local officials described the vote as a major step toward a stadium near Wolf Lake, while Illinois options face setbacks.
What the Bears said
The team acknowledged the committee action as the most significant milestone in its stadium planning to date and said it remains committed to completing site-specific due diligence near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond. The Bears highlighted the need to finish remaining work to support their vision of a world-class venue and expressed appreciation for state leadership that has established a framework for negotiations.
The statement emphasized a desire to continue building the working relationship with Indiana officials and positioned the prospective development as a destination for both local fans and visitors from around the globe. It also noted the Bears’ financial commitment in any discussion of a new stadium: the proposal discussed during the hearing includes the team contributing roughly $2 billion toward construction costs.
Legislative move and local reactions
Thursday morning ET, lawmakers on the Ways and Means Committee voted unanimously to advance SB 27 after an amendment that sets up the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. The measure would create a structure similar to an existing sports facilities authority used in another state and would authorize local taxation tools to help fund stadium construction and surrounding infrastructure.
Under the proposal, new food and beverage taxes and innkeepers taxes in northwest Indiana counties would be used to cover public costs tied to the project. Hammond’s mayor told the committee the city is prepared to partner with the team and do what it takes to support the development. The state’s House speaker described ongoing conversations with team officials and said the framework being adopted could underpin a public-private agreement for a world-class stadium.
The governor noted a promising site near Wolf Lake and framed the amendment as establishing essential structure to move the deal forward, contingent on successful site due diligence. Local leaders who lost out in initial state-level consideration reacted to the decision, signaling a shift in regional momentum and setting the stage for competing municipal efforts to remain relevant in the negotiations.
What comes next
With the bill advanced out of committee, the next steps will center on completing the site-specific reviews and finalizing terms between the team and the new stadium authority. Lawmakers framed their work as creating a pathway that allows conversations to continue in good faith, but emphasized that any final agreement would depend on satisfactory environmental, engineering and financial reviews.
At the same time, a separate Illinois committee that had been positioned to consider a 'Mega Project' bill — a measure that could have provided long-term property tax relief for a proposed Arlington Heights stadium — canceled its scheduled meeting Wednesday ET. State leaders in Illinois have said they continue to engage with team officials behind closed doors and that progress toward an in-state solution remains a priority.
For now, momentum sits with the Hammond proposal. If due diligence and negotiations proceed smoothly, the next phase will involve formalizing public financing mechanisms, detailed project planning and local approvals. Both supporters and critics have signaled that they will closely watch fiscal terms and long-term regional impacts as discussions move forward.
The development marks a significant moment in what has been a multi-year search for a new home for the franchise, and officials on both sides of the state line are preparing for an intensive period of negotiation and analysis before any final decision is made.
