Hammond Bears? chicago bears say Wolf Lake site is now their main stadium focus
The Chicago Bears signaled that Hammond, Indiana — near Wolf Lake — is their primary stadium site as Indiana lawmakers advanced legislation this week to create a stadium finance authority that could help bring a new domed venue to northwest Indiana. The move marks a tangible shift in the multi-year search for a replacement for the team’s current home, even as plans in Illinois remain active.
Indiana advances a framework to lure the team
On Thursday, a state House committee unanimously approved an amendment to a bill that would establish the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, giving lawmakers and local leaders the tools to issue bonds, acquire land and finance construction for a stadium. Committee leaders described the vote as a major step forward and said the measure clears a pathway for more detailed negotiations between the state, Hammond officials and the team.
Hammond’s mayor told the committee the city is prepared to partner with the franchise and do “whatever it takes” to help realize the project. State lawmakers framed the vote as an opportunity to capture a major economic development project that could draw Bears fans and visitors from the broader Chicago metro area. One state leader read a statement from the team noting that the bill’s passage would be the most meaningful step yet in its stadium planning efforts and that the club is committed to finishing remaining site-specific due diligence for a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area.
The team’s public remarks included a concise confirmation that Hammond is the site they are focused on, while noting work remains to be done. Indiana’s governor praised the progress, calling the state open for business and describing quick coordination between state agencies and local government as central to moving the project forward.
Illinois negotiations continue; Arlington Heights still a possibility
Despite the momentum in Indiana, the Bears have not ruled out Arlington Heights or options within the city of Chicago. Illinois lawmakers and the governor have been engaged in talks aimed at producing a framework that would allow the team to negotiate payments with local taxing bodies in lieu of full property taxes and to secure public funds for infrastructure around a proposed Arlington Heights site.
An Illinois committee had been scheduled to hear a related bill this week, but the meeting was canceled after team leaders requested more time to refine language. Illinois they were surprised by public statements praising Indiana while negotiations in their state continued, but they described conversations as productive and expressed continued interest in advancing a solution for a stadium within Illinois.
Next steps and potential timeline
With Indiana’s legislative action, the Bears have signaled they will complete site-specific due diligence in Hammond. That process typically includes environmental reviews, transportation and infrastructure planning, land acquisition details and financial modeling. If due diligence proceeds smoothly and negotiations between the franchise and the new stadium authority advance, the next steps would likely include formal land agreements, bond issuances and a public-private financing plan.
Even as Indiana moves quickly, officials on both sides of the state line warned that a final decision will depend on the outcome of complex negotiations and approvals. The team has previously estimated a multi-billion-dollar investment in a new stadium and has asked for public support for essential infrastructure improvements. For now, Hammond stands as the primary focus, Arlington Heights remains in play, and state capitals in both Indiana and Illinois will be watching closely as the process unfolds.
