Chicago Bears Moving To Indiana as Hammond Stadium Bill Advances

Chicago Bears Moving To Indiana after Indiana lawmakers unanimously pushed a stadium bill out of committee Thursday morning ET, a move that the team said would be the most meaningful step in its stadium planning and that could lead to a new venue near Wolf Lake in Hammond.

What the Hammond bill would create

Legislators voted unanimously Thursday morning ET to advance legislation that would establish a Northwest Indiana Stadium authority modeled on an existing Illinois sports authority. The amendment to the bill, identified in discussions as SB 27, sets a framework intended to support contract negotiations and site-specific due diligence for a stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond.

Lawmakers included financing elements in the proposal: the Bears would contribute $2 billion toward construction costs, and the proposal would create new food, beverage and innkeepers taxes in northwest Indiana counties to help fund the stadium and related infrastructure.

Chicago Bears Moving To Indiana

The Bears issued a statement saying the passage of SB 27 would be the most meaningful step forward in their stadium planning efforts to date and that they were committed to finishing the remaining site-specific due diligence to support a vision to build a world-class stadium near Wolf Lake. The team said it values its partnership with Indiana leaders and looks forward to continuing to build a working relationship.

Reactions from officials and residents

Indiana officials expressed support for the proposal during the committee hearing. Hammond's mayor said the city was ready to partner with the Bears and would do whatever it takes to help make the project a success, calling Hammond uniquely positioned as part of the Chicagoland region. The Indiana Speaker of the House described ongoing conversations with the Bears as excellent and framed the legislation as the foundation for a public-private partnership centered on a world-class stadium.

Indiana's governor said the state was open for business, identified a promising site near Wolf Lake, and said the amendment to SB 27 put forward the essential framework to complete an agreement, contingent on site due diligence proceeding smoothly.

There was strong public reaction. One fan quoted by witnesses said he did not want to see the Bears leave Illinois, while another said the Bears would be "dead to me" if they moved to Hammond. A named local fan described the Bears as an essential Chicago institution and expressed alarm at the idea of a move.

Illinois' governor said he was surprised and disappointed after the Bears released their statement. He said his team had completed more than three hours of discussions with the Bears and had mostly agreed on a bill to move forward, and that the Bears had asked Illinois not to proceed at that time. An Illinois committee hearing was canceled amid the developments.

Next steps and conditional outlook

The bill now moves beyond the committee that advanced it; SB 27's amendment establishes a negotiating framework but leaves completion contingent on due diligence and site-specific reviews. If site due diligence proceeds smoothly, the amendment puts forward the essential framework to complete an agreement. It is not publicly confirmed whether the Bears will relocate or when any final decision would be announced.

Observers should watch for the conclusion of the Bears' site-specific due diligence, final legislative action on the amended bill, and any formal agreements between the team and Indiana authorities. Those steps would clarify whether the framework advances to a binding deal and when construction planning or financing arrangements might begin.