🏈 BEARS PUT HAMMOND, INDIANA FRONT AND CENTER IN STADIUM SEARCH

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears are making it increasingly clear that Hammond, Indiana, is now the team's primary focus for a new stadium, although the door to Illinois has not been completely slammed shut.

During a Thursday update, Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren said the organization is devoting most of its attention and resources to advancing plans in Hammond. Warren said the team currently has no stadium offer from the State of Illinois, while McCaskey described recent communication with Illinois lawmakers as minimal.

HAMMOND IS NOW THE FOCUS

The Bears have been evaluating potential locations in Northwest Indiana after years of uncertainty surrounding proposals in Chicago and Arlington Heights.

The team says it is currently studying two potential Hammond sites, including the Lost Marsh area and property in the Wolf Lake region. The Bears are examining issues including land acquisition, infrastructure, financing and whether the sites could accommodate not only a stadium but a major mixed-use development.

Warren emphasized that the project would be much larger than a football field and parking lots. The organization envisions a fixed-roof stadium surrounded by additional development, potentially positioning the region to compete for major events such as the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS?

Illinois is not technically out of the running.

The Bears still own the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse property, which the organization purchased for approximately $197 million in 2023. Arlington Heights had long been considered the leading location for the team's future home.

However, efforts to secure legislation and resolve financial issues surrounding an Illinois stadium project have stalled.

Warren said occasional discussions with Illinois officials have continued, but the Bears' current focus is Hammond.

That means Illinois still has a path back into the conversation, but Indiana clearly has the momentum right now.

WOULD THEY STILL BE THE CHICAGO BEARS?

Yes.

McCaskey addressed one of the biggest questions surrounding a possible move across the state line and said the franchise will remain the Chicago Bears, regardless of whether its stadium ultimately sits in Arlington Heights or Hammond.

So don't start ordering those “Hammond Bears” jerseys just yet.

WHEN WILL THE BEARS MAKE A FINAL DECISION?

That's still unknown.

Warren said the organization is getting closer to the point where it must make a decision, but he declined to provide a specific deadline or groundbreaking date. He described the stadium as a decision that could shape the organization for the next 40 to 50 years.

The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033, meaning the team is not packing the moving trucks tomorrow.

But the latest comments from Bears leadership represent another significant step toward Indiana.

For now, the stadium scoreboard looks pretty simple:

Hammond: moving forward. Arlington Heights: still possible. Soldier Field: still home. Final decision: not yet.

And wherever the stadium eventually lands, McCaskey says one thing isn't changing:

They're still the Chicago Bears. 🐻⬇️

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