Plans for the Bears’ new stadium, tentatively located in Chicago suburb Arlington Heights, are in flux following a lack of collaboration from Illinois legislators. Indiana lawmakers moved closer to creating a formal framework to potentially attract the Chicago Bears to northwest Indiana, while Bears CEO Kevin Warren recently indicated via an open letter the team is looking to northwest Indiana for potential locations. Render by Manica Architecture.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers moved closer to creating a formal framework to potentially attract the Chicago Bears to northwest Indiana, while local officials in Gary outlined specific sites and logistical advantages they said strengthened the state’s bid for the NFL franchise.

Amended language added Thursday, Jan. 15 to Senate Bill 27 proposed the creation of a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority empowered to acquire land, finance construction, issue long-term bonds and lease a stadium to a professional football team. The bill marked the Indiana Legislature’s first concrete policy step aimed at the Bears, which had explored stadium options outside Illinois and toured sites in northwest Indiana.

Authored by Republican Sens. Ryan Mishler of Mishawaka and Chris Garten of Charlestown, the bill was originally introduced as a placeholder at the start of the legislative session in December. Under the proposal, the authority would own a new stadium, issue bonds with maturities of up to 40 years and enter into a lease of at least 35 years with an NFL franchise.

The team would cover operating and maintenance costs and retain stadium-generated revenue.

Gary officials, meanwhile, said they identified three stadium sites ready for development: the Gary West End Entertainment District near Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Buffington Harbor along the Lake Michigan waterfront, and Miller Beach near Indiana Dunes National Park, which draws millions of visitors annually.

City leaders argued the sites’ proximity to major highways, the South Shore commuter rail and Gary-Chicago International Airport made the area more accessible to downtown Chicago than Arlington Heights, Ill.

Despite the momentum, significant questions remained unresolved, including the level of public investment, revenue-sharing terms and long-term financial risk for taxpayers.