Chicago Bears focus on Hammond, Indiana, for new stadium project

The Chicago Bears are intensifying efforts to develop a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, as negotiations with the state of Illinois have stalled. Team Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren confirmed that the franchise's primary focus is now on Northwest Indiana, noting that there has been no progress regarding potential sites in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

The team is currently evaluating two specific locations in Hammond: the Lost Marsh site, which has completed its review, and the Wolf Lake Terminal site, which is undergoing due diligence. There are indications that the team may consider merging these two sites for the development. A potential hurdle involving land protected by the U.S. Department of Defense at Wolf Lake may be resolving, with reports suggesting the Department has agreed to relocate its property.

While the team is looking toward Indiana, leadership emphasized that the franchise will remain the ‘Chicago Bears’ regardless of the final location. The move follows a lack of legislative support in Illinois for tax and infrastructure incentives. The state of Indiana has reportedly offered a more favorable package, including tax guarantees, to attract the NFL franchise.