The Chicago Bears relocation saga has taken yet another twist.
The NFL franchise looked all but set to make the switch across state lines from the iconic Soldier Field in Illinois to northwest Indiana.
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The Bears are set to move away from their iconic Soldier Field in the coming years, but it’s uncertain where they will end upCredit: AFP
Indiana lawmakers announced that they had struck a deal with the Bears to bring them to the proposed site at Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had been seen touring the location, among other options, in January.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun then announced that “Indiana is open for business” on February 19, saying that all that was left to do was negotiate a final deal when bill SB-27 unanimously passed 24-0.
But just a week later, it was announced that the Illinois Mega Projects Bill passed the committee vote 13-7, and will now advance to the entire house, per WGN Radio’s Kevin Wells.
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This bill, if passed, would give large developers a break on property taxes, with the organization insisting that it is necessary legislation if they are to build a new $4.7 billion domed stadium in northwest suburban Arlington Heights.
The Bears already own the 326-acre Arlington Park racetrack property, having splashed $197 million on acquiring it in 2023, with the intention of breaking ground on the site for their new stadium in 2026.
Having been a three-state battle for at one point for one of the NFL’s oldest teams when Iowa joined the competition, it seems that moving to Hammond is not yet a foregone conclusion with Arlington Heights very much back in the mix.
But in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Braun stated his case as to why the Wolf Lake site in Hammond is more appealing than Arlington Heights.
“It’s got a lot of room there,” Braun said. “When it comes to the whole idea of how you’re going to acclimate, I mean you’ve already done timing.
“But it’s probably going to be easier to get down there for most of the current Bear fans than it would be fighting your way up through traffic to get to Arlington Heights.
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The Bears initially announced plans to relocate the team to Arlington Heights amid plans for a $5bn new domed stadiumCredit: Bears/MANICA
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The Bears had plans to build a multi-billion dollar stadium away from their lakefront home, but these are now up in the airCredit: Manica
“I think the fact that it’s happened in so many other places, the Bears nation are still going to be there, and you’re going to have a lot more folks from the region go to the ball games.”
Hammond, Indiana could pivot to targeting MLB franchise
Should the Bears opt to remain in Illinois and build on the Arlington Heights site – something quarterback Caleb Williams has vouched for – then Hammond could look to attract another one of Chicago’s major sports teams.
With two MLB franchises located in Chicago in the Cubs and the White Sox, David Haugh spoke on 104.3 The Score about the possibility that northwest Indiana could try and pursue the latter.
“It came up twice [possibility they could pursue the in conversations I’ve had in the past week with people on the other side of the state line in northwest Indiana,” Haugh said on Thursday.
“People who are, as I’d broadly describe as either politicians, lobbyists, people involved with Indiana politics.
“The conversation eventually might shift to the direction of well, if you have this northwest Indiana sports authority that is able to do things like pull levers … and what they can provide for the Bears in terms of selling bonds, providing infrastructure, all the things to lure a professional sports team to northwest Indiana.
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Bears QB Caleb Williams has been vocal about wanting to stay in ChicagoCredit: Getty
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Indiana have been speculated to make a run at luring the White Sox should they fail to land the BearsCredit: Getty
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“This is what they’re capable of doing under this new law that will be in reality soon.
“If they don’t get the Bears, the Sox, as recently as a year ago, were talking about the South Loop – the patch of land known as The 78. The Chicago Fire are building there.
“Joe Mansueto [Fire owner and chairman] is putting up $750 million of his own money. That’s going to be a beautiful structure and facility.
“But I don’t know if there’s room for a baseball stadium there. I don’t know if it makes sense to build there.
“If you’re the White Sox and you believe that you want to leave 35th and Shields, which I don’t think is a great idea. I think that ballpark is not as bad as some people have made it out to be.
“But if you are looking for a great deal, my sense would be that Indiana is gonna call if they don’t get the Bears.
“Why would you stop if you’re that ambitious and bold? I think you’d want to look at that as a possibility. I think it’s premature, it’s fun to consider, it’s what we do here.
“But it did come up in conversation and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not the last time.”
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Rate Field has housed the White Sox since 1991Credit: Getty
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Munetaka Murakami signed with the White Sox in December 2025Credit: Getty
While the Cubs’ home is Wrigley Field in the North Side of Chicago – where the Bears also played from 1920-1971 – the White Sox play their games at Rate Field in the South Side, approximately 16 miles away from Wolf Lake.
Indiana currently lacks a Major League team, though it houses three Minor League franchises, and could look to make the jump by pursuing the White Sox – worth $2 billion per Forbes – should their plans to lure the Bears fall through.
In the 2025 MLB season, the White Sox won just 60 of their 162 games, which was the second-fewest wins in the league ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (43-119).
However, that is a vast improvement on Chicago’s 41-121 record in 2024, with the team having made the postseason on just three occasions since they won the World Series back in 2005.
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Perhaps a new environment would be the perfect fresh start for the struggling baseball outfit.
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