Photo by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Iowa does not have a bear population; it will occasionally get a wandering bear from neighboring states. Now, Iowa wants more bears in their state, Chicago Bear Fans, that is, and the whole organization. Iowa enters the fray with lawmakers pitching the “Iowa Bears.”
In a surprising turn for the ongoing Chicago Bears stadium saga, Iowa has officially entered the race to become the next home of the historic NFL franchise. On February 10, 2026, a group of Republican state senators introduced Senate File 2252, a bill specifically designed to lure the team across the Mississippi River by offering massive financial incentives for a new world-class facility.
The proposed legislation seeks to expand Iowa’s Major Economic Growth Attraction (MEGA) program. Originally intended for advanced manufacturing and biosciences, the bill would modify the program to include professional sports stadiums costing $1 billion or more.
If approved, the Bears could receive a suite of incentives, including:
“While Illinois and Indiana squabble over this issue, we are ready to get off the sidelines and into the game,” stated Senator Kerry Gruenhagen, one of the bill’s primary sponsors.
Location and Logistics
Proponents of the bill, including Senator Scott Webster, have suggested the Quad Cities, specifically the Iowa side near Davenport or Bettendorf, as the most logical location. Webster argues that a stadium in eastern Iowa would serve as a central hub, drawing fans not just from Chicago but also from Des Moines, Madison, and St. Louis.
However, critics point out significant geographical hurdles. The Quad Cities are approximately 130 miles west of Chicago’s suburbs, a nearly three-hour drive. For comparison, the furthest an NFL team currently plays from its namesake city is the San Francisco 49ers, whose Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is roughly 42 miles away.
A Three-Way Border War
Iowa’s late entry transforms the stadium search into a three-state competition:
Illinois: Currently the frontrunner. Reports on February 9, 2026, indicated that Governor J.B. Pritzker and state lawmakers are nearing a deal to provide infrastructure funding for a $5 billion domed stadium and entertainment district in Arlington Heights.
Indiana: Has already passed legislation to create the Northwest Indiana Sports Authority. Recent proposals include “Halas Harbor” in Portage and potential sites in Gary and Hammond.
Iowa: Pitching “tax certainty” and a conservative regulatory environment as the ultimate alternative to Illinois’ “punitive” climate.
The Chicago Bears have not yet commented on the Iowa proposal. While the team’s primary focus remains on the 326-acre property they already own in Arlington Heights, President and CEO Kevin Warren has confirmed the search is wide open due to past property tax stalemates in Cook County. Sources close to the negotiations expect a final decision on the team’s future home within the next few weeks, as both Indiana and Illinois stake their claims in this evolving saga of professional football.