Bringing the Bears to Iowa: state lawmakers advance bill
The Chicago Bears are exploring options like moving to a Chicago suburb or northwest Indiana, but some Iowa lawmakers are looking to make a bid.
PEPPER PURPURA, KCCI EIGHT NEWS, IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. SO WE HAVE THE IOWA CUBS. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE IOWA BEARS? MAYBE GROUP OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IS TRYING TO BRING THE CHICAGO BEARS TO THE HAWKEYE STATE, AND NOT JUST TO PLAY TO MOVE HERE IN CHICAGO. MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. I WOULD THINK SO. TODAY, SENATE FILE 2252 PASS THROUGH SUBCOMMITTEE. THE MEASURE AIMS TO ATTRACT THE TEAM TO BUILD A STADIUM IN IOWA THROUGH INCENTIVES. NOW, THE BEARS HAVE BEEN IN CHICAGO SINCE THE 1920S, BUT THE TEAM IS EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS, INCLUDING MOVING TO A CHICAGO SUBURB OR EVEN NORTHWEST INDIANA. LAWMAKERS SAY THEY WANTED TO THROW IOWA IN THE HAT, EVEN IF THERE’S A VERY SLIM CHANCE OF BEING PICKED. WHY NOT? IOWA? AND MANY WOULD SAY IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME AND WE’RE GOING TO APPLY THAT VERY SAME PRINCIPLE TO A DIFFERENT SPORT. SO WE COULD BE THE HEART OF BEAR COUNTRY. AND NOT TO BE EVEN MORE PUNS IN THERE, BUT ALL I’M ASKING IS FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS TO GO THE DISTANCE. SO WHEN THEY WALK OUT ONTO THE FIELD THROUGH THE CORN, IS THAT WHAT THE
Bringing the Bears to Iowa: state lawmakers advance bill
The Chicago Bears are exploring options like moving to a Chicago suburb or northwest Indiana, but some Iowa lawmakers are looking to make a bid.
Updated: 10:25 PM CST Feb 12, 2026
Iowa Republican lawmakers are proposing incentives to attract the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in the state, as Senate File 2252 passed through a subcommittee today. The measure aims to entice the team, which has been in Chicago since the 1920s, to consider Iowa as a potential new home, even though the Bears are exploring options like moving to a Chicago suburb or northwest Indiana. Lawmakers acknowledge the slim chance of being picked but are eager to be considered.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa Republican lawmakers are proposing incentives to attract the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in the state, as Senate File 2252 passed through a subcommittee today.
The measure aims to entice the team, which has been in Chicago since the 1920s, to consider Iowa as a potential new home, even though the Bears are exploring options like moving to a Chicago suburb or northwest Indiana.
Lawmakers acknowledge the slim chance of being picked but are eager to be considered.