Chicago Bears’ new $5 billion stadium in chaos as city makes last-ditch move to keep team from quitting entire state

CHICAGO has not yet given up in the fight to keep the Bears home.

It has widely been considered that the Bears won’t stay in Chicago, and maybe even Illinois, but that could change in a last minute decision.

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Renderings of the Bears’ proposed stadium in Arlington HeightsCredit: Manica

Renderings show the rival proposal for the Bears’ stadium from Gary, IndianaCredit: City of Gary, Ind

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and a group of state legislators are still fighting to keep the team in the city.

“We had an entire press conference, with a proposal on the lakefront two years ago,” Johnson said.

“How do you have an entire proposal with the Bears, with the city of Chicago, with labor, with the notion that somehow the greatest, the most fruitful, economic, viable, prime real estate anywhere in the state, anywhere in the region, is somehow not suited for world affairs?”

Johnson also added that “Chicago won’t take a back seat” in the stadium negotiations.

The Bears have faced opposition from local activists in their quest to build a stadium in the city.

Their previous lakefront proposal was shot down due to that effort plus a resistance to provide funding from governor JB Pritzker.

While Illinois politicians have grown more open to a stadium project recently, there isn’t any sign that opposition to a lakefront project has shrunk.

Governor Pritzker also said last week that “there’s a common understanding by most of the General Assembly that they’re not going to be able to build in the city of Chicago.”

With all of those factors considered, the Bears only options have been a site in Hammond, Indiana, or team-owned land in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Neither option is in Chicago, but at least Arlington Heights is still within the same state.

The Bears haven’t committed to any option yet, but Illinois is working on legislation to ease the team’s tax burden if they stay in the state.

“They’re now looking in Indiana as a place to actually bring that franchise,” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said.

“No news to report on it, but [we’re making] great headway.

“And the fact that they’re even considering coming to Hammond versus keeping it in their own state says a lot about what we’re trying to do to tell everyone that Indiana [is] open for business.”

A final decision could come from the Bears in the next few weeks.