Shae Cornette embraced the spirit of her new job on Friday morning, offering a contrarian perspective on the Chicago Bears\u2019 controversial move out of Soldier Field.<\/p>\n
Cornette, a Chicago native, said on ESPN\u2019s\u00a0First Take that she was \u201cnot that mad about\u201d the Bears\u2019 move to northwest Indiana, arguing that it could ultimately be better for the team\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has a lot of people in Chicago up in arms. For me? I\u2019m actually not that mad about it,\u201d Cornette explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I don\u2019t still live in Chicago, but I understand how awful it sounds to move a team that literally says, \u2018For the pride of Illinois,\u2019 out of Illinois. But Soldier Field is notoriously one of the worst stadiums<\/a> to get in and out of as a fan. It is horrible, there is nothing around it. And if you have to move 20 minutes up the road, albeit across state lines, to make the fan experience better, I\u2019m fine with it.\u201d<\/p>\n An Indiana state legislature committee this week approved an amendment to State Bill 27 that would create a stadium authority with the power to fund a new building in the area the Bears have been eyeing. If the bill is passed, Chicago\u2019s team would seemingly be set to play outside Chicago.<\/p>\n Yet Cornette believes the Bears\u2019 actions in these negotiations are in line with plenty of other NFL teams. And that, if the move ultimately leads to the team playing in a more accessible facility, she supports it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Hammond, Indiana, is what\u2019s going to make everyone happy, we can move forward with this and make the fan experience better, I\u2019m OK with it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere do the Jets and Giants play? They don\u2019t play in New York. The San Francisco 49ers don\u2019t play in San Francisco. They play in Santa Clara. I could go on \u2026 this is not that big of a deal. It\u2019s 20 minutes from Soldier Field. Make it right, and make it good for the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n Hammond is southeast of Chicago along Lake Michigan. Officials say the new stadium site would be a 20-minute drive from Soldier Field.<\/p>\n