{"id":863930,"date":"2026-04-11T12:19:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/863930\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T12:19:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T12:19:19","slug":"home-to-steel-mills-beaches-and-the-chicago-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/863930\/","title":{"rendered":"Home to steel mills, beaches and \u2026 the Chicago Bears?"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Kubacki has lived in both places where the Chicago Bears are considering building a new stadium<\/a> \u2014 and he knows which he prefers.<\/p>\n

Kubacki was born in Hammond, Indiana, but when he was a child, his family moved to Arlington Heights. After returning to attend Purdue University, he never left Indiana, raising his family in Hammond. His friends and family were there, and it made sense financially to stay in northwest Indiana, an area known as \u201cthe region.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the wind blows in the wrong direction, you smell the refinery,\u201d he conceded. \u201cBut we can be at the lakefront on our boat in five minutes. You can walk down the street at night. People wave. It\u2019s a true community.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the Bears move<\/a> to Indiana, they will become part of the region \u2014 a corner of the state that has much in common with both Chicago and Indiana, yet proudly protects its own identity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe region\u201d can spark arguments among its own residents as to how the area is defined. Originally named for the Calumet region, bound by its rivers, it generally covers the northwest corner of the state, in Lake and Porter counties.<\/p>\n

Many Chicagoans know the area only from driving through, and may think of it as the ruins of the Rust Belt, interrupted by the Indiana Dunes. The region rose from an industrial foundation, but like Chicago diversifying from its stockyard past, it now features a mix of quaint towns, luxury lakefront homes, booming suburbs and farmland.<\/p>\n

Still, certain personal traits remain valued: a blue-collar work ethic, street smarts and a feeling of community.<\/p>\n

Those characteristics could make it a good fit for the Bears. Many locals welcome the team, but are not thrilled about the rising taxes and costs that come with new development.<\/p>\n

In February, Indiana lawmakers authorized building an enclosed stadium for the Bears in Hammond, on the state border at Wolf Lake. The Bears would contribute $2 billion, with the state aiming to spend about $1 billion, to be repaid through an admissions tax and other local taxes<\/a>. Illinois lawmakers have yet to respond to the Bears\u2019 request to negotiate tax breaks for an alternate site they own in Arlington Heights.<\/p>\n

Whether the Bears relocate to Hammond or not, residents \u2014 some of whom proudly claim the label Region Rats, while others disdain the term \u2014 say they love their quirky corner of Indiana that\u2019s closer to the big city than parts of the North Shore.<\/p>\n

\"Shawn<\/p>\n

Shawn Weston calls out orders during the Lenten Friday fish fry at the Hammond Mohawks AC&C in Hammond, Indiana, March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Eddie<\/p>\n

Eddie Rzepczynski, of Schererville, Indiana, celebrates his 85th birthday at the Lenten Friday night fish fry at the Hammond Mohawks AC&C in Hammond on March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Menu<\/p>\n

Menu for the Lenten Friday fish fry at the Hammond Mohawks AC&C in Hammond, Indiana, March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Lenten Friday fish fry at the Hammond Mohawks AC&C in Hammond, Indiana on March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

Shawn Weston calls out orders during the Lenten Friday fish fry at the Hammond Mohawks AC&C in Hammond, Indiana, March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are considered a suburb of Chicago,\u201d Kubacki said. \u201cThere\u2019s pluses and minuses to it. The house I live in right now, my grandfather built it. The tax rate is much cheaper than Illinois. But everybody goes back and forth across the border all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

David and his wife, Suzette, help run the Friday night fish fry for the Hammond Mohawks social club. They love the family vibe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a feeling of community and closeness,\u201d Suzette Kubacki said. \u201cPeople here are really good. They\u2019re raising families, it\u2019s generational. Quite a few are still rooted here. You\u2019re a rock\u2019s throw from Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boom towns<\/p>\n

The region has much in common with Chicago. Residents get Chicago TV and radio stations, many are fans of Chicago sports teams, and many commute to the city. Like Chicago, the area has a mix of white ethnic groups, Blacks and Hispanics. Unlike most of Indiana, the region runs on Central Standard Time.<\/p>\n

Further reinforcing the overlap, businesses and residents increasingly are fleeing high taxes and prices in Illinois for a lower cost of living in Indiana.<\/p>\n

Yet the southern end of the region is worlds away from Chicago. It has a rural feel, with miles of open farmland, livestock and grain silos.<\/p>\n

In rural Lowell at the south end of the region, farmers were getting ready recently to plant crops. Roxie Antczak, who grew up on a dairy farm in the area, works at Harvest Tyme Family Farm, which opened for its annual tulip festival this weekend.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are very friendly and look after their neighbors,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful place to visit or live. Our pace is a bit different from what you\u2019d see in Chicago \u2014 it\u2019s relaxing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along Interstate 65 near Hebron, a billboard proclaiming \u201cHell is Real\u201d is considered one informal landmark for entering the region, while a sign stating, \u201cJesus is Real\u201d welcomes travelers to the rest of Indiana. The region is also home to the movie, \u201cA Christmas Story.\u201d Though set in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the film is based on author Jean Shepherd Jr.\u2019s childhood in Hammond.\n<\/p>\n

Parts of the area are booming. Lake and Porter counties have seen recent population growth to nearly 700,000 residents, especially in towns farther south near the border, including Crown Point, Cedar Lake and St. John, the latter with a median income of $131,000. Business and population also have moved farther east, to Valparaiso and Chesterton.\n<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a series of new developments is reshaping the area, for better or worse.<\/p>\n

Amazon announced plans<\/a> to invest $15 billion for new data center campuses for artificial intelligence and cloud computing in northern Indiana, creating 1,100 jobs.
\n\"PeoplePeople take photos and videos of the inaugural run of the South Shore Line\u2019s new Monon Corridor route, March 31, 2026, at the Hammond Gateway Station in Hammond, Indiana. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

A new commuter railroad spur opened this spring<\/a> from the South Shore Line in Hammond to Munster and Dyer, which connects to Chicago.\n<\/p>\n

In Michigan City<\/a> along the lakefront, a new second track speeds up travel time to Chicago, and plans call for a $300 million luxury hotel and townhouse development to transform the city into a commuter and tourist destination.\n<\/p>\n

Michigan City building boom aims to overcome industrial past to draw Chicagoans to visit and stay<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The development is meant to capitalize on the Indiana Dunes state and national parks, which combined draw nearly 4 million visitors annually. Despite the region\u2019s industrial reputation, the Dunes are among the most biologically diverse parks in the nation, and thousands of sandhill cranes migrate through since a recent habitat restoration.\n<\/p>\n

The Marquette Greenway ties much of the area together via a 60-mile recreational path partially completed from Chicago\u2019s Calumet Park to New Buffalo. For people who live there, attractions like that make the region an attractive place to live.<\/p>\n

At Meditrina Market Cafe in Valparaiso, where the specials include cilantro naan and eggplant shawarma, Rachael and Peter Brown raved about the local dining scene.<\/p>\n

Rachael Browngrew up in Merrillville and moved to Chicago to work, but the couple came back in 2020 to be closer to family. Peter Brown generally works remotely but can commute to Chicago on an express commuter bus known as the ChicaGo Dash.\n<\/p>\n

Their home would have cost three or four times as much in Chicago. The schools are good, and the high school football team won the state championship in 2022. They like the affordable living and the safe, child-friendly atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cKids can roam and be kids,\u201d Rachael said. \u201cIt\u2019s got a small-town feel and community, but there\u2019s still a lot to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the same time, the region has its problems. Skyrocketing utility bills and labor disputes are prompting some residents to take to the streets in protest.<\/p>\n

NIPSCO, the northern Indiana utility company, is under investigation for overcharging customers. It also recently locked out more than 1,600 workers over contract negotiations, while more than 800 workers are locked out<\/a> over a contract dispute at the BP Whiting refinery near the Bears site.<\/p>\n

Some residents say it\u2019s stressful to live in the area because of environmental hazards from industrial waste, along with plans to keep burning coal at power plants.<\/p>\n

And some are pushing back against big business. Environmental activists oppose proposed data centers in Michigan City<\/a>, Hobart, Lowell and elsewhere, warning that they will suck energy and water away from residents.\n<\/p>\n

Overcoming its industrial past<\/p>\n

One reason Hoosier lawmakers were so quick to support a deal for the Bears is that parts of northwest Indiana could use an economic boost.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rise and decline of American industry is the story of the region,\u201d Indiana University Northwest history professor emeritus James Lane said.<\/p>\n

\"IndustryIndustry in Whiting, Indiana, on March 27, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Historically, the region was defined by the steel industry. U.S. Steel Corp.\u2019s Gary Works once was the largest steel mill in the world, employing some 30,000 workers. They made steel for cars, ships and tanks, and Chicago skyscrapers.\n<\/p>\n

But by the 1970s, foreign competition and automation undercut the market, resulting in thousands of lost jobs and crime that made Gary the murder capital of the U.S. White flight left much of the city abandoned, and much of the remaining Black population was left in poverty.<\/p>\n

Decades later, there are signs of an economic comeback. In 2023, Japan\u2019s Nippon Steel bought U.S. Steel and made plans to invest $3 billion in the Gary Works<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The plant still employs<\/a> more than 4,000 workers, with an annual payroll of $700 million and pays taxes of $67 million \u2014 far more than the Bears would produce.<\/p>\n

Now, residents and Mayor Eddie Melton are making efforts to revitalize the city \u2014 the childhood home of Michael Jackson and his brothers \u2014 by tearing down blighted buildings and pursuing a ten-year redevelopment plan. The city\u2019s crime numbers fell drastically<\/a> in 2025, with its lowest homicide rate in 55 years.<\/p>\n

The city is home to a Hard Rock Casino and a planned Lake County Convention Center and $60 million FedEx distribution center.\n<\/p>\n

\u2018I love it\u2019<\/p>\n

Despite its affinity with Chicago, the region has something of a love-hate relationship with its bigger neighbor.<\/p>\n

As in Wisconsin, visitors from Illinois are sometimes referred to derogatorily using a swear word, and there is concern an influx of Chicagoans will raise housing prices. But recent visits to the region found only a friendly reception.<\/p>\n

At the Center Lounge in the quaint downtown of Whiting at midday, where specials include perch and frog legs, several folks at the bar were enjoying conversation and lunch with a shot and a beer.<\/p>\n

\"Members<\/p>\n

Members of the Whiting Buscia Brigade participate in an Easter parade in Whiting, Indiana, March 28, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Bartender<\/p>\n

Bartender Chrissy Chovan serves up drinks and chats with patrons at Center Lounge in Whiting, Indiana, March 6, 2026. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A sign welcomes visitors to Whiting, Indiana, along 119th Street, March 9, 2026. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A woman walks her dog in Whiting, Indiana, along 119th Street, March 9, 2026. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A womanat Whihala Beach in Whiting Indiana, gets a view of the Chicago skyline, March 9, 2026. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"Early<\/p>\n

Early morning fog envelopes Whihala Beach in Whiting, Indiana, March 6, 2026. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 6<\/p>\n

Members of the Whiting Buscia Brigade participate in an Easter parade in Whiting, Indiana, March 28, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

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Local neighborhoods are so close-knit that everyone knows each other, said Allison Buell, a teacher and coach in Hammond. While most people welcome the Bears, many residents have lived in the region all their lives and like it the way it is.<\/p>\n

As a Democratic enclave in an otherwise Republican state, she said, Indiana officials sometimes give the region short shrift. So while the area would benefit from the Bears, many residents resent that a new football stadium would be financed in part with a 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be great if Indiana didn\u2019t tax the heck out of us,\u201d Buell said. \u201cSome people here are very set in their ways. They don\u2019t want any change at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gary Police Cmdr. Tom Pawlak says he would love the Bears coming to the area, and considers a 1% higher food and beverage tax \u201can investment in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pawlak has lived his whole life in the region, he said, since 1959. \u201cI love it, or I wouldn\u2019t still be living here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GaryGary Police Cmdr. Thomas Pawlak stops for breakfast at Angie\u2019s Breakfast & Grill in Merrillville, Indiana, March 23, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Residents treasure their beaches, boating, fishing and hunting, particularly where the Bears want to build near Wolf Lake<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful nature setting,\u201d retired insurance worker turned security guard Patrick Coughlin said.<\/p>\n

When he grew up across the border in Calumet City, Coughlin said, the region was looked down upon as \u201ca little seedier.\u201d But now he lives in Hammond and said there\u2019ve been great improvements, including a new fire station, high school and a YMCA with a water park.<\/p>\n

\"LandLand along Wolf Lake, at left, sits just south of Lake Michigan in the general area of the Chicago Bears proposed stadium location in Hammond, Indiana, Feb. 25, 2026. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

Across the street from Wolf Lake, new homes are being built, advertising affordable living close to Chicago. Prices run from $527,000 and up. One house, still under construction, sported a sign out front with the Bears logo: \u201cGo Bears! Go Hammond!\u201d<\/p>\n

One point those interviewed agreed on, which may also reflect the skeptical mindset of the region: They don\u2019t believe the Bears will come. They think the threat to move is just gamesmanship to get a better deal in Springfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019ll happen,\u201d retired utility worker Bob Lukascek said. \u201cIt\u2019s a ploy to get money from Illinois.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"David Kubacki has lived in both places where the Chicago Bears are considering building a new stadium \u2014…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":863931,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2070],"tags":[374,23343,692,391,7242,2493,7,109665,98230,23953,10658,66131,98231,6,117429,117430],"class_list":{"0":"post-863930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-bears","8":"tag-bears","9":"tag-bears-stadium-news","10":"tag-chicago","11":"tag-chicago-bears","12":"tag-chicago-bears-stadium","13":"tag-chicagobears","14":"tag-football","15":"tag-hammond-indiana","16":"tag-indiana-bears","17":"tag-jb-pritzker","18":"tag-kevin-warren","19":"tag-michigan-city","20":"tag-mike-braun","21":"tag-nfl","22":"tag-the-region","23":"tag-the-region-indiana"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116386045137683109","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=863930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/863931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=863930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=863930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=863930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}