The Chicago Bears are playing a strategic game, leveraging both Indiana and Illinois as they seek taxpayer support for a new stadium. Right now, it looks like Indiana might be pulling ahead in this race.
Both the Bears and Indiana's governor have released statements indicating progress toward a stadium deal. Meanwhile, Illinois was caught off guard by this development. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's spokesperson, Matt Hill, took to social media to express surprise, noting that just yesterday, the Bears seemed optimistic about passing a bill in the Illinois General Assembly to keep the team in-state.
Hill mentioned that Illinois was poised to advance the legislation after a productive three-hour meeting. However, the Bears requested a pause to refine the bill further. The next morning, Illinois officials were surprised to see the Bears praising Indiana, seemingly sidelining Illinois.
The Bears have been exploring options to secure taxpayer assistance to stay in Illinois, whether by upgrading Soldier Field or relocating to Arlington Heights, a suburb roughly 30 miles from Chicago. Meanwhile, the proposed site in Hammond, Indiana, is about 20 miles away, making it a viable contender in this stadium saga.