Indiana is laying out the welcome mat for the Chicago Bears, with a bill headed to Governor Mike Braun's desk aimed at enticing the team to Northwest Indiana. House Bill 1292 would establish a professional sports development commission tasked with crafting a strategy to attract a professional team, and the Bears are clearly on their radar. Though the commission wouldn't turn away any major sports franchise, the Bears are the marquee prize.
For over 50 years, Soldier Field has been home to the Bears, but talk of a move began circling back in 2021. That was further fueled when the Bears purchased the old Arlington International Racecourse site for $197 million in early 2023 and cleared it for development. Initially, the future seemed set on Arlington Heights, with Bears President Kevin Warren emphasizing the site as their primary focus in January 2023.
However, the tide shifted dramatically as plans surfaced in April 2024 for a stunning $4.7 billion lakefront complex in Chicago, featuring a domed stadium, expanded green spaces, and a revitalized Museum Campus near Soldier Field. This ambitious proposal called for significant public funding, with $900 million upfront and another $1.5 billion earmarked for surrounding infrastructure improvements.
But just when Arlington Heights appeared sidelined, it bounced back into play. By November 2024, the Bears had found middle ground with local officials on property tax issues, leading to a crucial agreement with nearby school districts by December. This rekindled interest in Arlington Heights sees the Bears now weighing both options: the suburban charm of Arlington and the iconic lakefront.
While the buzz around a potential Indiana move is new, the concept isn't. Back in 1995, with Soldier Field lease talks pending, the Bears floated an idea for a $482 million stadium-entertainment complex in Gary, Indiana called Planet Park.
It was a grand vision, featuring a three-tiered stadium equipped with 9,000 club seats and 138 skyboxes, a midway-entertainment plaza, a Bears hall of fame, and ample parking. However, a lack of financial backing from Lake County, Indiana, sank the project, and the Bears stayed put, leading to Soldier Field's renovation between 2001 and 2003.
Historical context adds another layer to Indiana's football connection. The short-lived Hammond Pros, founded in 1917, were NFL pioneers.
Though stadium-less, they made waves by being among the founding teams of the NFL in 1920 until folding in 1926. The team notably featured Fritz Pollard, the NFL's first Black head coach, and even saw future Bears founder George S.
Halas don their uniform in pre-NFL days.
As the Bears contemplate their future, Northwest Indiana's rich football history and strategic moves position it as a compelling contender in the unfolding saga of where the team might roam next.
