The Chicago Bears might be progressing with plans for a stadium in Indiana, but one Illinois lawmaker thinks the battle to keep the franchise is far from over.
State Sen. Sue Rezin said Tuesday that she considers the Bears' stadium search a close race between staying in Illinois and moving across the state line. Her assessment came about five weeks after the team's board approved a proposed development in Hammond, Ind.
"I would give it a 50-50 chance to have the Bears stay in Illinois," Rezin said during a legislative update.
The Bears have not selected a specific Hammond site or finalized a relocation. Their renewed interest in Indiana followed another legislative session that ended without an agreement addressing the tax and infrastructure issues tied to a new stadium in Illinois.
Rezin, the Illinois Senate's deputy minority leader, said lawmakers are still working toward a solution that could make an in-state project viable.
"It comes down to a legislative fix in Springfield to allow the Bears to be able to invest the kind of money that they want to build out the stadium, whether it's in the suburbs or downtown Chicago," Rezin said.
If the team stays in Illinois, Rezin believes Arlington Heights remains the most practical destination. The Bears paid $197.2 million in 2023 for the 326-acre site formerly occupied by Arlington International Racecourse, giving them enough space for a stadium and surrounding entertainment district.
"I think if they do stay in Illinois, they more than likely will be in the suburbs just because they purchased a couple hundred acres there and it's easier to build out the transportation and the logistics for the Bears stadium as well," Rezin said.
The Bears currently play at Soldier Field, their home since 1971. They have considered both a new stadium near the lakefront and the Arlington Heights property, but disagreements over public infrastructure support and long-term property taxes have slowed progress.
Indiana has responded with a financing framework designed to attract the franchise to Hammond. The Bears' board vote represented its most significant step toward an out-of-state move, though the team has stopped short of saying it will leave Illinois.
--Field Level Media