Overview
- The Chicago Bears have narrowed their search to two sites — Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Hammond (Wolf Lake), Indiana — and the team and NFL expect a decision by late summer.
- Indiana’s legislature has passed enabling stadium legislation and Gov. Mike Braun has publicly courted the Bears, with Braun saying he rates Indiana’s odds at about 65‑35.
- Illinois’ megaprojects bill, which would let developers freeze property tax assessments for up to 40 years and set aside 50% of the team’s annual payment for tax relief, remains stalled in the state Senate ahead of the spring session deadline on Sunday.
- Local officials and some Illinois lawmakers oppose the current bill language because it lacks strong clawbacks, includes a contested amusement‑tax provision, and does not resolve the Bears’ roughly $850 million request for road and bridge reconfiguration or the team’s unreleased traffic study.
- If Illinois does not pass a workable deal, the likely outcome is a cross‑state move that would shift planning and tax questions to Indiana and leave suburbs and taxpayers in both states facing major infrastructure and fiscal decisions.