Overview
- The Chicago Bears issued a statement Thursday saying they have “exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago” and that only two sites remain under consideration: a 326‑acre parcel in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and a Wolf Lake site in Hammond, Indiana.
- Indiana’s legislature has passed and the governor signed enabling legislation to create a stadium authority for Hammond, while Illinois’ House-approved ‘megaprojects’ tax bill that would aid an Arlington Heights project has stalled in the Senate with a May 31 adjournment deadline.
- City and team officials offer conflicting accounts of recent contacts: Mayor Brandon Johnson said the Bears’ lawyers met with the city about a lakefront option, and the Bears replied that any exchanges were limited to counsel‑to‑counsel talks and produced no substantive change, a dispute that has slowed Illinois support.
- Key technical and cost questions remain unresolved, including an outstanding traffic study for Arlington Heights, estimated public infrastructure needs reported around $850 million, and a proposed multibillion‑dollar domed stadium that sources have pegged near $5 billion.
- The NFL and team leadership want a decision by late spring or early summer; that timeline, the May 31 legislative calendar, rising construction costs and the Bears’ Soldier Field lease through 2033 with an estimated early‑exit penalty mean a near‑term site choice will shape fans, local taxes and regional planning.