Iowa Joins Race to Land Chicago Bears as Stadium-Incentive Bill Advances
Backers cast the measure as a long shot meant to position the state should the team look outside its current options.
Overview
- Iowa Senate File 2252 cleared a subcommittee, adding NFL stadium projects to the state’s economic attraction program.
- The proposal is designed to entice the Chicago Bears to build in Iowa, with Republican sponsors conceding the odds are long.
- Gov. Kim Reynolds voiced interest in pursuing the team, calling the idea a “wild pass,” while critics labeled the effort a gimmick.
- The Bears have not publicly responded to Iowa’s move and continue evaluating options in a Chicago suburb or northwest Indiana.
- Northwest Indiana cities Gary, Hammond, and Portage have signaled interest, and Iowa’s greater distance from Chicago raises questions about fit.