Indiana unanimously passes bill to lure Bears away from Chicago

Chicago Bears‘ The effort for a new stadium took a “meaningful step” forward Thursday, opening the door for the franchise famous for leaving Illinois to potentially build a new, domed stadium in Northwest Indiana.

Indiana lawmakers on the State House Ways and Means Committee Amendments to Indiana State Bill 27 were approved by a unanimous 24-0 vote On Thursday, that would clear the way for the Bears to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

The bill would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, which would have the power to issue bonds, acquire land, and finance construction of the stadium.

“The passage of SB 27 will be the most meaningful step yet in our stadium planning efforts,” the Bears said in a statement obtained by ESPN. “We are committed to completing the remaining site-specific due diligence to support our vision of building a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana.

“We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this important structure and look forward to providing a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from around the world. We value our partnership and look forward to continuing our working relationship together.”

The Wolf Lake area, which crosses the Illinois–Indiana border along Interstate 90, is located on the southeast side of Chicago and northwest of Hammond, Indiana, about 25 minutes south of Soldier Field.

on his x account, Indiana Governor Mike Braun wrote “Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities such as this partnership with the Chicago Bears. We have identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and have established a comprehensive framework for negotiating the final deal. If approved, the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 27 lays out the framework necessary to close this deal, contingent on site due diligence proceeding smoothly. Is.

“The state of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we have set the stage for a big win for all Hoosiers through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government and the legislature. We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation of a public-private partnership that will lead to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”

The Bears were seeking legislation in the state of Illinois that would allow teams to negotiate tax payments with local governing bodies instead of paying full property taxes. The team had previously announced that it would invest $2 billion in building a stadium, but was seeking an estimated $850 million in public funding to cover “essential local infrastructure”, including improvements to roads, sewers and nearby commuter rail lines. The team purchased a 326-acre property in Arlington Heights, Illinois..

An Illinois House panel was set to hold a hearing on such legislation Thursday morning, but the committee canceled the meeting.

A spokesperson for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said that “Illinois was ready to advance this bill. After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, Bears leaders requested ILGA pause the hearing to make further changes to the bill. This morning, we were surprised to see a statement praising Indiana and ignoring Illinois.”

The Bears’ current lease at Soldier Field – the stadium where they play but which is owned by the city of Chicago – runs through 2033.