The Chicago Bears announced during a press conference in Lake Forest that their “sole focus” remains on building a new stadium in Indiana, moving from Illinois where talks with the state remain “minimal.”
Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren and Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey held a press conference at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Thursday.
Warren said that the team’s board has advanced their stadium project in Hammond, Indiana.
He said the team has been working diligently on conducting studies and assembling land needed to build the “world-class stadium” and mixed-use development.
Warren called officials in Indiana “phenomenal partners” with a “can-do attitude,” while noting they are in almost daily communication with each other.
The due diligence at the Lost Marsh site is complete and due diligence is ongoing at the Wolf Lake Terminal site. The two could be combined for a bigger stadium site.
Warren said the Bears will take their time to get the project right and there was no timeline for a decision. He joked that his wife told him six months ago about not giving any more target dates.
“I think the biggest thing for our fans is we have to get this right. This is a 40-50 year decision,” he said.
The Bears previously purchased Arlington Park in Arlington Heights after announcing they were looking to move from Chicago. The team announced on June 5 that they were pivoting and advancing their stadium development project in Indiana.
Warren said during the Thursday press conference that the team has had “occasional” meetings with the State of Illinois but they have nothing in writing from Illinois and talks are “minimal.”
He said their “sole focus” is on Hammond, Indiana, while noting that the Arlington Heights project needed property tax and infrastructure certainty from lawmakers in Springfield, which has not been provided.
Warren also touted that the Bears have seen record revenue this past year and a 99% season ticket renewal rate.
McCaskey told reporters that the team would be the “Chicago Bears” whether they are in Arlington Heights or Hammond.
The chairman said he thought the Bears presented a “pretty compelling case” that a stadium in Arlington Heights would be beneficial for the village and the state. “Ultimately, that argument was unsuccessful.”
Illinois State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Lake Barrington) announced in mid-June a “straightforward business proposal” designed to keep the Chicago Bears in the state while protecting taxpayers through “transparency, accountability, and long-term financial certainty.”
The proposed legislation, known as the Taxpayer and Investment Protection Agreement (TIPA) Act (HB5797), would establish a framework for a public-private partnership that encourages major economic development projects to remain in Illinois rather than relocate to neighboring states.
The Chicago Bears, under the proposal, would privately invest a minimum of $2.5 billion toward the construction of a new stadium.
The State of Illinois would contribute up to $1.2 billion toward public infrastructure improvements, supporting both the stadium project and an estimated $4 billion in surrounding economic development.
The legislation would also establish an independent third-party audit committee responsible for issuing annual public reports to ensure that all parties comply with negotiated obligations and financial commitments.
“Illinois cannot afford to lose one of its most recognizable franchises and the billions of dollars in economic activity that come with it,” McLaughlin said.
“If we want major private investment to stay in Illinois, we must provide the same thing that every successful business environment provides: certainty, accountability, and clear rules,” he said.
The state representative’s legislation has not moved forward yet.