Bears to Select Stadium Site in IL or IN by Early Summer

The Chicago Bears are targeting late spring or early summer to select a site for a new enclosed stadium, either in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois, or Hammond, Indiana, team president and CEO Kevin Warren announced Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix.

Warren described both locations as excellent options during discussions with reporters. The team owns 326 acres in Arlington Heights, the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse, about 30 miles northwest of their current home at Soldier Field on Chicago's lakefront. The Hammond site spans roughly 340 acres, approximately 25 miles southeast across the state line. The Bears had initially hoped to begin construction in 2025 but now face delays as they await legislative support in both states.

In Indiana, lawmakers recently passed a bill establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance land acquisition and stadium development, including property tax relief and funding assistance. The Bears would cover the bulk of the estimated $2 billion construction costs for the football facility itself. Warren noted the state's progress, though the team is conducting due diligence on infrastructure,...