The Chicago Bears have taken a major step in their expansion efforts by voting to advance a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. This decision marks the first time the Bears’ board has voted on a stadium site, signaling a new chapter for the team and the region.
In a joint statement, Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren expressed their vision for the project. ‘We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,’ they stated. ‘It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.’
The Bears’ decision follows their purchase of a 326-acre plot of land at Arlington Park, finalized in 2023. The move has been welcomed by Indiana officials, including Governor Mike Braun, who sees the project as a boon for the state’s economy. ‘We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come,’ Braun said.
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) echoed these sentiments, highlighting the positive impact on the state’s business climate. ‘Local elected leadership in Northwest Indiana and their constituents have been tremendous partners in making this happen,’ Huston noted. ‘The Bears join a long line of companies and residents choosing Indiana to invest, grow, and pursue opportunity.’
The groundwork for this project was laid by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr.’s (D-East Chicago) 2025 legislation, House Enrolled Act 1292, which established the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission. This was followed by Senate Enrolled Act 27, creating the stadium authority to support the project’s funding framework. Harris, who played a key role in the bipartisan effort, reflected on his late father’s advocacy for the Bears’ move to Indiana. ‘My late father, Earl Harris Sr., was a champion for bringing the Bears to Northwest Indiana when he served at the Statehouse,’ Harris said. ‘I know he would be thrilled… We were able to bring the Chicago Bears to Hammond only because Indiana legislators were willing to work across the aisle to get this project to the end zone.’
Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.
