The Chicago Bears have called the Windy City home for over a century. But on Wednesday, team president and CEO Kevin Warren dropped a bombshell in an open letter to fans, as the Bears are expanding their search for a new stadium site beyond Illinois, explicitly including Northwest Indiana.
This announcement comes days before a crucial matchup for first place in the NFC North against the Green Bay Packers, and it has reignited debates about the team’s future.
While Warren insists the preferred location remains the Arlington Heights site in Illinois, the mention of crossing state lines has sparked outrage from Illinois officials and excitement in Indiana.
Bears Expand Stadium Search to Include Northwest Indiana
In an open letter posted on Wednesday, Warren was frustrated with Illinois state leadership, stating that the Arlington Heights deal “will not be a priority in 2026,” despite years of hopeful negotiations.
“Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana,” Warren wrote.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s spokesperson called the suggestion a “startling slap in the face” to loyal fans during a promising season. Meanwhile, Indiana Governor Mike Braun welcomed the idea, touting the state’s “pro-business climate” and promising economic boosts like jobs and another NFL franchise.
Northwest Indiana has positioned itself as a contender, with lawmakers creating a Professional Sports Development Commission earlier in 2025 to attract major teams. Cities like Hammond and Gary have been floated as potential sites, but no specific locations were named by the Bears.
The Bears’ Current Stadium Situation
Soldier Field, home of the Bears since 1971, is the NFL’s oldest and smallest stadium, seating around 61,500 after renovations. A 2003 overhaul costing over $600 million (largely taxpayer-funded) left a lingering debt of $356 million.
The team doesn’t own Soldier Field; it is actually managed by the Chicago Park District, making the Bears permanent tenants. This lack of control limits revenue from non-football events, a key income stream in today’s NFL. Soldier Field’s open-air design exposes fans to the true meaning of the “Windy City.”
Efforts to stay in Chicago have hit their respective roadblocks. In 2024, a lakefront dome proposal south of Soldier Field was estimated at $4.7 billion, later collapsing due to taxpayer concerns and parkland lawsuit risks.
The focus shifted back to Arlington Heights, a 326-acre former racetrack site purchased for $197 million in 2023, where the Bears envision a $5 billion mixed-use development with a fixed-roof stadium.
However, property tax disputes and stalled state funding have derailed timelines. The team aimed to break ground in 2025, but without legislative support for infrastructure and tax relief, that goal appears dead.
History of the Bears Clawing Around Illinois
The Chicago Bears have deep roots in Illinois, as they’ve had a few different places to call home over the years.
Founded in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys in Decatur, Illinois, the team moved to Chicago in 1921 and became the Bears in 1922. From 1921 to 1970, they played at Wrigley Field, but NFL rules after the 1970 merger required larger stadiums with lights. This would force the move to Soldier Field in 1971.
The most notable relocation was in 2002, while Soldier Field was undergoing renovation, the Bears played all home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. This was about 136 miles south of Chicago, on the University of Illinois campus. Fans hated the long drives, and it was never considered to be a permanent solution.
While Arlington Heights remains the stated preference, fans hope for resolution in the Land of Lincoln. But with political gridlock and Indiana’s open arms, the possibility of the Monsters of the Midway becoming neighbors across the border is very real.
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