Chicago Bears, Indiana lawmakers take big step toward new stadium in Hammond

HAMMOND, Ind. (WNDU) - After months of talks and political pressure in Indiana and Illinois, the Monsters of the Midway could find a home in Hammond.

The Chicago Bears are one step closer to potentially moving to Northwest Indiana after Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott unveiled a stadium plan with the team Thursday, following legislative approval of a bill creating financing mechanisms for the project.

McDermott’s announcement came after Senate Bill 27, which creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, passed the House Ways & Means committee unanimously with a 24-0 vote. The bill now returns to the Indiana House for consideration.

“I appreciate the collaboration with the Chicago Bears’ leadership team as we’ve explored the possibility of the Bears moving to Indiana,” said Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), co-author of Senate Bill 27. “The House committee passage of SB 27 brings us one step closer in the process, and I look forward to continuing to foster our working relationship with them as we demonstrate why Indiana would be a great place for the Bears.”

According to our sister station WTHR, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said the Bears expressed strong interest in building a stadium in Hammond. During a hearing for the stadium authority bill, Huston said the Bears were committed to contributing $2 billion toward the project.

Bears commit to Hammond site evaluation

According to WTHR, Huston read a statement from the Bears which said:

“The passage of SB 27 marks the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date. We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build 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 critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,” the team said. “We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”

McDermott said the legislation provides a solid framework for the state’s commitment.

“Senate Bill 27 also lays out a solid framework for the state’s commitment to bringing the Bears to Hammond,” McDermott said. “The Bears today in their press release mentioned their commitment to finishing the due diligence to fulfill their vision and make a site near Wolf Lake in Hammond their future home and to build a world-class stadium there.”

The Bears expanded their search for a new stadium to include northwest Indiana late last year.

Mayor says Bears frustrated with Illinois treatment

McDermott said he believes the Bears are frustrated with their treatment in Illinois.

“I think the Bears are frustrated with what’s going on in Illinois. I really do. I feel like they’re tired of asking and being vilified,” McDermott said. “It hit me, I went to a playoff game, I was at the Bears-Packers game — and we were singing the fight song because we won that game, it was a good one — and when we were singing the fight song, you get to that part where it says ‘the pride and joy of Illinois,’ and I was thinking to myself because I met with the Bears ownership by then, ‘they’re not being treated like the pride and joy of Illinois.’”

McDermott said he thinks the Bears are “sick and tired of the runaround.”

“They are a world-class organization and they can’t get the deal done in their home state. And as soon as they come to Indiana, they get a unanimous vote — Republicans and Democrats out of the House Ways & Means committee,” he said. “It’s night and day the treatment that the Bears are receiving in Indiana versus the treatment they’re getting in Illinois.”

Hammond residents react with excitement and concerns

McDermott said the cost for the stadium will not entirely fall on property owners and will hopefully bring Chicago business to Hammond. He said he wants Hammond to be known as “Bearsville.”

Bears fan Tresa Tartar said the proximity would be a major benefit.

“It’s exciting. Not only do we have a quarterback and a good coach, but we actually could get here in like 15 minutes, so it would be cool. It would be really cool,” Tartar said.

John Tartar said he believes Chicago is at fault for the potential move.

“I think Chicago dropped the ball on the Bears a long time ago. If they’re going to try and keep them, I think it’s a great time for them to do that, but they better step up,” John Tartar said. “And if the Bears move, it’s Chicago’s fault.”

Bears fan Greg Braggs, who has lived in Northwest Indiana for 40 years, expressed mixed emotions about the potential move but said the region has always identified with Chicago.

“It’s exciting from that standpoint. But as a Bears fan, when we sing the fight song they’re ‘the pride and joy of Illinois,’ now to move them to Indiana I could understand why Bears fans would be upset about that,” Braggs said. “If that’s not a reality, so be it. It is kind of mixed emotions for sure.”

Braggs said Northwest Indiana residents have always identified more with Chicago than Indiana.

“As somebody that’s a ‘Region Rat’ born and raised, we have always identified with Chicago. If you ask anybody from Northwest Indiana, we identify more with being Chicagoans than we are residents of Indiana,” he said. “And so, this is something that I feel like is something that really always was a long time coming in some weird way because this area is Chicago.”

Illinois governor expresses disappointment

According to WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was “very disappointed” in the Bears after the team issued a statement praising work done by the Indiana legislature.

Pritzker said his team met with the Bears on Wednesday and were prepared to move forward with a bill addressing parameters of a deal to construct a new stadium in Arlington Heights. Instead, the Bears asked them to postpone Thursday’s hearing.

“We have made a lot of advancement in that conversation with them. I’m surprised, dismayed, very disappointed in what I saw in a statement,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker said he would await the Bears’ next move in Illinois negotiations since the team’s statement did not indicate a final decision to move to Indiana.

Other mayors react to Hammond selection

The mayors of Gary and Portage, who had also unveiled proposals to lure the Bears, issued statements regarding Thursday’s announcement.

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton expressed disappointment with the state not selecting his city but said he would support the regional effort.

“While I would be less than honest if I said there isn’t some level of disappointment, I am encouraged to see meaningful progress in this process,” Melton said. He added he “will join leaders from across the state in welcoming the Bears to Northwest Indiana” should the team move forward in Hammond.

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Melton said his primary concern remains protecting previously committed funding for the Lake County Convention Center in Gary.

Portage Mayor Austin Bonta shared his excitement for Hammond and said Portage “was honored to have had the opportunity to offer assistance to the stadium search.”

“Bears fans in Portage and across our entire region are excited about seeing this next chapter of our team’s story commence,” Bonta said. “The city of Portage was honored to have had the opportunity to offer assistance to the stadium search through our proposal for Halas Harbor on our city’s north side.”

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What’s next?

The bill now moves on for final approval from the Indiana House and a signature from Gov. Mike Braun.

According to WMAQ, it was not immediately clear when the full House would vote. The session ends Feb. 27.

Braun has been an advocate for the Bears’ move to Indiana, so we can anticipate a signature from him if the bill gets passed.

There is no specific rendering available for the proposed site at Wolf Lake.

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