Following Illinois lawmakers' bypassing of a bill last week that would have kept the Chicago Bears in the state, team leaders and Indiana lawmakers announced their intention to proceed with a stadium project in Hammond, Ind.
According to WSBT, the Bears’ Board of Directors voted to advance the stadium project in Hammond, with the precise location to be determined later.
“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,” said Chicago Bears chairman, George McCaskey, and president, Kevin Warren, in a joint statement. “It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."
Previous incentives for the Bears to relocate to Northwest Indiana have included the team providing $2 billion in funding to build the stadium with options to buy the facility outright at a later date; the state of Indiana not collecting property taxes on the site; and, expedited construction times, floating the idea of beginning construction this summer.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun also released a statement on social media saying, “Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! 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. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before."
Despite the enthusiasm from Bears’ ownership and Indiana lawmakers, Bears’ fans told WSBT News they were unhappy with the news.
"It's a disgrace. It's honestly a disgrace. Chicago is the Bears, that's what they represent. The fact that they're coming to Indiana, I don't even know what does that mean. Like, do they have to change the name? Like, the is the fan base switching up?" Bears fan Cross Elizardo said.
