Over the past week, it felt like there was serious momentum between the Chicago Bears and the state of Illinois on legislation that would help the franchise finally begin building its new stadium in Arlington Heights. A recent bill was passed that would help businesses receive funding for economic development, including infrastructure. The only hurdle left to clear was property tax certainty, which could be secured through a new “megaprojects” bill introduced in Springfield some time ago. It looked like it would finally be heard by the legislature on Thursday morning.
Just 24 hours earlier, Abdul Hakim-Shabazz of Indy Politics shared this update on the situation in Indiana.
An announcement is expected Wednesday in the Ways and Means Committee that the Chicago Bears have agreed to relocate to Northwest Indiana, specifically the Hammond area, Indy Politics has learned.
The anticipated announcement would mark a significant development in the long-running uncertainty surrounding the Bears’ stadium future. The team has spent several years exploring options in Illinois, including proposals involving Chicago’s lakefront and suburban redevelopment sites. No formal agreement has been publicly confirmed to date.
That makes it sound like the talks with Illinois are going nearly as well as J.B. Pritzker made it seem. Sure enough, news has trickled out of Springfield that the hearing meant for the megaprojects bill has been cancelled.
#Bears stadium update: The Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee meeting that was scheduled for 8am today isn’t happening. And the last I heard, the mega projects bill wasn’t even going to be called on.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) February 19, 2026
If that weren’t enough, Craig’s Chicago Business had an update of its own, stating that the Bears’ interest in Hammond is very real, though they aren’t yet planning a full commitment.
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The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote Thursday morning on new language meant to pave the way for a deal for that site to be finalized, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told the Indianapolis Business Journal.
If that language is added to Senate Bill 27, the Bears are expected to make a statement that confirms the team’s interest in the site but will remain short of a full commitment to move, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak about the negotiations.
The Chicago Bears appear to have been jerked around again.
The Illinois government has stopped and started on this issue for three years. Its constant unwillingness to take the Chicago Bears seriously is what eventually pushed them to open talks with Indiana in the first place. Now the neighboring state is offering a remarkably intriguing deal for the organization. Their legislation would enable them to receive infrastructure support and property tax benefits. They’d also be free to choose their preferred site for the stadium and would own it once its debt was fully paid off.
This has become a case of the Bears realizing they’re not wanted in Illinois. Its lawmakers see them as a needless distraction from other issues. Meanwhile, Indiana has made it clear from every possible angle that they want them and are willing to provide all the support necessary to make it happen. Nobody can say the Bears haven’t done everything possible to work with Illinois to find a solution. It hasn’t worked. If this is truly the end, nobody should blame the organization for taking the better deal.