The campaign to lure the Chicago Bears out of Illinois has ratcheted up with a new bill introduced in the Indiana State Senate that would establish the structure needed to finance the construction of a new domed stadium for the team.
WGN reports Senate Bill 27 (SB27) from State Sens. Ryan Mishler and Sen. Chris Garten would create “the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority for the purpose of acquiring and financing certain facilities” and “sets the powers and duties of the stadium authority.”
The new bill follows the call by Gov. Mike Braun in this week’s State of the State address to bring the Bears across the Illinois border. Earlier in the week, the team sent a survey to season ticket holders to record their opinion on moving the team to an Indiana location. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was spotted this week touring several sites in northwest Indiana that could be used for a new stadium.
The Bears and the Illinois state government have been at odds over the use of public funds to build a new domed stadium for the team. The Bears responded to the introduction of SB27 with a statement that said, “The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region. We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Gov. Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
