The Chicago Bears have decided to move forward with a plan to relocate from Illinois to Indiana.
In a joint statement, Bears Chairman George McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren declared, “Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected. 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. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, who lobbied aggressively to bring the team across the state line, issued a statement that said, “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.”
The team’s decision follows the failure of the Illinois legislature to offer a solution that would accommodate the team while addressing concerns over using public funding to build a stadium for the team. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch received the news with a statement that said, “Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills—not taxpayer-funded stadiums.”
However, Welch noted the lack of a finalized site for the team’s new stadium by adding, “Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois. However, it will take time to get it right.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also observed this, stating, “Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.”
Photo by Mark Goebel / Wikimedia Commons
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