Illinois Lawmakers Return as Bears Seek Deal to Build in State

The Chicago Bears are reportedly close to an agreement that will keep the franchise in Illinois, ending a five-year stadium search that had shifted the team's plans toward Indiana. The development comes as Illinois state lawmakers prepare to return to Springfield for a fall veto session next month.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the team is nearing a deal to build a new stadium in Illinois using a framework from a bill that passed the state Senate in the spring but failed to clear the House. The proposal would allow construction on land the team already owns in Arlington Heights or in Chicago.

Under the proposed legislation, a local municipality would establish a stadium authority to own the facility. This structure would exempt the Bears from paying property taxes after construction is complete. The authority would also be eligible to collect additional sales tax revenue generated by the project.

The plan limits direct taxpayer spending to infrastructure improvements surrounding the stadium, a commitment previously made by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. This contrasts with the offer from Indiana, where the state created a stadium authority to own the facility and provided $1 billion in revenue toward construction costs.

The potential Illinois deal follows a period of uncertainty for the team's leadership. Bears owner George McCaskey and team president Kevin Warren could not agree on a bill supported in the spring, prompting NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to become more involved during the summer.

In June, the Bears' board voted to move forward with building in Northwest Indiana. Warren and McCaskey stated in August that their primary focus was a stadium in Hammond, Indiana. The Indiana proposal included a $2 billion investment from the team toward construction and state funding for district infrastructure.

The saga began in 2021 when the team purchased property in Arlington Heights on the site of the former Arlington Park racecourse. The process has included multiple shifts in location plans before the current push for a state deal. Illinois lawmakers will meet in two sessions, from Nov. 17 to 19 and Dec. 1 to 3, to consider the legislation.