INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Chicago Bears on Thursday called the Indiana legislation to establish the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority “a significant milestone.”
As News 8 has reported, the state is considering building an NFL stadium in Hammond for the Chicago Bears. The purpose of the stadium authority board would be to acquire and finance certain facilities.
The bill on Thursday was reassigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The 2026 deadline for bills to pass out of committee is Jan. 26.
The Chicago Bears revealed in December that the team was expanding its search and evaluating opportunities for a new stadium site throughout the Chicagoland area, including northwest Indiana.
Multiple media outlets in the Chicago area on Monday reported NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had visited stadium sites in northern Indiana and Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The Bears’ statement issued Thursday to Rap Sheet’s Ian Rapoport and shared on the X platform said, “This 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 Governor Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
On Wednesday night, during Gov. Mike Braun’s State of the State speech, he touted job growth, particularly from Amazon, in northwest Indiana.
Braun said during the speech, “And with our strong business environment, it’s not surprising that another organization has noticed that Indiana is open for business: the Chicago Bears. We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State.”
The $720 million home of the Indianapolis Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium was developed by the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority, a group of civic and business leaders appointed by the Indiana governor and the Indianapolis mayor. Lucas Oil Stadium opened in August 2008. The stadium was financed with funds raised jointly by the state and Indianapolis city governments in conjunction with the Colts. The Marion County Capital Improvement Board operates the stadium. Lucas Oil Products purchased the Indianapolis stadium’s naming rights for $122 million to be paid over 20 years.
