Forget the Super Bowl — Illinois and Indiana clash over the Bears

By Sinhue Mendoza 

It’s Super Bowl week and while most of us are captivated by Benito Bowl 2026 up in Halas Hall the Bears are busy discussing, dealing and analyzing proposals on what is the best future for their new stadium development. The biggest matchup isn’t on the football field in Chicago but rather in the Bears board room where Indiana and Illinois make their best case to why the Bears should invest in their states.  

It is important to note that the Bears have never owned their own venue and as a result have lost profit-making opportunities for their entire existence.  They were tenants at the historic home of the Cubs Wrigley Field for 50 seasons and in 1971 moved downtown to Soldier Field where they’ve been a tenant of the Chicago Park District since. 

In October of 2001 the Bears started a new era playing in a renovated version of Soldier Field but this era has a contractual expiration date for the 2033 football season. The Bears can leave early but this could cost them $90 million dollars. So, while 2033 seems far off it’s not when you think of agreements, planning and construction. The time is here and now, and the Bears are determined to get the best deal. 

GO GARY! 

In what seemed like a bargaining tool when the team went public, they were exploring Indiana as an option for their stadium dream it has very quickly become reality and as of now seems like the Hoosier state is in the lead for the Bears stadium sweepstakes.  Last week, the Indiana State Senate approved Senate Bill 27, creating a state-run stadium authority that could finance and build the Bears’ stadium in northwest Indiana. 

 The proposal establishes the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, a public body that would have the power to acquire land, issue long-term bonds and finance the construction of a stadium and related facilities. Chicagoans should be familiar with this type of organization. The home of the White Sox, Guaranteed Rate Field, is owned by our own version, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA), and operated by the Chicago White Sox. 

The organization was founded in1991 to finance new Comiskey Park (Guaranteed Rate Field) and it’s financed by the state with debt managed through a 2003 refinancing and ongoing hotel tax revenue. In short, the taxpayers of the state pay for the White Sox who also play in a publicly financed facility.

The founding of the ISFA is why the White Sox are not the Tampa Bay Rays. The organization essentially made it possible for a stadium to be financed by the state, and is the reason why one could argue Indiana has taken the lead, and more than anything, prepares them to make a compelling case to the Bears. 
 

TOUCHDOWN ARLINGTON 

Last season the Bears did just that and after thrilling comebacks in their playoff games they brought back an already passionate fan base and may have brought back state officials to the table to discuss the reported $855 million ask in infrastructure support and tax incentives to support with construction and property taxes that we all know about all too well in the Land of Lincoln. 

The Bears are seeking assistance with stadium development on the Arlington Heights site of the former Arlington Park Racetrack, which they purchased in February 2023 for $197.2 million.  As recent as last month, former NFL player and IL State Rep. Kam Buckner, one of House Speaker Chris Welch’s top lieutenants, who has been a central figure in the stadium talks, confirmed the state remains in active discussions with the Bears, but they haven’t yet made a compelling case to make an agreement possible.  

On January 16 when it was clear Indiana was making their move and the Bears were preparing to play Los Angeles in their playoff matchup, Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia held a press conference called “Keep the Bears in Illinois” pleading Springfield to work with the Bears before it’s too late.  Next week, Touchdown Arlington, a group of local business owners who support the stadium-mixed-use development in Arlington Heights, will gather at 6 p.m. hosting speakers and local political leaders to rally to keep the Bears in Illinois. The name of the event is “Springfield Kickoff: Bring the Bears to Arlington Heights”.

Touchdown Arlington and the Mayor’s plea are all commendable, but truth be told this battle will be won in Springfield and for a popular governor running for reelection and eyeing a run at the White House it could be a tough sell. 

 Like the Bears in their two playoff games the state of Illinois seems to be trying to make a comeback in a close game. For the sake of Illinois hopefully it makes a comeback like the Bears did and stay home and remain the Pride and Joy of Illinois as their fight song suggests.