Indiana at the Goal Line for Winning Chicago Bears Stadium Sweepstakes

In what came to a shock to experts, pundits, fans, talking heads and Illinois politicians from Waukegan to Wheaton and Chicago to Springfield the Chicago Bears made what could be known as the “statement heard around the world”. A statement that may not only be Chicago history but sports history.

The founding organization of the most valuable and highest-earning sports league in the world are making moves and seem close from making a move across the Skyway to Hammond, Indiana.

Thursday morning Indiana made a big pass into the red zone when the Hoosier state’s House Ways and Means Committee unanimously approved an amendment to Indiana State Bill 27 (SB27) by a vote of 24-0 providing a path forward for the Bears to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana.

The proposal includes new food, beverage, and innkeeper’s taxes in Indiana’s northwest counties to help pay for the stadium and infrastructure and the Bears would commit $2 billion toward construction costs. More than anything SB27 creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority that provides them with the power to issue bonds, acquire land and finance construction for the stadium.

As mentioned in my previous column Chicagoans should be familiar with organizations that are stadium authorities, we have one here at home, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority (ISFA).  The organization was founded in1991 to finance new Comiskey Park (Guaranteed Rate Field) and also funded present day renovated Soldier Field.

The organization is financed by the state of Illinois and to the chagrin to some who pay taxes and don’t care much for a nice day at the ballpark or an event at Soldier Field as of mid-2023, ISFA had roughly $488.6 million in outstanding debt. So not all is lost if the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority takes on some debt to our Hoosier neighbors.

In their statement, the Chicago Bears said if the bill passes it would “mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.” While Indiana is moved quick seems like our leaders in Springfield, including Governor Pritzker were caught off guard and feel deceived and rightfully so.

“Illinois was ready to move this bill forward. After a productive three hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the ILGA pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill. This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois,” spokesman Matt Hill.

Up to today Illinois lawmakers had been meeting frequently with the Bears to discuss parameters of a deal to have a new stadium constructed in Arlington Heights and one that would lock in property tax rates and help to finance infrastructure improvements around the stadium.

But as cliché as it sounds it’s not over till it’s over… Our state leaders will without a doubt put forth a valiant goal line stand and realistically have more time to negotiate with the Bears prior to the end of their legislative session. Indiana’s legislature will be in session through the end of February and Illinois’ General Assembly will be in session through the end of May.

For the fans the thought of losing the Bears to another state is without a doubt sad as I said in interviews today but as Michael Corleone famously said to his brother Sonny, “It’s not personal. It’s strictly business”. Let’s remember this isn’t personal, it’s business and big business.