Indiana at the goal line for winning Chicago Bears stadium sweepstakes

By Sinhue Mendoza 

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 close to 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.  

The Bears would commit $2 billion toward construction costs. Most importantly, 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 in 1991 to finance new Comiskey Park (Guaranteed Rate Field) and also to fund the present-day renovated Soldier Field.   

The organization is financed by the state of Illinois to the chagrin to some who pay taxes and don’t care much for sports and especially not for higher taxes.  ISFA has roughly $488.6 million in outstanding debt. So not all is lost for Illinois tax payers if the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority takes on new debt.   

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… Illinois state leaders will without a doubt put forth a valiant goal line stand.  They’ll need to negotiate with the Bears prior to the end of their legislative session through the end of May. Indiana’s legislature will be in session through the end of February (or say next week).   For many fans, the thought of losing the Bears to another state is a very sad possibility. As Michael Corleone famously said to his brother Sonny, “It’s not personal. It’s strictly business”.  And the NFL is strictly big business