The American football team Chicago Bears has taken a significant step toward leaving Illinois. The Indiana House of Representatives committee unanimously passed a bill to establish the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. The new body will oversee the financing and construction of a modern facility on Wolf Lake. The club has declared its readiness to invest $2 billion in the project, after negotiations for new investments in Chicago reached an impasse.

Unanimous Support from Indiana

A committee in Indiana supported the creation of a stadium authority with a 24-0 vote, paving the way for construction financing.

Substantial Club Capital

The Chicago Bears management is ready to contribute $2 billion for a new stadium at the Wolf Lake location.

State Bond Mechanism

Bill SB 27 envisions bond repayment through sales taxes and ticket fees in the new sports development zone.

The future of one of the most storied NFL teams, Chicago Bears, is in question in their home state of Illinois. In February 2026, the Indiana House of Representatives took a milestone step to attract the team by unanimously passing (with a 24-0 vote) bill SB 27. The new legislation brings to life the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. This agency will be authorized to issue state bonds to finance the construction of a stadium near Wolf Lake, right on the border of both states. The club has declared a private contribution of $2 billion, a response to the lack of progress in talks with Chicago authorities regarding the modernization of Soldier Field. Public financing in Indiana is to be based on a mechanism taxing a professional sports development zone, including revenues from retail, dining, and a special ticket surcharge. While this move is seen by some experts as a negotiation pressure tactic, Indiana's legislative determination lends it unprecedented realism. Relocations of famous sports brands in the US have sparked enormous controversy for decades. In 1984, the Baltimore Colts team secretly left the city overnight, moving to Indianapolis, which remains a symbol of the brutal business nature of the NFL to this day. Critics of the idea, including economic commentators, warn of excessive burden on taxpayers. Arguments are raised that subsidizing billion-dollar corporations with public funds rarely delivers the promised economic benefits for the region. Meanwhile, politicians in Illinois are attempting to counter the outflow of "state pride," but the Bears are actively seeking alternatives, including in suburban Arlington Heights, where they purchased land for a potential investment. „The passage of SB 27 represents the most significant step in the process of creating the financial framework for this historic investment in northwest Indiana.” — Todd Huston2 mld USD — is the declared investment amount by the Chicago Bears Comparison of Location Offers for the Bears: Legal Status: No funding agreement in Illinois → Unanimous committee support in Indiana; Financing Model: Awaiting tax breaks in Chicago → Bond issuance and development zone in Indiana; Club's Contribution: Undefined → $2 billion

Mentioned People

  • Todd Huston — Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, supporter of attracting the club to the state.