Illinois braces for cross-border Bears stadium bid as Indiana advances
Illinois lawmakers say there’s no deal yet as the Chicago Bears weigh a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, where Indiana is moving forward with a bill to finance the project via bonds supported by an admission tax and an entertainment district. The Bears would invest about $2 billion, Indiana would contribute over $1 billion, and the stadium would be owned by a state authority. Governor Pritzker says progress is being made on an Illinois framework, but lawmakers warn the Illinois bill isn’t dead and tweaks may be needed. Indiana’s bill is expected to pass soon, while Illinois considers its own path; construction could start this year if a deal materializes. The proposed site near Wolf Lake sits roughly 20 miles from downtown Chicago and would require environmental and NFL approvals, keeping the plan in flux.