HAMMOND, Ind. — The Chicago Bears have selected Hammond as their new home.
Leaders of the NFL team confirmed Friday that the Bears will construct a multi-billion-dollar stadium and ancillary developments immediately south and east of the Chicago city limits on the Indiana side of the state line.
“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the south side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses,” said Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and team President and CEO Kevin Warren in a joint statement.
They said the decision to build in Hammond, rather than on property the team owns in Arlington Heights, Illinois, was made by the Chicago Bears board of directors on Thursday.
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The exact site of the Hammond stadium has not been determined. But it’s widely expected to be at or near the city-owned Lost Marsh Golf Course, between Wolf Lake on the west and Lake Michigan to the east.
The potential stadium site is adjacent to the Indiana Toll Road, Cline Avenue and U.S. 41, which becomes Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. It’s also near the South Shore commuter rail line that connects Northwest Indiana to Chicago.
Indiana lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a Bears stadium financing plan in February after team officials expressed frustration with their ongoing inability to secure the property tax certainty the Bears said was needed before they could build in Illinois.
On Monday, Illinois lawmakers once again failed to advance either of two potential property tax proposals, leaving Indiana with the only viable stadium plan ahead of the Bears’ self-imposed “late spring/early summer” deadline for a stadium decision.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he is pleased to welcome the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State. The Republican chief executive also thanked the Bears organization “for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality.”
"We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come,” Braun said.
“An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire Region like we haven’t seen before.”
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, the sponsor of the Bears stadium financing plan in Senate Enrolled Act 27, said Friday he’s “thrilled the Bears ownership voted to develop a world-class stadium facility in Hammond.”
Huston said local elected leaders in Northwest Indiana, along with Region residents, have been terrific partners in convincing the Bears to come to Indiana.
“This is a fantastic win for Indiana, and I thank Governor Braun and his leadership team. The Bears join a long line of companies and residents choosing Indiana to invest, grow and pursue opportunity, and I look forward to many more making that choice,” Huston said.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said he’s confident the city of Hammond, as well as all of Northwest Indiana, will benefit from the Bears’ transformative stadium investment.
“The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana, because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment,” McDermott said.
“I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I’m grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen. Ryan Mishler and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!”
The dream of bringing the Bears to Northwest Indiana can be traced back in part to state Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, who embarked on what once was seen as an impossible quest of attracting a professional sports team to the Region following the death of his father, Earl Harris Sr., who served in the Indiana House from 1982 to 2015.
His father’s attempt to lure the Bears to Gary in 1995 fell short. But the current Rep. Harris is looking forward “to seeing the wonderful impact this move will have for Hammond, the Bears and the state of Indiana."
"Today is a monumental day for Northwest Indiana. Bringing any professional sports franchise, much less one as revered as the Chicago Bears, will have an enormous impact on The Region for generations to come. From job creation to an economic boom from tourism, the Bears' presence in our community is part of continued growth happening in Northwest Indiana,” Harris said.
"We were able to bring the Chicago Bears to Hammond only because Indiana legislators were willing to work across the aisle to get this project to the end zone. Good policies are those that will benefit as many people and communities as possible, and good policies are always bipartisan. I'm thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who worked together to make this happen."
