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Da Bears – welcome to The Region!
Da Region
This is a game-changer for The Region!!!
If by “game changer” you mean increased taxes, then you’re right.
For all the naysers who have posted here saying it was a bluff by the Bears, it was the stupid “Illinoise” legislature and goofy interference from the Chicago mayor that made it easy for the Bears to move out of that State. Illinois’ economic loss, Indiana’s huge gain and particularly Northwest Indiana. The spin off developments will happen adding to a turnaround for “the region”.
Patrick, all the credible research says otherwise. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s the reality.
Correct, Mike M. We can look at the wasteland that is the immediate surroundings around LOS as evidence.
Yes, there are a couple of new and wonderful interstate-caliber hotels across the street. And I think the Stadium Tavern was repainted. There will be so much more in the swamps near Hammond, right?
Wasteland around LOS? The W Hotel, the soon to open Signia Hotel, the expansions of the convention center, the massive conventions like Gen Con, FDIC and FFA. The Georgia Street original and current expansion projects, Circle Center Mall and follow on Traction Yards
Project, and much more are here because of LOS.
Without it, you don’t have final tours and B10 football championships and massive concerts and the like that spur more development. There is no ignoring that fact. Multiple 800 room hotels are not here based on Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
It is guaranteed that Hammond will host a Superbowl. They will have large sporting events including B10 and NCAA Championships. They will have large conventions as well. That sucking sound you will hear will be major events leaving Chicago and moving to Hammond.
Raymond, I’ll have whatever you’re taking. It’s the convention business that brings all that development, not LOS or football. Regardless, the area immediately surrounding LOS and along South St is mostly parking lots. There is no refuting that. Chicago’s convention center, McMormick Place, is the largest in the country and there is 0 chance a single stadium in Hammond does anything to pull away a single bit of business. The billionaires would love you, though, maybe they’re hiring.
Pritzker is too busy trying to put together his Presidential campaign. What a crappy and broken state Illinois is. They do not even care to keep their football team in Illinois.
Tim, your comment only amplifies what’s wrong with this process. It’s not about sports, rich owners demanding more, and very questionable tax breaks, it’s about politics. You are one of many stuck in this red v. blue vortex. The merits of this whole Bears passion play are debatable, but are you really fine with all this, if only to show up certain Illinois politicians? Pretty small-minded.
Illinois is right to prioritize the growth of their world-class city, the size of which Indiana could never hope to approach, instead of handouts for a couple of billionaires. Now, it’s Indiana taxpayers who get to foot the bill. Lucky us.
Good for the Region. Now, let’s get to work on an MLS team and stadium here in Indianapolis — a major league team we can all get behind. The Bears, will remain Chicago’s team, hardly Hoosiers. Mind you, somewhere down the road, the Colts, love ’em or leave ’em, are going to want more $$ and breaks to improve Lucas Oil Stadium. How could the state say “no” now? Precedent has been set. I can see a day, 10-20 years from now — the Colts don’t get want they want here and move to Chicago for a sweet deal.
Unless the MLS wants a team in Jasper, it won’t happen in indiana.
This ain’t over people.
+1
Congrats to the Region!!
Rail service will be upgraded ( maybe from Indy too) , restaurants , hotels & other retail!!
Take Da Bears and Enjoy!!
Rail service from Indy? Fat chance. The Indiana Legislature had that chance and passed because it would cost a couple million dollars a year and we need to preserve that couple billion dollar surplus. Or something like that. Now, if you want a new unnecessary interstate near Jasper that is universally opposed by residents, they’ll find the money.
I was wrong and I owe the Bears an apology as i thought they were merely using Indiana to get a better deal in Illinois.
+ 1
It’s not done until they actually start building somewhere. The is whole process has been bizarre. It has been years. Cut your deal and make a decision. How hard is this?
As a former 40 year resident of Illinois, this has to be very embarrassing for that State. If a State with the population of Illinois cannot find a way to keep their only NFL team, that reflects on the incompetence of their government..
So the competence of government is measured by the number of NFL teams? Illinois certainly has problems but so does Indiana. A state somewhere in between might actually be just right.
I suggest everyone re-read the article. Nothing has been signed. Until it is, this is all just a method for the Bears to encourage the Illinois legislature to realize the move to Indiana is not just a threat.
I worked for 2 yrs up in Lake county and that IS Bears country. As much as i remind my friends up there that they are in Indiana, they are all Bears and Bulls fans. At this point in history, Chicago proper is in decay and retreat. Hammond is perfect for this.
+1
The assertion that Chicago proper is in “decay and retreat” is simply false. Chicago’s population is growing and a quick Google search shows multiple construction projects at a scale only a city of that size could hope to pull off. I’m begging folks who think cities anywhere are “in decline” to actually leave the suburbs and go visit one.
Use your preferred AI search tool and query “entertainment districts around NFL stadiums”
The game has changed for NFL teams and while some communities don’t want to feather the nest of “Billionaires” if you want a NFL team in your city (which by the way could help the companies who operate there attract talent to make their companies more successful) then you will most likely not have a team. It is just the “market price” today to have a NFL team in your city.
Those of you that keep thinking this deal isn’t over yet, well that’s just wishful thinking at its finest. Da Bears was in an abusive relationship with Illinois. Everyone kept telling Da Bears she should leave her drunk, lying and abusive boyfriend, Illinois but Da Bears kept coming back thinking Illinois would change and things would get better. Then a more attractive entity comes along ( Indiana) and offers Da Bears something Illinois has never offered and quite frankly can’t offer. At the end of the day Indiana is the most logical and business smart deal Da Bears have. If Illinois was going to keep Da Bears they would have gotten a deal done moths if not years ago. If I were Da Bears there would be nothing Illinois could do to continue stringing me along and embarrassing my organization around the league.
There is something very Hoosier, or at least very Indiana-Republican, about saying government cannot afford sidewalks, streets, schools, parks, transit, mental health, housing, downtown maintenance, or basic civic beauty, Apparently we cut, cut, cut taxes and we can’t afford anything nice for people here 24/7/365, but we can always find a new way to be taxed a $1 billion for skyboxes that get filled 8 times a year. Pathetic.
Billions for a stadium! New taxes for a stadium. And how will this stadium truly improve the lives and livelihoods of those in Lake County and northwest Indiana. So surprising that certain politicos are thrilled for a stadium to be located in Hammond to attract many people who do not share their political proclivities. And who will pay for the necessary infrastructure improvements, transit service capital and operating costs, security, policing, parking and long-term maintenance — an aspect the US is typically very poor at doing. Consider the tragic state of roadways in Indiana. I-65 should be at least 3-lanes in each direction between Indianapolis and the Tri-State. Well, perhaps there is hope for new taxes to ensure sound education for children — not devices but responsible teachers who actually teach rather than just pass students to keep them moving. Alas, a digression. Best of luck for long-term economic viability as linked to a massive stadium generating long-term sustainable well-paying jobs!
Great. With as much money as they make. More ego rich ego maniacs using my tax dollars. I could think of hundreds of uses for my tax dollars instead of giving it to players who make millions! Why can’t they build their own blankety blank stadium? More WASTED TAX DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING I WON’T EVER USE!