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Which continues to demonstrate that the Da Bears have no intention of leaving Illinois and the move to Hammond is a total sham. I think a deadline for a decision needs to be imposed since they continue to lie to Indiana about their intentions of moving. Like Trump, they will have a final decision in a few weeks.
+1
We could build a data center in Hammond rather than a stadium.
We have done everything the Bears have asked and Illinois has not. Therefore, we should put a hard deadline on the Bears commitment with penalties to pay us back for all the resources we have put in should they change their mind again. That would turn the tables and force them to stop playing games. The way things are going, its likely they are staying in Illinois anyway so we dont have much to lose.
There’s a better chance of Illinois wising up and giving the state of Indiana the parts of Illinois that no one wants to live in and would end up costing the state of Indiana more than they’d make in tax revenue.
What is it about the state of Illinois that causes Indiana legislators to make even more foolish decisions than they usually do?
Who could have predicted this? Uhhh, about anyone who hasn’t been drinking the Kool-Aid…
Yet, Goodell and the NFL have allowed several teams to relocate to other states! Suddenly, Da Bears moving is a big deal. I find that beyond interesting to say the least.
This was never a serious proposal. So many gullible people.
Indiana got played. But worry not, I’m sure legislators are still deeply serious about investing in NW Indiana if this falls through.
I love that people think Indiana not getting the Bears is a bad thing. It’s a win-win either way.
If they come here, there is the prestige, money and development that comes with it. If they don’t come here, the region has gained national and international notice, at little actual cost. We will have cost Illinois a lot of bad press and money. Indiana is never a loser in this. I guarantee you Mike Royko is rolling over in his grave
How much money and prestige has New Jersey gained from hosting both New York football teams?
The best case scenario for the state of Indiana is to lose and to invest the money instead in infrastructure, education, and nicer downtown areas in NW Indiana to lure more Illinois residents to live across the state line and commute into work. That’s how you lure more businesses that will pay Indiana taxes, instead of a football team that will take far more than they will give.
Joe B, a lot. Every time the NFL broadcasts a game, its stated that “it’s from The Meadowlands in New Jersey”. Every game. That means millions of people know the name. During the World Cup, millions around the world heard the name. Free international publicity doesn’t hurt. Before the NFL came to The Meadowlands, it was a swamp no one had heard of other than the Mafia as it was a dumping ground for bodies.
Before the Stadium, the land was practically worthless swamp marsh. Today it has billions in investment with a proposal for a $3 billion dollar convention center to be built there. So again, I’d say, a lot.
Yes, and where will all the people spend the night and go out to eat when they come for conventions?
New York City.
You honestly think people are going to do anything different with the Bears stadium? I don’t. They will drive in, park, and head right back to Illinois. And most all of the parking money is either going to the team directly or to pay for the stadium.
Throw in that you will continue to have Soldier Field competing for events in Downtown Chicago and this stadium will be lightly used. Major concert tours will continue to be in downtown Chicago.
A Hammond stadium would just be a repeat of the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit.
By the way, during the World Cup, the stadium was called “New York New Jersey Stadium”. New Jersey didn’t even get top billing.
There are 1,000 hotel rooms in the immediate Meadowlands Complex. The second largest shopping and entertainment, complex in the US, The American Dream Mall at 1 million sf sits adjacent to the stadium. There are over 1,000 hotel rooms in the complex. Tell me you don’t know New York, without actually telling me.
Soldier Field would only be available in good weather. In Chicago, that is 4 months tops. Don’t expect Taylor Swift to risk a rain storm during her concert stand. Soldier Field, if it doesn’t get demolished would be a 3rd tier facility. I honestly believe it would be demolished like other old stadiums.btw, over 30 years, the Silverdome hosted thousands of events, including NFL, NBA, NASL, a Papal Mass, The Who, Elvis, The Stones, etc….
If Hammond Stadium is built, it will bring many hundreds of thousands of paying customers and billions in development to a region that sorely lacks it.
And all the money will go to paying for the bonds on the Hammond football stadium.
Chicago isn’t going to demolish Soldier Field, they’re investing in it. They aren’t going to lose the Magnificent Mile nor lose their convention traffic.
If Indiana moves the Bears, they head back to Illinois the moment they can in the lease and stick us with a stadium after using us as a leverage play. Monster Jam ain’t gonna pay the bills. The only alternative would be to write them an even bigger check to try to bribe them to stay.
It’s a foolish game when the alternative is to make NW Indiana a place so nice we siphon more residents and taxpayers into the area. Why not make Indiana a better place to live, not just visit for 6 hours?
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/02/24/soldier-field-renovation-post-chicago-bears-era-illinois-general-assembly
These talks show that as soon as the Illinois legislature is next in session it will quickly pass legislation giving the Bears pretty much everything they want, with the “stay at Soldier Field” and “no money for millionaires” groups given whatever they need to go along with the Arlington Heights location.