Justin Laurence, Crain’s Chicago Business – Indianapolis Business Journal

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Chicago Bears pick Indiana for new stadium, but hurdles remain for project

June 5, 2026

Mickey Shuey and Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business and Danny Ecker, Crain's Chicago Business

The Bears said in a statement that its board of directors met and voted to move forward with Hammond.

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The Bears said Chicago wasn’t in play. Records point to a different story.

June 4, 2026

Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

The discrepancy contradicts what the Bears told lawmakers crafting the Arlington Heights legislation and could deepen mistrust between the team and Springfield after months of negotiations over a stadium proposal.

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Bears tax-break plan dies in Illinois as Springfield’s search for deal continues

June 1, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

House staff and labor allies made an aggressive overtime drive to whip support for a bill the chamber had not seen and had reservations over because it was fundamentally different from the measure they approved in April.

Bears proposal in Illinois getting reshaped in final hours of legislative session

May 31, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business and

Samm Quinn

The Illinois Legislature faces an 11:59 p.m. deadline to adjourn its spring session.

Bears stadium talks hit new twist in Illinois Legislature

May 27, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

The change in strategy reflects growing concern in the Illinois Senate that the sprawling House bill approved in April may be too unwieldy to pass before adjournment this weekend.

Bears’ Chicago talks complicate Arlington Heights stadium push

May 21, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office says there have been “several” meetings in recent months about the logistics of building a new lakefront stadium in Chicago.

Illinois House approves legislation to keep Chicago Bears in state

April 23, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

The bill was approved in a bipartisan 72-38 vote after a series of amendments and backroom jockeying played out in the state Capitol.

Illinois stadium bill for Bears passes committee, but deal remains uncertain

February 26, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

Both the Bears and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker say negotiations are progressing. But continued opposition from Chicago legislators underscores the contrast with Indiana.

Indiana lawmakers set to approve stadium bill as Illinois inches closer to Bears deal

February 26, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

The Indiana Senate is set to vote as soon as Thursday afternoon on legislation that would authorize the financing and construction of a stadium in Hammond.

Pritzker ‘surprised, dismayed and very disappointed’ as Bears tout Indiana progress

February 19, 2026 | Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business and John Pletz, Crain's Chicago Business

The governor said his staff, legislators and Bears representatives met Wednesday for three hours to discuss legislation that might be needed for the team to build a stadium in Arlington Heights.

Arlington Heights to Illinois lawmakers: Pass megaproject bill or wave goodbye to Bears

January 16, 2026 | Danny Ecker, Crain's Chicago Business and Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business

“The team has been clear that at this point their choices are either the Arlington Heights site, or Indiana,” the mayor of Arlington Heights wrote in the letter to state officials.

JUNE 19-25, 2026

Digital Edition

As Bears talks unfold, Colts weigh future needs at Lucas Oil Stadium

Mickey Shuey

New Hamilton County dashboard highlights child care gap

Elissa Maudlin

Mental wellness tech founder preaches — and practices — stress management skills

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