Sports
Chicago Bears Remain Focused on Hammond Stadium Project ‘At This Time,’ Team CEO Says
(Drone footage courtesy of Foremedia Productions LLC)
Chicago Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren said Thursday that “at this time,” the team remains focused solely on potential sites in Hammond, Indiana, as they continue working to finalize plans for a new stadium.
Warren offered brief updates on the ongoing search process at a media briefing, noting that while the organization has had “occasional” meetings with Illinois state officials, the team is continuing to prioritize a pair of sites in Indiana.
“Our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world-class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana,” Warren said Thursday.
Warren said the team does not currently have an offer from Illinois for any type of legislative assistance to keep the Bears in the state.
That comes months after Illinois state legislators adjourned their spring session without a bill that would’ve financially incentivized the team to build a new stadium in Illinois. Many state officials have maintained there are still signs the team is interested in continuing conversations with their current home state.
Read More: Chicago Bears Say They Are Moving Forward With a Move to Indiana
According to Warren, the Bears have completed their due diligence process on a site located near the Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond. That process included environmental, geographical and topological studies, and according to Warren, that location remains a viable site for a new stadium.
But he said the team has also identified a second Hammond location near the Wolf Lake Terminals, where the team is conducting additional studies.
“It’s a lot of work that happens on a daily basis,” Warren said, adding that the Bears are having almost daily conversations with Indiana state leadership with whom he said the team has a “win-win partnership.”
The Bears for years had been focused on building a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights before pivoting to Hammond earlier this year when the Illinois state legislation fell through.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday said his team has had contact with Bears officials and that he remains in favor of “getting something done that isn’t going to be a burden on the taxpayers of the state, but that encourages more business, more jobs in our state.”
“We’re working hard to make sure that there’s an opportunity for the Bears to stay in the state of Illinois — whether that’s in Chicago or in Arlington Heights — it’s something that you know, I personally as a Bears fan very much want,” he said.
Pritzker said that it remains on the Bears to come to Illinois legislators and tell them “what parameters are acceptable” in any new legislation. He added that has not yet happened.
Chairman George McCaskey on Thursday said the team’s discussions with Illinois legislators have been “minimal.” He also reiterated Thursday that no matter where the team is located, its name will not be changing.
“We will be the Chicago Bears,” he said, “whether we’re in Arlington or we’re in Hammond.”
The team will kick-off its preseason slate Saturday when they host the Cleveland Browns at their longtime home stadium Solider Field. The Bears’ first regular season game is Sept. 13.
