The Chicago Bears’ long-running stadium search took another turn this week as two Illinois-based proposals have been offered to the Bears.

The latest proposals come after the Bears were reportedly planning on shifting to Indiana after the failure of stadium legislation during the 2026 spring session. Now, in a desperate attempt to keep the franchise in Illinois, two options have opened up, one in Springfield and one from the small village of McCook.

"We do know that Mayor Brandon Johnson's big proposal was to build a new stadium just south of Soldier Field," reported WGN's Dana Rebick on June 23. "But one state lawmaker feels the project should be moved a little further down the lakefront to the land behind me near East 85th and Lakeshore Drive."

With continuing development nearby, with a future Quantum Microelectronics Park and an advocate hospital, State Representative Curtis Tarver II believes the location would be perfect for the Bears and the stadium.

"The reality is if Hammond suffices and it's just across the border, and then why would we not look in an area where the city of Chicago residents can actually benefit?" the Illinois State Representative said as posted by WGN News.

As for the small village of McCook, Mayor Terry Carr is promoting a 150-acre site owned by Vulcan Materials Company. According to Carr, the area’s accessibility is an advantage, with the area being in close proximity to major highways, as well as the fact that the Bears would also not have to pay property taxes.

“We’re blocks away from I-55. We’re on Joliet Road, which is Route 66,” Carr said. “We’re right by Lagrange Road, First Avenue, Ogden, 47th Street, 294, 90/94.”

McCook's proposal calls for the Bears to acquire the land for free, pay for the $2 billion stadium out of their own pocket, and lease it back to the village for just $1 per year, while the village would cover only the land's property taxes.

Carr had hand-delivered the proposal to the Bears owner George McCaskey and is hoping for negotiations to occur. While the Bears have gotten the two proposals, fans of the franchise don’t believe it and are not interested in them.

Chicago Bears fans not convinced by new stadium proposals

With officials providing many reasons for the Bears to want to move to their said proposals, fans are still skeptical about whether these proposals would help the Bears.

One fan dismissed the Southeast Side idea and questioned how the change to the location would do any good for the Bears fans as well.

“Southeast side. And so how does that change anything? And then I’m going to build a billion dollar stadium on top of chunks of concrete and tree stumps. Bizzaro world,” commented the fan.

Another fan mentioned how it was not just about where the stadium lies.“It’s not about location but other things.” Chicago initially planned to built the new stadium beside Soldier Field but faced strong political opposition.

A fan questioned the delay surrounding the stadium plan after the Illinois Senate passed a revised bill, 37-17, on June 1, according to NBC Chicago.

“Mayor Carr, where was this plan so many months ago? Why are all these folks rushing in now that the Bears said this is what we are going to focus on?”

To a fan, the organization wants to create a larger mixed-use development featuring hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues around the stadium.

"They want more than a new stadium, they want a whole entertainment center. Kind of like what the cubs have done. Hotel, restaurants. But who would go south for something like that?" he questioned whether fans will travel farther south.

Meanwhile, one fan blamed the tax situation as a reason why the Bears would not want to stay in Illinois.

“Give it up already!! Nobody wants to build in Illinois with the out of control taxes!”

What do you think about the new proposals? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar