While the Chicago Bears’ stadium search may have led them towards Indiana, Illinois officials are making it clear that they are not yet out of the race.

The Bears, earlier this month, had announced that they were advancing plans for a potential stadium in Hammond, Indiana, after the collapse of the stadium legislation in Springfield. However, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has recently suggested that discussions between the state and the Bears are set to take place.

“If they are able to put everything together, as we hope they will, I’m willing to call a special session so that we can get a vote on it,” Pritzker told NBC Chicago on Tuesday. “It’s one thing to articulate generally what you want, it’s another thing to actually say ‘we’d like a provision like this or a provision like that.’”

The Bears’ decision to move came just days after Illinois lawmakers failed to advance legislation that would have guaranteed the team tax certainty on a stadium in Illinois.

However, the Bears have not selected an exact site in Indiana and have told Illinois lawmakers that they hope for conversations to continue.

According to State Representative Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, the dates people are looking at are August 19 and 20.

While the fall veto session isn’t until November, many state lawmakers will be in Springfield for the Illinois State Fair in mid-August. However, Buckner also stressed that an agreement will also be needed.

Meanwhile, the Bears have not made a public statement since their last about advancing with the project in Hammond. However, another proposal is catching the attention of both Bears fans and officials.

Bears get another proposal from within Illinois

The Bears have explored plans in Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana. However, the mayor of the suburb of McCook, Terrence Carr, has now proposed a plan that would allow the Bears to build an 80,000-seat stadium in Illinois.

According to the proposal by Carr, the Bears or the village would buy an area of 150 acres, a quarry land owned by Vulcan Materials Company. The Bears would then build a domed 80,000-seat stadium, which would then be given to the village. The team would then pay a rent of $1 a year, allowing for the property to be exempt from property taxes due to it being publicly owned.

While Bears fans in McCook are excited about the idea, the land proposed is much smaller compared to the 326-acre Arlington Heights, and the cost would be similar to that of Arlington Heights. Add to that, questions about the infrastructure surrounding the land have also been raised, despite the land being in close proximity to the Midway International Airport and major highways.

However, this move would ensure that the Bears do not move out of Illinois. The Bears now have multiple options at the last minute, and it will be interesting to see the path they take.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Let us know in the comments! 

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore