The Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission will hold off on moving forward with its master planning process until the Chicago Bears make a decision about the team’s next stadium move, possibly by the end of June.
If the commission were to move forward with the master planning process, the plan would be “a very different request” depending on if the Bears move to Hammond, said David Hollenbeck, the commission’s attorney.
“I think we need to pause and wait,” Hollenbeck said. “When (the Bears) do make (their decision), our role, our function and our responsibilities will be much better defined.”
The state legislature approved a bill earlier this year, Senate Bill 27, that created a framework for the Bears to build a stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond in which the team will invest over $2 billion in the stadium and the state will invest $1 billion through various taxes.
Gov. Mike Braun — who signed the bill into law within an hour of its final approval — and state officials will handle the remaining business with the Bears and the team’s proposal for Hammond, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, who authored a bill to create the commission, previously said.
The commission will move forward with attracting another team to Northwest Indiana, Harris said.
“It’s definitely a possibility. Obviously the Bears, Hammond is where they want to go here in Northwest Indiana. There are plenty of other cities that can provide a great home for other professional sports teams,” Harris said previously.
Commission Chairman W. Jay Wilkinson, who was appointed to the commission by Braun, said Tuesday he has spoken to the governor and the governor’s chief of staff about the Bears moving to Hammond and that the conversations have been “all very positive.”
“The State of Indiana has a strong offer in place,” Wilkinson said. “I think the State of Illinois has some challenges, let’s just put it that way, economically. I think Indiana is sitting poised with significant funds to help launch this.”
The Illinois legislature adjourned its spring session early Monday morning with the Senate approving a stadium bill and no action from the House on the bill. With an unclear path for a Bears stadium in Illinois, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has since said he has a plan to keep the Bears in Chicago.
The team issued a statement Monday that it will “finalize our evaluation of both Arlington Heights and Hammond, and remain on the late spring/early summer timeline that we have previously communicated.”
The Bears are in a “letter of intent negotiating phase,” Wilkinson said, and from there the team will head into a “definitive agreement phase.”
“Illinois failed to deliver at the end of the day. I think that this could be quite a boon for Northwestern Indiana if this were to take place,” Wilkinson said. “I think that this thing goes into light speed once a decision is made.”
More Top Picks Steering Covers
The Bears have a lease with the City of Chicago through 2033, which could be broken early with financial penalties, Wilkinson said. The State of Indiana “would indirectly” help the Bears with those penalties through the economic incentives of moving across state lines, he said.
It would take three years at least to build a stadium in Hammond, Wilkinson said. But, if a decision is made by the end of June then ground breaking could take place in the first quarter of 2027, he said.
If the Bears come to Hammond, Wilkinson said “there could be significant opportunity for a potential franchise number two.”
Harris said Tuesday that the Illinois legislature won’t go back into session until November so “where they are is where they are” unless a special session is called.
“I think that pretty much is it for (Illinois). I think we look good. As a state, we have the only option that’s on the table. I understand it’s government and politics so there’s always the possibility of something getting tweaked,” Harris said.
While Johnson said he has a plan to keep the Bears in Chicago, Harris said the mayor “is living on an island” with that plan.
“I know we can’t pop the champagne yet, but I think we’re in a great place,” Harris said.
Harris said he would like to draft legislation in the 2027 session to expand the commission’s search to attract a sports team to Northwest Indiana to include emerging sports like rugby, soccer and lacrosse. The commission approved, in a voice vote, that Harris take that action.