Are the Bears Truly Headed to Indiana?
The Chicago Bears are in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs for the first time in years. The city has been loud and full of Bears pride, showcasing that Chicago is a football town through and through. Despite the love and history the Bears have in Chicago, things may be ripped away, which is becoming a real possibility. The Bears' CEO, Kevin Warren, has been in constant discussions over the past few years about a brand-new stadium for the team, and may have finally had enough. The state of Indiana has become the new frontrunner to host the team's new stadium.
Arlington Heights has been the expected location for the Bears’ new stadium for quite a few years now. The team has stated they are willing to fully pay for the stadium itself, but need help paying for everything else. This has not been enough for Arlington Heights to approve, alongside the possibility of keeping the Bears in Chicago. The state and team continue to disagree over the agreement regarding the money situation, leaving Kevin Warren no choice but to look at Gary, Indiana. This city has wasted no time in convincing the Bears to move over to another state, with a state bill for funding the stadium's construction being introduced by the governor.
The recent discussions with Indiana and the Bears’ continued success this season moving farther into the playoffs, have begun to push Illinois to be more open about meeting the team's demands. On Friday, Arlington Heights officials urged Springfield to consider passing an infrastructure bill. Governor JB Pritzker has also said he’s open to discussing the infrastructure improvements at the Arlington Heights location. The move from Kevin Warren to search for Indiana has worked, softening Illinois' stance on potentially losing the city’s football team. It has also helped that quarterback Caleb Williams and his team have continued to light the city on fire with excitement with a ton of recent success this season bringing back a lot of fans' attention hosting playoff games. As the Bears look to defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, the team will also continue its search for its brand new stadium, even if that means crossing into other states.
