Chicago Bears Reportedly Moving—Set to Build World-Class Stadium in Another State
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The Chicago Bears currently play football inside Soldier Field. They have the oldest current stadium in the NFL. The stadium has been renovated several times.
They want a new stadium, and it does not appear that it will be in the state of Illinois.
Earlier this month, Iowa lawmakers mapped a plan to attract the Bears to their area. The Iowa Senate introduced a new bill that would change Iowa’s Major Economic Growth Attraction program. It would offer tax breaks and refunds to any NFL team that builds a stadium in the state.
Unfortunately for them, the team has other plans.
The Chicago Bears Are Headed To Indiana
On Thursday, the Chicago Bears released a new statement on a potential new stadium as Indiana lawmakers moved forward with a bill to bring the team to Hammond. The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee passed an amended version of the bill unanimously on Thursday, marking one of the biggest steps forward, per the Chicago Sun-Times.
In their statement, the Bears said if the bill passes, it would “mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.”
“We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator Mishler, and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,” the team said. “We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”
Indiana Bears?
The #Bears released a statement reaffirming their intent to continue pursuing a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. pic.twitter.com/GVYoglScRC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 19, 2026
Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears. We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal. If…
— Governor Mike Braun (@GovBraun) February 19, 2026
Last year, the Chicago Bears released jaw-dropping renderings of their new stadium. The historic NFL franchise has played at Soldier Field, the NFL’s oldest stadium, since 1971. It is clear that they are ready for a change.
Lawmakers in Indiana had said they needed the Bears to show that they are serious about choosing a spot in northwest Indiana. It seems both sides are serious and plans to build should start soon. While it’s not a done deal just yet, and Arlington Heights is still a possibility, it’s going to take a big push from Illinois to keep the Bears in-state.
