Illinois Governor Acknowledges Bears Unlikely to Build New Stadium in Chicago

Pritzker says team's next home will likely be in Arlington Heights or Indiana

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:07pm

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As Illinois and Indiana compete to lure the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged that the team's next home is unlikely to be within Chicago city limits. Pritzker said the Bears have tried for over a year and a half to find a suitable location in Chicago, but the lack of available land and transportation challenges in the dense city have made that unfeasible. The governor said the Bears' options have come down to either building in Arlington Heights or crossing the border to Indiana.

Why it matters

The battle over the Bears' stadium location has become a high-stakes competition between Illinois and Indiana, with significant economic and political implications for both states. The team's departure from Chicago would be a major blow to the city, while Indiana sees an opportunity to lure the charter NFL franchise across the border.

The details

Illinois lawmakers and the Bears have been working for over a year and a half to try to find a suitable location for a new stadium within Chicago, but Pritzker said they were unable to do so due to the lack of available land and transportation challenges in the dense city. The governor said the Bears' options have now come down to either building in Arlington Heights, where the team already owns land, or crossing the border to Indiana, where lawmakers have taken steps to establish an agency that would build a new stadium for the Bears.

  • For at least a year and a half, there has been a significant effort by the Bears as well as by Chicago lawmakers and others to try to figure out if the Bears could build what they need to build in the city of Chicago.
  • On Thursday, the Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee voted 24-0 to establish a northwest Indiana stadium authority.

The players

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois, who acknowledged that the Bears' next home is unlikely to be within Chicago city limits.

Chicago Bears

The charter NFL franchise that is weighing options to build a new stadium, with Illinois and Indiana competing to lure the team.

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago, who said "Hammond, Arlington Heights? They ain't Chicago" when asked about the Bears potentially leaving the city.

Randy Recklaus

The village manager of Arlington Heights, who participated in a meeting between team and state officials about the Bears' stadium plans.

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What they’re saying

“I think now there's a common understanding by most of the (Illinois) General Assembly that they're not going to be able to build in the city of Chicago.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (Chicago Tribune)

“Hammond, Arlington Heights? They ain't Chicago.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago (Chicago Tribune)

“Bears representatives have repeatedly assured the Village that the news regarding Indiana does not mean that they have made any decisions on a final site location, and that they will continue the frequent and productive discussions that have been underway in Illinois.”

— Randy Recklaus, Village Manager of Arlington Heights (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Illinois legislature will continue its spring session, with pressure on lawmakers to potentially ease the Bears' path to staying in-state as Indiana's overtures keep the competition alive. The team has not made a final decision on its stadium location.

The takeaway

The battle over the Bears' future home has become a high-stakes competition between Illinois and Indiana, with significant political and economic implications for both states. While Chicago lawmakers have been hesitant to let the team leave the city, the lack of viable options within Chicago's limits appears to have pushed the Bears' options to either Arlington Heights or crossing the border to Indiana.