Chicago Bears Explore Indiana Relocation Amid Stadium Challenges

The NFL franchise is considering options outside Illinois, including potential sites in Hammond and Portage, Indiana.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Chicago Bears, one of the NFL's oldest franchises, are exploring options to relocate their home stadium outside of Illinois amid concerns over the aging Soldier Field. The team has purchased land in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but is also considering potential stadium sites in Indiana, including proposals in Hammond and Portage. The Bears' search for a new home has sparked interest from lawmakers in Indiana, who have passed legislation to help finance a new stadium, as well as Iowa, which has introduced a bill to lure the team to the Quad Cities region.

Why it matters

The potential relocation of the Chicago Bears would have significant economic and cultural implications for the region. As one of the NFL's most storied franchises, the Bears' departure from Illinois would mean the loss of thousands of jobs, tourism revenue, and the team's long-standing connection to the state. The stadium saga has also highlighted the challenges facing aging sports facilities and the competition between states and cities to attract or retain professional sports teams.

The details

The Bears currently play at Soldier Field in Chicago, which they rent from the city. However, concerns over the stadium's limited revenue potential and the fact that taxpayers are still paying for its last renovation have led the team to explore other options. In February 2023, the Bears finalized the purchase of the former Arlington Park Racetrack property in Arlington Heights, Illinois, for $197.2 million. Meanwhile, leaders in Hammond and Portage, Indiana, have proposed stadium concepts to lure the Bears to the Hoosier State, with the Indiana Senate passing a bill to create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to help finance a new facility.

  • In February 2023, the Bears finalized the purchase of the former Arlington Park Racetrack property in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
  • In January 2023, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 27 in a 46 to 2 vote, creating the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to help finance a potential Bears stadium.
  • In December 2022, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren released an open letter to fans about the team's stadium search, stating that the project would not be a priority for Illinois in 2026.

The players

Chicago Bears

One of the oldest franchises in the National Football League, the Chicago Bears were founded in 1920 and have played their home games in Illinois for over a century.

Soldier Field

The current home stadium of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field was built in 1924 and has a capacity of 61,500, but concerns over its limited revenue potential have led the team to explore other options.

Kevin Warren

The President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, who released an open letter to fans in December 2022 about the team's stadium search and the lack of urgency from Illinois leaders.

J.B. Pritzker

The Governor of Illinois, who has stated that he is taking the threat of the Bears moving to another state seriously and is working with the team to combat that possibility.

Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority

A new entity created by the Indiana Senate in January 2023 to help finance a potential new stadium for the Chicago Bears in the Hoosier State.

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What they’re saying

“The stakes for Illinois are significant: thousands of union jobs, year-round attractions and global events made possible by a fixed roof stadium that would provide long-term revenue for the State. For a project of this scale, uncertainty has significant consequences. Stable timelines are critical, as are predictable processes and elected leaders, who share a sense of urgency and appreciation for public partnership that projects with this level of impact require. We have not received that sense of urgency or appreciation to date.”

— Kevin Warren, President and CEO, Chicago Bears (Open letter to fans)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Chicago Bears' stadium saga highlights the challenges facing aging sports facilities and the competition between states and cities to attract or retain professional sports teams. The potential relocation of the iconic franchise would have significant economic and cultural implications for Illinois, and the team's search for a new home has sparked interest from neighboring states like Indiana and Iowa.