Chicago Bears say 'sole focus' is building new stadium in Indiana and reveal how that will affect their name

The Chicago Bears connected Thursday announced that their caller stadium readying and expectations, which the squad had been balancing betwixt options successful Arlington Heights, Illinois and Hammond Indiana, volition present person a "sole focus" connected the tract successful the authorities adjacent door.

The nine is decidedly leaving Chicago, which it has called location since 1921.

And it is astir decidedly leaving Illinois, too.

CHICAGO BEARS TAKE MAJOR STEP TOWARD LEAVING CITY AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY AS FRANCHISE MAKES INDIANA PLANS

"...Even though we've had occasional meetings with the authorities of Illinois, our sole absorption astatine this constituent successful clip is moving connected a world-class stadium and mixed usage improvement successful Hammond, Indiana," Bears CEO Kevin Warren told reporters connected Thursday.

Jan 17, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, US; Chicago Bears president George H. McCaskey speaks arsenic helium introduces caller Chicago Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren during the property league astatine Halas Hall. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)

So, the Indiana Bears?

The Hammond Bears?

Nope.

"We volition beryllium the Chicago Bears, whether we're successful Arlington oregon whether we're successful Hammond," Bears Chairman George McCaskey said. "And arsenic Kevin said, our absorption connected Hammond, that's wherever we're advancing our efforts, and that's wherever the bulk of our time, attention, and resources are being devoted."

McCaskey said helium understands determination is anxiousness from Bears fans that the nine is apt leaving the state.

Fans cheer earlier the crippled betwixt the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams successful the NFC Divisional Playoffs astatine Soldier Field connected Jan. 18, 2026 successful Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

"We recognize that that's retired there," helium said. "And it needs to beryllium dealt with. We are doing surveying, research, information collection, to code those issues. And arsenic I said months ago, this is going to necessitate an adjustment.

"But it required an accommodation erstwhile we went from Wrigley [Field] to Soldier [Field]. It required an accommodation erstwhile we went from, Soldier to Champaign temporarily. And it required an accommodation erstwhile we came backmost to the punctuation unquote caller Soldier Field.

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"That's however it works implicit the people of 100-years-plus of franchise stewardship."

For months determination has been anticipation among immoderate fans and others successful Illinois that immoderate benignant of Hail Mary connection oregon strategy could someway support the Bears from bolting. That would necessitate enactment with the mostly Democrat politicians successful Illinois from Gov. J.B. Pritzker to legislators and McCaskey made it wide those discussions with Illinois politicians haven't been fruitful.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker holds a quality league with different Illinois politicians and assemblage leaders to code President Donald Trump's program to nonstop National Guard troops into Chicago connected Aug. 25, 2025 successful Chicago, Ill. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

"Minimal," McCaskey said describing the communication. "We were waiting to spot whether determination would beryllium immoderate substantive enactment taken. We thought we had presented a beauteous compelling lawsuit that a stadium successful Arlington would beryllium beneficial not lone for the colony of Arlington Heights, but for the community, and for the full state.

"Really a tremendous operator of economical activity, occupation creation, taxation revenue, income revenue, and yet that statement was unsuccessful."

CHICAGO POLITICIANS ARE DOING WINDY CITY POLITICIAN THINGS TO TRY TO KEEP THE BEARS IN TOWN

The mostly Republican politicians successful Indiana, meanwhile, person offered a stark contrast.

"The representatives from the authorities of Indiana, each the mode from the governor's bureau to representatives successful Northwest Indiana, person been phenomenal partners," Warren said. "They've been stellar to enactment with, precise professional, diligent, with a can-do attitude."

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