(Chicago, IL) – The Chicago Bears have expanded their search for a new stadium location to include Northwest Indiana.
In an open to letter to fans on the NFL team’s website, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren wrote that the move is the result of the State of Illinois indicating it’s not planning to consider financial assistance for a new stadium project in 2026 to replace Soldier Field.
Warren says they want to secure a venue the Bears would own for the first time in franchise history.
The team had plans to build a new stadium in the Arlington Heights area, but it appears those plans are looking more unlikely.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun says he’s willing to work with the team to make it happen.
The Bears have played in Chicago since 1921 when the franchise moved to the Second City from Decatur, Illinois.
The team was founded there in 1919 and was known as the Staleys – named after a food starch company in the community.
