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Indiana Governor Mike Braun optimistic Chicago Bears will move to Hammond: EXCLUSIVE

Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

21 May 2026 at 07:24

Indiana's governor is opening up more on his hopes the Bears build their new stadium in Hammond.

Governor Mike Braun spoke exclusively with ABC7 Chicago, saying he's feeling more confident than ever that the Hoosier state will soon be home to the Chicago Bears.

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Governor Braun says he's not counting his chickens before they're hatched, but he is clearly optimistic that Hammond in Northwest Indiana could be the Bears' new home soon.

Braun was in Merrillville for Indiana Business Hall of Fame inductions, addressing the topic that's on the minds of most business people and residents of Northwest Indiana: The Bears.

"Dare I say there might be a good, better, best stadium construction in Hammond," Braun said. "Just saying."

Governor Braun says the McCaskeys have been to the governor's mansion in Indianapolis on several occasions, and he's had plenty of opportunity to sell the Hoosier state to the Bears ownership group. One selling point is Indiana's AAA credit rating.

"You'll get a lot more stadium for the amount of money you invest. And with the vitality and business atmosphere of what you can get coming into Hammond," Braun said.

Indiana state lawmakers passed legislation in late February to pave the way for the Bears to build their new stadium in Hammond near Wolf Lake. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed at NFL meetings Tuesday that the Bears are only looking at two possible stadium sites, Hammond and Arlington Heights.

While Goodell said he has spoken with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Braun says his communications have been with the Bears ownership, and he says he believes they appreciate the speed and efficiency of doing business in Indiana as opposed to Illinois.

"So often you get entangled where government is involved," Braun said. "Speed is not a word you associate with it."

Meanwhile, the Illinois legislative session is getting down to the wire with just over a week left. The Illinois Senate has not yet voted on the "mega-projects" bill, which the Bears say is essential to them staying in the state of Illinois.

The measure that would pave the way for an Arlington Heights stadium is opposed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and some Chicago legislators who want the team in the city.

"You know, I'm hopeful that the people who want to tank the bill are not successful," Gov. Pritzker said.

"If it doesn't happen... it will be a very dark day for Illinois, and I think that the Bears will be really, really challenged with staying in Illinois," Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said.

Braun says the ease with which Indiana has moved is something the Bears will consider in its decision.

"The Illinois legislature has been in session for a long time and really has not come up with anything that looks like it's gonna be what they're looking for," Braun said. "I think the merits of where would you want to be long-term, I think that's what in my mind, if I were in their shoes, I'd be putting a lot of emphasis on that."

Governor Braun says he believes the Bears will be finished with their due diligence work on the Hammond site soon. He's expecting an announcement on where the team plans to build in the next three or four weeks..

Political Sparring Intensifies Over Bears’ $5B Stadium Future

Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

20 May 2026 at 22:07

The Bears’ stadium saga that has twisted and turned for more than three years is now coming down to a final set of high-stakes days, with the NFL’s team future hanging in the balance.

The Illinois Senate is still grappling with a “megaprojects” bill that would allow the Bears to negotiate property tax rates for a proposed domed stadium project in suburban Arlington Heights. The state House passed the legislation four weeks ago, but since then, political infighting in the Prairie State has slowed progress on the bill considerably.

Numerous Chicago-area leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, have continued to push to keep the Bears in the city. That’s still happening as the team, the NFL, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have each insisted for months that there is not a viable urban site option and that the stadium issue is down to either Arlington Heights or an already-approved option in Hammond, Ind.

As a result, the Bears matter is a still-unresolved issue as Illinois wraps its legislative session on May 31. Team officials have consistently said they intend to make a decision by the early summer, and with construction costs on the planned $5 billion stadium and mixed-use development project rising by at least $10 million per month, time is of the essence.

“I’m fighting hard to make sure [the Bears can stay in Illinois],” Pritzker said. “Also very importantly, because my North Star is protecting the taxpayers of Illinois, is that we have something that works for the state of Illinois that’s fair with other businesses that want to come to Illinois or expand here, that we’re being fair in the allocation of support for a business expanding in the state while also protecting taxpayers across the state.”

The Bears issue also sparked an ongoing war of words between Pritzker and Johnson in which the governor said that the mayor had “no plan” regarding the Bears. Johnson jabbed back on WVON Radio that, “I’m not a billionaire. I’m not the heir of billions of dollars. …He doesn’t know what it’s like to open up a refrigerator and ain’t no food in it.”

Pritzker then fired back again, saying, “I think it’s about your values. It’s about what you really care about in life and who you focused on. And I’ve focused on the working class, the middle class, and people most vulnerable throughout my career.”

League Updates

As planned, the Bears’ stadium situation was part of the NFL’s one-day spring meeting held Tuesday in Orlando—a session that also included awarding of hosting rights to an upcoming Super Bowl and NFL Draft, further changes to the upcoming international schedule, and continued discussion on the league’s increasingly scrutinized media strategy.

Within the league, patience regarding the Bears’ stadium saga is undoubtedly running thin, as the NFL would like to see the team join an accelerating venue development boom that already includes other teams such as the Bills, Titans, Commanders, Browns, Chiefs, and Broncos.

“That [political] process is going on. The legislature in Illinois is obviously focused on that,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at the conclusion of the meeting. “They’re getting into the final days of their session. I’ve spoken to [Pritzker] recently. I think there’s a focus on trying to get something done there, and then they’ll have two viable sites that the Bears can make their decision from.”

For that to truly happen, though, much has to happen in the next 11 days in Illinois. After the state Senate votes on the megaprojects bill, it would go back to the House for reconciliation.

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