The Chicago Bears began their quest to build a new stadium back in 2022. However, it became apparent there was a problem right from the start. Governor J.B. Pritzker was not in any way interested in negotiating with them on the subject. He maintained that the Illinois state government would not allocate taxpayer money to fund a multibillion-dollar vanity project for a franchise that was still paying off its lease on Soldier Field. It was such that Pritzker would barely even engage on the topic. Every attempt by team president Kevin Warren to establish a productive dialogue was stonewalled.
When it became clear to the Bears that no stadium discussions would take place in Springfield next year, Warren was left with no choice. He would need to find alternatives. That includes reopening the search for a new home, including the prospect of relocating to a different state entirely. Warren stated in a public announcement that Northwest Indiana would be included among the options. It's an open secret that the state is seeking to attract major sports franchises to expand its business reach. They're ready to roll out the red carpet.
Apparently, this new development finally got a reaction from Pritzker, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“Suggesting the Bears would move to Indiana is a startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season,” Pritzker spokesman Matt Hill said in a statement to the Tribune. “The governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.”
The Chicago Bears would always need to try something drastic.
History says that true progress on stadium discussions often doesn't happen until the ownership of a franchise decides to threaten leaving the state. This just happened recently with the Buffalo Bills. The Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even the Pittsburgh Steelers have used that playbook. All eventually got the stadium support they were looking for. Part of the problem with Pritzker is that he likely felt certain there was no way the McCaskey family wanted to leave the state, or had the capability of doing so.
This announcement is the first real sign that neither of those assumptions might be true. It is clear Indiana is more than ready to welcome the Chicago Bears and is prepared to offer support. Warren being able to say all of that publicly means it's been cleared with ownership. This is a threat Pritzker can't ignore. Chicago hasn't lost a professional franchise to relocation in 75 years. It would be a black eye on his tenure as Illinois governor. While his intentions might be in the right place, the war of public perception threatens to shift in the Bears' favor.
That leaves him two options: risk calling their bluff or return to the negotiating table.
