The Chicago Bears have been fighting for three years to gain headway on a potential new stadium. It felt like Arlington Heights was the obvious choice. Then Kevin Warren pivoted to a downtown stadium on land south of Soldier Field. Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois government refused to entertain the idea. So the Bears shifted back to Arlington. However, the state still refused to consider any public assistance for the move. As a result, Warren declared the team would reopen the search, this time expanding into Indiana.
That caught many people off guard. Nobody thought for a second the Bears would ever consider leaving the state. However, Indiana's government has been aggressive in its efforts to entice the franchise to the idea, and it's working. Reports indicate that the team is already conducting preliminary tests at the most likely site in Hammond, Indiana.
It's hard not to feel like things are slipping away from Illinois. Still, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated in a recent press conference that Warren contacted him about discussing the Michael Reese site downtown now that the city's budget bill has passed.
It feels like the Chicago Bears are giving the state one last chance.
The Michael Reese site is south of McCormick Place in Bronzeville on the South Side. It's well-known that the area has been in need of modernization for several years. However, the city hasn't been able to find ways to make it happen due to a variety of complicated reasons. The Chicago Bears initially didn't consider the site. Among the problems were its generally small size, considered too narrow by NFL standards. It's also on active rail lines, meaning it would take complex work to relocate the freight yards. There is also less space for parking.
So why revisit it? Obviously, it would keep the Bears in Chicago. The site offers excellent access by train, bus, and car, without requiring a transfer at the lakefront properties. That is why Friends of the Parks stated they wouldn't raise opposition to the idea. Most importantly, it is the one option that people in the state government said they'd consider offering public support to renovate. They believe upgrading the Michael Reese site would benefit the city, and by extension, the taxpayers.
One thing is clear. Based on how quickly things are moving, this might be Illinois' best and last chance to keep the Bears. Indiana's push is organized and strong. They already have legislation passed to provide public support for infrastructure. All they need is the team to pick a place to build. That phone call from Warren feels like one last olive branch before the point of no return.
