A reality in which the Chicago Bears are no longer in the Windy City is becoming increasingly likely. In February, the United States House Committee on Ways and Means cleared the way for Indiana to build a domed stadium for the Bears in Hammond.

Nothing has been finalized, but Indiana Governor Mike Braun is making it clear that he is in favor of the move and willing to do his part in getting it done.

“Indiana is open for business, and our pro-growth environment continues to attract major opportunities like this partnership with the Chicago Bears. We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal,” Braun said.

“If approved, the proposed amendment to Senate Bill 27 puts forward the essential framework to complete this agreement, contingent upon site due diligence proceeding smoothly. The State of Indiana moves at the speed of business, and we’ve demonstrated that through our quick coordination between state agencies, local government, and the legislature to set the stage for a huge win for all Hoosiers. We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”

Warning Issued

Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia warned Illinois legislators this week that sitting on their laurels until the last possible minute wouldn’t be particularly prudent.

“Waiting until the end of May, I think, is a no-go for the Bears,” he said, via the Arlington Heights Daily. “They’ve already been through the [wringer] too many times. The Bears aren’t just kidding around. Maybe they would consider going to Indiana. Since that happened, it’s been a whole different tone.”

Tinaglia believes the franchise would prefer a move from Soldier Field in downtown Chicago to Arlington Heights rather than one to Northwest Indiana, but it’s clear that the likelihood of a move to Indiana is increasing.