States at war over Bears’ $4.7bn relocation as Indiana Governer doubles down amid desperate Chicago plea

The winds of change blowing off Lake Michigan are starting to feel more like a cold front from the southeast.

Faced with the growing possibility of the Chicago Bears trading the lakefront for the Indiana dunes, Mayor Brandon Johnson issued another desperate plea for the franchise to stay put.

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With Governor J.B. Pritzker standing firm on his refusal to fund a “private stadium for a private business,” and the Bears’ brass reportedly exploring a “grand plan” across the state line, City Hall is entering a state of high-stakes panic.

For months, the narrative focused on a tug-of-war between the Chicago lakefront and the suburbs of Arlington Heights. But a new, more aggressive player has entered the chat: the state of Indiana.

Speculation has reached fever pitch that Indiana officials are preparing a “turnkey” package for the McCaskey family.

It would include massive tax incentives, shovel-ready land just across the border, and, crucially, the kind of public-private partnership that Governor Pritzker has flatly rejected in Illinois.

The shift in momentum became undeniable in late 2025 and early 2026.

After months of deadlocked negotiations regarding a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront and a subsequent pivot back to Arlington Heights, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren confirmed the team is “critically evaluating opportunities” in Indiana.

The team recently surveyed season-ticket holders about their interest in a stadium “approximately 20 miles from Chicago,” and reports surfaced of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell joining Bears brass to tour potential sites in Hammond and Gary.

“The Bears belong in the city of Chicago,” Mayor Johnson told reporters in a series of recent addresses.

Calling the prospect of a move to Indiana a “terrible idea,” the Mayor insisted that his “door remains open” to keep the historic franchise from becoming a “disservice to the fandom” by leaving the city.

Indiana Governor says he’s working hard to bring Chicago Bears to his state

However, during his State of the State address Wednesday night, Indiana Governor Mike Braun says he is working hard bring the Chicago Bears’ new stadium to Indiana.

“With our strong business environment, it’s not surprising that another organization has noticed that Indiana is open for business, the Chicago Bears,” Braun said.

“We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier State so they can really see what a great place is to have a business,” Braun said. “We’ll work hard to do it. Let’s get it across the finish line.”

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The Mayor’s intensified rhetoric comes as Governor Pritzker remains the primary obstacle to the Bears’ request for public subsidies.

While Pritzker has expressed optimism about funding infrastructure, which would be the roads and public works surrounding a development, he has been unwavering in his refusal to use taxpayer dollars for the stadium itself.

“The bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers,” Pritzker’s office said in a recent statement.

The Governor has previously labeled the team’s threats to move to Indiana a “startling slap in the face” to loyal fans, but he has refused to move the stadium project up the state’s 2026 priority list.

Mayor Johnson has remained committed to the Bears staying on the lakefront and has refused to budge.

“The investment in a stadium is really an investment in the entire campus,” Johnson said recently.

“I still believe that the lakefront is the best place for the Chicago Bears to be, and anywhere outside of that, they’re no longer the Chicago Bears.”

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The franchise’s pivot to Indiana is more than just a negotiation tactic; it’s a response to a legislative “non-starter” in Springfield.

The team is seeking roughly $855 million in infrastructure support and property tax certainty. They are terms that Indiana, with its aggressive tax structure and “turnkey” incentive tools, may be more willing to provide.

For Mayor Johnson, the stakes are existential. Losing the Bears would not only mean a massive blow to the city’s tax revenue and prestige but would also leave the future of a vacant or underutilized Soldier Field in question.

As Indiana Governor Braun prepares to position his state as a “legitimate contender” for the team, the clock is ticking on Chicago’s ability to keep the Bears from crossing the border.

Fans have already reacted to new images of the $4.7bn domed Bears stadium project.

However, the distraction of Indiana grand plans and infrastructure debates will have to wait.

On Sunday, the Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, marking the franchise’s most significant game since the 2010 season.

With a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher for a city that has recently spent more time discussing property taxes than touchdowns.

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