Things are starting to get a bit dicey in the Windy City as the Chicago Bears try to figure out what to do with their $5 billion dome stadium, while Illinois is doing some fighting from within.
Much of the speculation centers on two locations for the Bears' new stadium: Hammond, Indiana, or Arlington Heights, Illinois, but many in Chicago want the franchise to stay in the city. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is not opposed to that, but called out Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for lacking a plan to keep the Bears there.
“He has come up with no plan at all about how the Bears would end up in the city of Chicago. So, that's problematic. I'd love them to be in the city, but we are three years in now, and he still has no plan.”
Chicago mayor called out for not having a plan to keep the Bears there
At this point, from Pritzker's perspective, it's not about keeping the Bears in Chicago as they are just trying not to lose them altogether to Indiana. There has been a lot of debate about why Illinois is not doing enough to keep the Bears there, but it has a lot to do with the state making sure taxpayers don't get screwed by having to help pay for the stadium while keeping their season ticket prices from going up.
The Bears have not yet made a decision, as they recently met with the NFL to provide an update. While the Bears may not be in a rush, the league is pressuring them to come up with a solution. ESPN Bears reporter Courtney Cronin reported that a special briefing will happen on the stadium update.
Per source, at the NFL league meeting in Orlando tomorrow, there will be a special briefing on the Bears stadium. Club and league staff will update the 32 clubs on progress on the only two viable stadium solutions at Arlington Heights and Hammond, Indiana.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 18, 2026
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Chicago seems to be out of the picture completely with the Bears, which will frustrate fans, but it might have to happen at this point. Illinois is fighting for its life to keep the team from leaving the state. The telling sign, though, is the infighting between Illinois, which might worry Bears fans more than anything, and Hammond might end up being the choice.
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