Bears Stadium Fight Erupts During Illinois Governor’s Debate

The Bears’ long-running stadium saga has become a hot-button and contentious issue in the Illinois gubernatorial race. 

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, seeking a third term as the incumbent Democrat, battled with Republican challenger Darren Bailey during a televised debate Tuesday night and said the Prairie State will put together a legislative solution this fall for the NFL team.

“I believe that in November, we’re going to be able to get something done to keep the Bears in the state of Illinois, but I’m not going to do it at the expense of taxpayers,” Pritzker said.

That comment follows a meeting he had earlier this month with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, marking their first face-to-face session. There, Illinois was essentially put on notice that the state’s upcoming legislative veto session, running for six days in November and early December, will likely be their final shot to keep the team. 

The Bears have an approved public funding package in Indiana for a potential domed stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, located just over the state line, and the team recently said the project there was its “sole focus.”

To that end, Bailey said it’s already a foregone conclusion that the Bears will finalize a deal to move to Indiana.

“I’m just glad I’m not going to be known as the governor that lost the Bears,” Bailey said. “You want to know why he’s going to wait until November? Because the Bears are going to Indiana. That’s the problem.”

After that remark, Pritzker retorted to Bailey, “It’s like you’re wishing for it.”

The Bears have been seeking infrastructure support, as well as the ability to negotiate their own property taxes, for a possible stadium development on team-owned land in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A bill supporting that died in the Illinois spring legislative session, and since then, there has been little tangible movement, raising expectations surrounding the competing Indiana offer. 

“It’s already done. [Indiana Gov. Mike] Braun’s assured me of that,” Bailey said. 

The 2026 gubernatorial race is a rematch of the 2022 election that Pritzker won by 12.5 points. He has a 20-point advantage in recent polls and is strongly favored to win re-election.