Bears’ Indiana Search Shifts Tone in Illinois Over Stadium Funding

The Bears’ look into neighboring Indiana for potential stadium sites could be working, as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker now has a rather different vibe regarding the long-troubled venue effort.

For years, Pritzker has been a strident critic of the NFL’s team push for public money for the team’s long-sought-after stadium and mixed-use development, set to cost more than $5 billion. Just weeks after the Bears publicly disclosed an expansion of its search into Northwest Indiana, Pritzker is now conveying open support to aid the team with infrastructure needs toward an Illinois-based stadium.

“This is a private business. We help with private businesses all the time in the state, and I want to help if it’s with infrastructure, as we do with other private businesses. That’s absolutely a way we could do that,” Pritzker said. “But as I’ve said, the Bears have heard this, we’re not going to build a stadium for the Chicago Bears.”

Notably, it’s now just infrastructure help that the Bears are seeking, as they previously amended their push for public assistance from roughly half of the stadium costs to a reduced ask of $855 million in infrastructure support. Even that, however, had run into political obstacles, prompting the pursuit in Indiana. The team is also looking for state help to allow it to negotiate its property taxes with local governments.

“I want what’s best for the taxpayers in the end,” Pritzker said. “We’re going to make sure we do the best that we can for the Bears, but most of all, that we’re not wasting taxpayer money.”

Pritzker’s latest comments also closely follow a visit by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, along with team officials, to stadium sites in both Illinois and Indiana—including a 326-acre parcel of team-owned land in Arlington Heights, Ill., previously seen as the primary option. 

“One thing I’m optimistic about in this regard is some of the infrastructure needs the Bears have identified are actually needs of the area around Arlington Heights,” Pritzker said.

The Bears, meanwhile, have also sent a survey to season-ticket holders, asking them about a variety of stadium-related matters, including their willingness to travel to Indiana for games.

Team Matters

The ongoing stadium dialogue is happening as the Bears have advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs, continuing a breakthrough season and marking the team’s best campaign since 2010.

Chicago will be playing at home Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC against the Rams, with that broadcast slot chosen by the league to lean heavily in to the matchup involving the No. 2 and No. 3 U.S. media markets. 

Ticket demand has been significant, with pricing on the resale market now beginning at more than $400 per seat. That figure is down slightly from earlier in the week, as Sunday’s high temperature in Chicago is now projected at just 18 degrees. With the nighttime setting, the game-time temperature is expected to fall into the single digits. 

“We always adjust and adapt,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of the forthcoming weather conditions. “They have to be able to play in those same elements. They obviously have had a little bit more experience, but we’re not going to allow that to be an excuse.”