The possibility that the Chicago Bears could construct their next stadium in Northwest Indiana appears to be gaining legitimate traction.
In fact, it is credible enough that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently visited Northwest Indiana to tour potential stadium locations, according to Indiana reporter Hannah Adamson and WGN News.
Last week, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun told WTHR-TV that the state is moving quickly in discussions with the Bears about building a new stadium in Northwest Indiana, an area known for having a strong Bears fan base and comparatively fewer Indianapolis Colts supporters.
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“They’re seriously looking at other options,” Braun said of the Bears. “So, if everything keeps progressing at the speed at which it has over the last week or so, we’ll see. So, we’re going to do everything to make it happen.
“There are a lot of things that could come into play between consummating it and so forth, but now they are seriously looking at other options. So, we’ll see what happens.”
According to Fox 32’s Paris Schutz, Goodell, Bears CEO Kevin Warren, and Bears chairman George McCaskey also toured Arlington Heights in Illinois on Sunday, just hours after Chicago defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the wild-card round.
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While Illinois lawmakers have pushed back against the idea of the Bears leaving the state, they have also emphasized that residents should not bear any tax burden related to a new stadium.
"The people broadly of the state of Illinois do not want the state of Illinois to write a multi-billion-dollar check or even a billion-dollar check to a billionaire owned team," Illinois Gov. JV Pritzker said earlier this week.
That stance has led some to believe the discussion around Indiana may be a negotiating tactic rather than a definitive plan.
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