Chicago Bears: A Stadium Showdown Between Illinois and Indiana

The Chicago Bears are in a tough spot. They want a new stadium, but talks in Illinois have hit a wall. So, they looked at Indiana. Some fans think this is just a trick to push Illinois to act. But Bears President Kevin Warren says no. He means it. Indiana is excited. They see this as a big chance. Indiana Governor Mike Braun said his state is ready. He wants the Bears to see how great Indiana is for business. The Bears seem happy too. They like that Indiana is working fast. Indiana is offering a lot. They want to build a $1 billion stadium. The state would own it, but the Bears could rent it for 35 years.In Illinois, things are different. Governor JB Pritzker is open to some help. But he won’t give big tax breaks. That’s a problem for the Bears. They would have to pay property taxes in Illinois. That’s not good for business. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott thinks Indiana is the better choice. He says the Bears would save money and have fewer problems. He also thinks Illinois is being unfair. The Bears are a big part of Illinois. But now, they feel unwanted. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch disagrees. He thinks talking about a new stadium now is wrong. The Bears are stuck in the middle. They need a new home. But both states have different ideas. It’s a big mess.