INDIANAPOLIS — In 1905, U.S. Steel purchased 9,000 acres on Lake Michigan’s Indiana shoreline, building the city of Gary from scratch. Less than half a century later, this steel juggernaut became the vital component for America’s arsenal of democracy.
On Friday, the Chicago Bears announced they will be relocating to Hammond.
“Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected,” the team said in a statement. “We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. had told me earlier this year that if the iconic NFL franchise relocated to his city that shares a city limit with Chicago, it would be as transformative as the arrival of U.S. Steel.
“If this opportunity becomes reality, Indiana will become one of the very few states in America with two National Football League franchises,” McDermott told me in February. “Think about that. Two NFL teams. Indianapolis and Hammond. Two global brands. Two engines of economic growth. Two sources of pride for Hoosiers. That puts Indiana in rare company.”
The NFL brand is one of the most compelling on the planet. Variety reports that 18 of the top 20 top-rated TV shows (and 48 out of the top 100) in 2025 were NFL games. The Super Bowl in February drew 124 million viewers, and 128 million tuned in to watch the Bad Bunny halftime show, where the Puerto Rican recording star made the NFL’s appeal to all of the Americas.
The NFL brand is preparing to go emphatically world-wide, with permanent franchises expected to be placed in London and Mexico City. This coming season, there will be nine regular season games played in Europe, South America and Mexico. The Indianapolis Colts played a game in Berlin last season.
For Indiana to land a second NFL stadium and franchise is a huge coup. Look no further than SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, where the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers play. The $5 billion mixed-use entertainment center generates $123 million in annual revenue, supports thousands of jobs and has increased commercial real estate values by 78%.
In Georgia, where Battery Atlanta has transformed the Cumberland area into a massive economic engine where Major League Baseball’s Braves now play. The mixed-use development featuring Truist Park draws more than 10 million visitors annually, driving more than $40 million in annual tax revenue for Cobb County. Property values around the development skyrocketed from $5 million in 2014 to more than $767 million by 2023.
McDermott describes a coming Bears stadium complex at Wolf Lake (which straddles the Illinois/Indiana state line), as such an entertainment complex. “There will be a Bearsville,” the mayor said, transforming his corner of The Region beyond the 10 or 12 game days. There will be entertainment venues and mixed-use development.
This has been what McDermott described as an “aggressive” bipartisan effort, with the Democratic Hammond mayor teaming up with Republican Gov. Mike Braun, House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray. Senate Bill 27 that sets up a sports stadium authority passed in February with broad bipartisan support.
Senate Bill 27 was designated as the stadium authority bill. It creates the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority with the power to finance and construct an NFL stadium. It “mirrors the Indianapolis model” that built Lucas Oil Stadium for the Colts. The stadium would be owned by the state and leased to the team for at least 35 years.
McDermott said in a statement, “The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment. The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment.
“I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I’m grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen. Ryan Mishler and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!” McDermott said.
Gov. Braun said on Friday, “Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality.
“Welcome to Indiana!”
Brian A. Howey is an opinion columnist for State Affairs Indiana and the founder of Howey Politics Indiana. His writing offers analysis and opinion shaped by decades of experience covering Indiana politics. Email him at howey@stateaffairs.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Bears move ‘puts Indiana in rare company’ | Opinion
Reporting by Brian Howey, Columnist / South Bend Tribune
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By Brian Howey, Columnist | USA TODAY Network
