The Chicago Bears are moving forward with a stadium in Hammond, Indiana, after Illinois lawmakers failed to pass a bill to incentivize the team to stay in Illinois.
The board for the Chicago Bears voted to move forward with the Indiana plan June 4, the team said in a news release June 5, though the exact site for the stadium has not yet been determined. The decision comes after Indiana lawmakers courted the team by passing a framework to help finance the stadium.
“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,” the Bears said in a statement. “It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”
Gov. Mike Braun welcomed the news in a statement, saying the decision will have longlasting ramifications for Indiana.
“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,” Gov. Mike Braun said in a statement. “An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: The Chicago Bears move forward with Indiana stadium
Reporting by Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
