Overview
- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell toured potential stadium locations with Bears leaders in both Arlington Heights and Northwest Indiana over the weekend as part of the team’s ongoing due diligence.
- The Bears own the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse site, purchased for $197 million in 2023, which remains a leading option for a domed venue.
- Illinois leaders have signaled the project is not a 2026 priority, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker skeptical of major subsidies, while the team seeks property-tax certainty and about $855 million for infrastructure.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun says discussions are moving quickly, and lawmakers have established a professional sports development commission to pursue a potential Northwest Indiana stadium.
- The concept calls for a roughly $5 billion domed, mixed-use project intended to attract major events, with the Bears warning construction costs are rising by more than $10 million per month and on-field success increasing political pressure.