Where will the Chicago Bears play in the foreseeable future? Is a new stadium the endgame in Illinois, or Indiana?
This has been one of the biggest questions that the NFL world is still waiting for to be answered. For over a century, the Bears have called Illinois home, and now there are rumors that the Bears are looking for greener pastures in Northwest Indiana.
The hunt for a new home for the Bears intensified into a high-stakes competition between the two states. Both Illinois and Indiana passed key legislation by the end of February. By doing this, they can attempt to lure the franchise away from each other.
Chicago Bears Stadium In Arlington Heights (Plan A)
The Chicago Bears have already purchased the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse site in Arlington Heights, Illinois. This seemed to many fans and journalists that the Bears were just going to move out of Chicago. But now with Indiana as an option, the Bears have some decisions to make.
The Bears could stick with the purchase of the Arlington racetrack. That would be a reasonable option because they already own it. On February 26, 2026, committees from the Illinois House advanced a ‘mega-projects’ bill that would freeze the property taxes for the site. This move provides the ‘tax certainty’ the team demanded.
Chicago Bears Stadium In Northwest Indiana (Plan B)
However, if the Bears move to Indiana, the state is going to have to play the waiting game. They have done a thorough job trying to lure the team away from Illinois. Thanks to Indiana Governor Mike Braun, he signed legislation to order funding for a potential stadium near the Wolf Lake area of northwest Indiana.
Chicago Bears Stadium In Lake Front (Plan C)
After leaving Wrigley Field, Soldier Field has been the home of the Bears since 1971. Soldier Field underwent a renovation in 2002. Yet it is still one of the smallest stadiums in the NFL.
There is always the chance that the Bears could also stay in Chicago, but it is highly unlikely. 2024 saw a proposal for a new arena south of where Soldier Field was, and it is currently stuck in neutral. Because of opposition from advocacy groups, this plan is slowly becoming a vapor.
Schedule Moving Forward
So with all this news, what is expected to happen going forward?
On March 18, lawmakers in the state of Illinois are expected to decide to possibly vote on the property tax legislation required to keep the team in Arlington Heights. The Bears had initially hoped to break ground in 2025, but delays and the lack of a decision made that impossible.
The city of Chicago is also unveiling a potential $630 million renovation for Soldier Field if the Bears decide to stay back home. But whether or not they decide to even stay in the state of Illinois will be up to them.
