One of the oldest NFL franchises is set to move from its home base in Illinois to a new $5 billion domed stadium in Hammond, Indiana. The Chicago Bears announced on Friday that their Board of Directors has voted to advance their stadium development project.

This move has made the Bears’ fans wonder if the team will change its official name to match its new location. Indiana’s governor, Mike Braun, addressed this on The Herd With Colin Cowherd show. 

“No, I think that would be obtuse to think it would be the Hammond Bears. It’s the Chicago Bears,” replied Braun when asked if Indiana plans to change the name of the Chicago Bears. 

The Bears’ move from Illinois to Indiana also means breaking away from Soldier Field, the NFL’s oldest stadium, which opened in 1924. But it started to serve as the Bears' stadium in 1971.

Indiana passed Senate Bill 27 to create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to acquire lands and finance a major stadium project. The Governor signed the bill late in February this year.

Robinson reported that Indiana pushed the Bears for the move after lawmakers in Illinois failed to guarantee property tax certainty and infrastructure support for the Bears’ 326-acre Arlington Heights site earlier this week. 

The funding structure between Indiana and the Bears is a mix of private investment and public support. The Bears will be contributing to the major capital of the stadium, while Indiana would offer $1 billion in incentives, infrastructure and property tax certainty. 

The Chicago Bears were pleased with their move to Hammond, Indiana and issued a statement on Friday. 

“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,” read the Bears’ statement. 

The Bears added that the exact location remains undecided. Governor Braun welcomed the franchise to the state in response to the Bears’ official statement. 

Goodell's Vision Aligns With Governor Braun's Proposal for the Bears

The Governor called on all Hoosiers to join him in welcoming the Bears to Indiana. He thanked Speaker Huston, Mayor McDermott and the legislature for their partnership. He concluded his statement by thanking the Chicago Bears organization for their “partnership and commitment” in making this move a reality. 

“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,” said Governor Braun in his statement. 

Per Andrew Gamble of The Mirror, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hopes that the Bears join other teams like the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and more in their pursuit of new stadiums.

If the Bears lock in their new site and move to Hammond, Indiana would become the home of two NFL franchises - the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. 

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore