Bears rule out Chicago sites, focus on Arlington Heights or Hammond

The Chicago Bears said Thursday they have exhausted every opportunity to stay in the city and that there is no viable site in Chicago for a new stadium. As a result, the club will consider only Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Hammond, Indiana, for a potential development. Team officials said a decision is expected later this spring or early summer.

The statement closes the door on talk that a Chicago location might still be in play. The franchise said remaining in the city was its initial goal but concluded no suitable site emerged after extended evaluation. The Bears have played in Chicago for more than a century and have studied new stadium options for several years.

Thursday’s clarification narrows the field to one in-state option and one out-of-state alternative. By limiting its search, the team aims to advance site planning, design and financing discussions with local and state leaders in those two communities. The club did not name any additional city sites under review.

The reset also changes expectations for fans and businesses that had hoped for a Chicago-based solution. Any move to Arlington Heights or Hammond would shift games outside the city limits and require new transportation, public-safety and game-day operations planning.

Illinois and Indiana proposals

Incentives and site control

Illinois officials are working on an incentive package to support construction in Arlington Heights, according to people familiar with the discussions. The site sits on property the team already owns, a factor that could streamline pre-construction work if financing and approvals come together.

Indiana leaders have also prepared proposals aimed at bringing the franchise to Hammond. Local authorities have indicated a willingness to move quickly on permitting and infrastructure if the Bears choose the northwest Indiana location, though the team has not signaled a preference between the two.

Decision window and implications

Timeline and governance

Team officials indicated that a decision between Arlington Heights and Hammond is expected later this spring or early summer. That schedule would allow negotiations on public support, land-use approvals and transportation plans to proceed in parallel while the club refines stadium specifications.

For Illinois, a deal in Arlington Heights would keep the team in-state and leverage the club’s existing site control. For Indiana, securing an NFL franchise would mark a major economic and sporting milestone for the region. In both cases, any agreement would require coordination among municipal, county and state officials.

The Bears did not outline additional contingencies if talks stall in either location. Stakeholders now await formal proposals from Illinois and Indiana and the club’s selection, which the team says could arrive by early summer.