The Chicago Bears gave a boost Friday to the prospects of building the team’s new stadium in northwest Indiana, which top Indiana officials immediately seized as a sign that the multibillion-dollar deal will happen.

The Bears released a statement saying the NFL franchise’s board of directors on Thursday “voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected.”

“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 statement said. “It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

The team did not specifically mention the Wolf Lake site near the state line in Hammond that has been under consideration for months as the possible location — and some Illinois officials said a deal with the Bears was still possible.

A sports economist told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that although Indiana might be “in the lead” for the stadium project, the site decision wasn’t final.

Indiana governor declares victory

The Bears’ announcement comes after Illinois legislators adjourned their spring session early Monday without endorsing any response to Indiana’s stadium offer — approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Mike Braun in late February.

Indiana’s package would create a Hammond stadium district and direct more than $1 billion in taxpayer money toward district infrastructure that officials say would also support the team’s plans for surrounding retail, restaurants and residential areas.

Bears officials had said for several months that their stadium options were team-owned property in the northwestern Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights and the Hammond site.

Braun released a statement Friday in which the governor said “Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state!”

“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,” Braun said. “An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”

Expert says, “It ain’t over”

Statements from the Bears and Braun did not mention any signed agreements for the stadium project. The governor’s office did not immediately respond Friday to questions about the status of any contracts.

“It ain’t over till it’s over — and, so, it ain’t over,” said Mark Rosentraub, director of the University of Michigan’s Center for Sports Venues and Real Estate Development.

He regarded the stadium talks as “in the third quarter of this decision.”

Rosentraub said Friday’s statement from the Bears improved the chances of a Hammond stadium, but it will still be a difficult choice for the team to cross the state line.

“I think the Hammond location does offer opportunities for development, that is something that the Bears are interested in pursuing,” Rosentraub told the Capital Chronicle. “Right now, Indiana is in the lead, but you can’t underestimate the value of that emotional pull in Chicago.”

Celebration — and caution — in Indiana

Republican House Speaker Todd Huston, who was the lead sponsor of Indiana’s stadium bill, called the Bears’ statement “a fantastic win for Indiana.”

“I am thrilled the Bears ownership voted to develop a world-class stadium facility in Hammond,” Huston said in a statement. “This will be a transformative project for Northwest Indiana, benefiting our entire state.”

The Indiana enthusiasm was bipartisan, with Democratic state Rep. Earl Harris of East Chicago — a co-sponsor of the state’s incentive package — calling the Bears announcement “a monumental day for Northwest Indiana.”

“The Chicago Bears moving to Hammond, Indiana will not just have a great impact on Northwest Indiana, but the state as a whole,” Harris said. “Thank you to the Chicago Bears leadership for giving The Region this opportunity.”

A cautionary tone, however, came from Republican Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ryan Mishler.

“This is a great step forward in our efforts to bring the Bears to Indiana, and I am grateful to the Bears leadership team for their communication with us during this discussion period,” Mishler said in a statement. “I look forward to further fostering our relationship with them as we continue discussing our next steps in the process.”

Illinois “remains open” to talks

Some Illinois officials indicated they would keep working to keep the Bears in the state.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been trying to restart a deal for keeping the team in the city. His office said Friday it wasn’t surprised by the Bears’ statement, as the franchise has considered multiple stadium sites in recent years.

“It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal,” the mayor’s office said. “Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the city will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interest of our residents.”

Illinois legislators weren’t able to agree on a counteroffer three months after Indiana’s package was approved and are not scheduled to meet again until October.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch said in a Friday statement that “Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois,” but acknowledged that “it will take time to get it right.”

“While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois has focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills — not taxpayer-funded stadiums,” Welch said.

The post Chicago Bears say they will ‘advance’ stadium plans for northwest Indiana site appeared first on News Now Warsaw.