This story was originally published by Public News Service.
By Joe Ulery, producer
Public News Service
June 12, 2026
Indiana’s bid to land the Chicago Bears is facing renewed competition from Illinois.
Gov. Mike Braun was asked during a recent public appearance about the Bears’ plan to focus stadium development efforts in Hammond. Braun largely repeated previous comments about Indiana’s role in the discussions and did not disclose any major new developments.
“They called me six months ago, and I told them, ‘We’re going to make this easy. I ran a business for 37 years, did tons of real estate. I know what you’re up against,’” Braun said.
His comments came as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he is open to calling a special legislative session this summer to keep the Bears in Illinois.
The Bears announced last week they are advancing plans for a potential stadium and mixed-use development in northwest Indiana but no final location, financing package or construction timeline has been announced.
Braun stressed Indiana’s willingness to work with the team helped set it apart from Illinois.
“I think they’ve made the decision even earlier than what I anticipated last week, when they said they’re focusing on Hammond,” Braun noted. “You’re going to get a really good stadium built with a lot of mixed-use investment. You can look at the Chicago skyline.”
For now, the project remains in the due diligence stage as the Bears continue studying their options before making any final decisions.
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