The U.S. state of Indiana has passed a bill to establish the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority (NISA) with the aim of tempting the NFL’s Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in the city of Hammond.
The Chicago Sun Times said the Indiana House of Representatives passed the bill by a 95-4 vote, sending it to the Senate which passed it by a vote of 45-4. Gov. Mike Braun signed it later.
Senate Bill 27 empowers the NISA to acquire and finance a Bears stadium. It also would be responsible for construction, equipping, operating and maintaining a stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond.
The Bears have said they would pay $2 billion to build a stadium, be it in Hammond or Arlington Heights, but need state help to pay for surrounding infrastructure.
The bill would draw financing from Lake and Porter county food and beverage tax and the Lake County innkeeper’s tax. Hammond would also impose an admissions tax, and the state would renegotiate toll road fees.
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago (US). The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The 61,500-capacity Soldier Field serves as their home ground.
The Bears said late last year that they were looking at different options for a site for their new stadium despite earlier heralding suburban Arlington Heights as the only venue for the build project.
Bears CEO and President Kevin Warren wrote an open letter to fans saying that the search for a new stadium site had been expanded to the wider Chicagoland region, including northwest Indiana.
The Bears own 326 acres in Arlington Heights but want the ability to negotiate the property tax rates and public funding for infrastructure.
Frustrated with a lack of progress they announced in December they would consider building in Indiana which created the Senate Bill 27 (multiple legislative measures) to establish a stadium authority to finance a stadium.
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer said during the debate, “We sure give the Bears a lot to think about to come here. It’s a little different this time. I think it’s very serious.”
The Bears issued statements about developments in both states, saying they “recognize and appreciate” the Illinois advancement and look forward to continue working with lawmakers.
The team said Indiana “has taken important steps over the last few months” and the Bears “continue to work on the necessary due diligence” of the project.
State Sen. Ryan Mishler, who authored the bill said he spoke with Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren. He said he enjoyed engaging with him “regardless of what happens” and said he fully expected the Bears to listen what Illinois has to offer.
It’s difficult to make direct comparisons between the two states, Mishler said. While the Bears are trying to negotiate down property taxes on their 326-acre plot in Arlington Heights, they wouldn’t have to pay them at all in Indiana. The Bears would keep stadium naming-rights fees at either spot.
If the Bears pick Hammond, they could break ground in the spring of 2027, Mishler said. There might be work done to prepare the site this year.
“Let’s get this across the goal line,” Gov. Braun said in a statement.
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