Who’s laughing now? Why the Chicago Bears should move to Northwest Indiana

For several years, my beloved Chicago Bears have been trying to build a new multi-billion dollar stadium in Cook County, Illinois. But these efforts have been met with “no legislative partnership,” according to President and CEO Kevin Warren. After Illinois leadership told the Chicago Bears that this project will not be a priority in 2026, the Chicago Bears announced they are now considering a move to Northwest Indiana.

I currently represent the great City of Crown Point, Indiana as its Fifth District City Councilman. I was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and have proudly lived here all my life. I am equally proud to be a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears. Given my credentials as both a lifelong Region resident and Chicago Bears fan, I can vividly remember the reaction the last time the team proposed moving to Northwest Indiana.

While fighting with Illinois leaders over funding to improve Soldier Field in 1995, the Chicago Bears proposed moving to a new stadium in Gary, Indiana. The headline of “The Gary Bears?” was plastered across Chicago newspapers, broadcasts, and sports shows. But most commentators laughed at the potential move—and at Indiana itself. I remember my Illinois co-workers sharing this reaction as well.

Fast forward thirty years, and the Chicago Bears’ announcement has not received the same reaction. Instead, the Chicago Bears’ threat of moving across state lines has been taken seriously by government officials and the public alike. So what has changed in thirty years? The short answer is a lot.

The State of Illinois and City of Chicago’s finances have been in a continuous downward spiral because of their unbalanced budgets, spending, profligacy, and inability—especially from the City of Chicago—to deal with staggering unfunded pension liabilities. Beginning in 2003, the State of Illinois’ credit rating was downgraded twenty-four times. Despite upgrades in the past few years, the State of Illinois remains the lowest-rated state in the country. This year, S&P Global Ratings downgraded the City of Chicago to two notches above “junk” because of its “persistent structural budget deficit, significantly weaker reserves following years of deficit spending, and reluctance to fully fund supplemental pension contributions” as required by its own policy.

Meanwhile, Indiana has a AAA credit rating from all three major agencies—a distinction it has maintained since 2010. This reflects the State of Indiana’s two-decades-long financial turnaround that former Governor Mitch Daniels began, and his successors have continued. Unsurprisingly, Indiana has continuously been ranked as one of the best states in the country for business.

So while the Illinois leaders have given the Chicago Bears the straight arm, Indiana leaders have proactively courted the team. Eight months before the Chicago Bears made their announcement, the Indiana Legislature passed a bill to establish the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission to attract a professional sports franchise to Northwest Indiana—especially the Chicago Bears. “I hear there are some teams in Chicago that are named after some animals … that are still trying to figure out where they’re going to live,” Indiana Representative Earl Harris said at the time he introduced the bill. Within days of the Chicago Bears’ announcement, current Indiana Governor Mike Braun has said: “We’re going to do everything we can, now that they’ve made the overture, to see what we can do to make it happen.”

Thirty years ago, the State of Indiana did not have the financial power to compete. Now, the State of Indiana has the pocketbook and the proactivity to win over the Chicago Bears. I hope my Chicago Bears seriously consider such a move, but no matter what happens, at least this proposal is no longer a laughing matter to Illinoisans. 

Joe Sanders is a Crown Point, Indiana, City Councilman, NWI businessman, and avid Chicago Bears and White Sox fan