NFL's Goodell meets with Illinois
governor as the Bears continue pursuit of new stadium
[October 02, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
and the leadership of the state's General Assembly on Thursday,
adding another wrinkle to the Chicago Bears' long-running pursuit of
a new home.
The Bears said in August that the franchise's “sole focus” for the
construction of a new stadium and mixed-use development was on
Hammond, Indiana. But the public confirmation of the conversation
between Goodell and Pritzker indicates that Illinois remains in the
mix.
The Bears also had been considering Arlington Heights — about 30
miles northwest of Chicago — as a potential location for an enclosed
stadium.
Illinois Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, state Sen. Bill Cunningham
and state Rep. Kam Buckner joined Pritzker at the meeting. As the
president pro tempore of the Illinois Senate, Cunningham frequently
serves as the body's presiding officer, and Buckner's district
includes Soldier Field — the current home for the Bears.
Pat Ryan, a billionaire minority investor in the Bears and a member
of the team's board of directors, also attended.
“The Governor’s Office has remained in conversation with the Bears
about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer,” Pritzker's
office said in a statement.
“The Governor and General Assembly leadership were glad to
participate in a productive meeting focused on keeping the Bears in
Illinois and protecting taxpayers.”
The NFL said in a release that it appreciated the opportunity to
meet with Pritzker and the state legislators.
“Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term
stadium solution for the club and their fans,” the league said.
A message was left by The Associated Press seeking comment from the
team.
The Bears, a charter NFL franchise, have played in Illinois since
the team’s founding in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys. They moved to
Chicago in 1921 and called Wrigley Field home before they started
playing at Soldier Field in September 1971.
The Bears’ lease runs through 2033, but they can pay a fee to break
the lease early. Soldier Field is about 40 miles south of Halas Hall
— the team’s headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois — and Hammond is
about 20 miles south of the team’s lakefront stadium.
The Bears ramped up their focus on Indiana after a proposal to
provide financial incentives for the team to build its new home in
Illinois stalled in the state legislature. A committee in the
Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill in February that
established a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance,
construct and lease a stadium.
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The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would have
cleared the way for Arlington Heights and Chicago to create local
stadium authorities, creating a pathway for the Bears to avoid
paying property taxes on a new stadium. But the House adjourned
without taking up the measure on the last day of the state’s spring
legislative session.
The Bears have been pursuing a new home for years, but the process
has been hampered by repeated twists and turns.
The team announced in September 2021 that it had signed a purchase
agreement for 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights. The $197
million deal with Churchill Downs Inc. was finalized in 2023.
In September 2022, the team unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan for
Arlington Heights that called for an enclosed stadium that could
host Super Bowls and Final Fours. The conceptual illustrations also
provided for a year-round entertainment district with restaurants
and shopping.
But the Bears shifted their focus toward building a new stadium next
to Soldier Field after Kevin Warren was hired as team president in
January 2023. The plan to transform Chicago’s Museum Campus got an
enthusiastic endorsement from Mayor Brandon Johnson but a tepid
reception from Pritzker and state legislators when it was announced
in April 2024.
The team switched gears again in May 2025, announcing it had made
“significant progress” with local leaders in Arlington Heights.
Amid lingering efforts to secure tax incentives in Illinois, along
with as much as $855 million in public money for infrastructure at
the Arlington Heights site, the Bears began to take a closer look at
possible options in northwest Indiana.
Warren said in August that the team was “in regular, almost daily
communication with the state of Indiana working on” the project. He
called it “an excellent deal, a win-win partnership together.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
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