The Chicago Bears recently announced that their board of directors voted in favor of moving forward with their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. Just a few hours after the announcement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, responded by getting on social media and informing fans that he would continue to fight tooth-and-nail to keep the Bears in the Windy City until “we see shovels in the ground in Hammond.”
“Over the last several years the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions, today’s announcement is not surprising,” Johnson said in his post. “It’s also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal. Without a final site selection, until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the City of Chicago will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.”
The Chicago mayor isn’t exactly wrong. The Bears voted in favor of developing the stadium project in Hammond, however, the final site for it has not yet been confirmed. It is believed by most that the project will be located in the Wolf Lake area, but the exact spot is not yet known. Until that is decided, Chicago is still in play to keep the Bears.
According to a report from Breitbart News, Johnson will need help from state lawmakers to ensure the Bears stay in Illinois. One of the big issues that has prevented Chicago from securing the project is the failure by state politicians and city officials in Arlington Heights to come to an agreement on funding and tax certainty for the stadium.
The article pointed out that unless Illinois lawmakers come up with a plan to make the state look more attractive than Hammond, the Bears aren’t likely to change their minds about moving to Hammond. “The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment,” Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., went on to say in a statement that followed one from the Bears.
“The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment. I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I’m grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen. Ryan Mishler, and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!” the statement added, according to a report from USA Today.
The USA Today report said that the Bears leaving Chicago is almost a certainty. A source close to the situation spoke with the outlet and revealed that the Bears will choose between Hammond or Arlington Heights, which is 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field. The source explained that staying in downtown Chicago is no longer a viable option for the team.
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