The Chicago Bears and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Illinois legislative leaders in Chicago, keeping open the possibility of a stadium deal within the state ahead of the fall veto session beginning November 17, 2026, according to CBS News. Team officials and league leadership joined legislative discussions in Chicago.
Lawmakers plan veto session legislative review
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated that lawmakers intend to have legislation ready for review during the first week of the veto session, with a potential vote during the second week. Under the proposed bill, a newly formed stadium authority would take ownership of the venue, exempting the Bears from property tax obligations.
Earlier this week, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell accompanied #Bears officials Kevin Warren and George McCaskey to a meeting with Illinois legislative leaders in Chicago. They promised to have continued conversations about a path forward for a stadium in Arlington Heights or… pic.twitter.com/dpWtB2zOiA
The recent Chicago meetings included Bears Chairman George McCaskey, President and CEO Kevin Warren, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
In a formal statement, the Bears confirmed their ongoing legislative engagement:
The Chicago Bears remain committed to building a world-class stadium and mixed-use district for our fans, the Chicagoland community and the team.
The Chicago Bears, Team statement
Pritzker noted that the bill is being put together to give the Bears an opportunity to choose where they want to build a stadium in Illinois. The team’s active evaluation of Illinois options follows earlier friction when state lawmakers failed to approve tax certainty, leading the club to explore alternative destinations. Pritzker also noted that the surprising ouster of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is not expected to disrupt negotiations, as other leaders in the House and Senate are involved.
Indiana mayor urges team commitment
Despite renewed talks in Illinois, the Bears maintain their parallel negotiations across state lines. The team’s board of directors voted in June to advance stadium development plans in Hammond, Indiana, where due diligence across two sites in the Wolf Lake area continues with $2 billion pledged by the team.
We encourage the Chicago Bears to fully commit to a stadium in Indiana because it is nearly time for the state to shift its energy and resources to the next opportunity.
State of Indiana
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. noted that stadium developments shift rapidly, recalling the visibility of his city’s branding during a Monday Night Football broadcast shortly before high-level meetings resumed in Illinois.
Chicago developers pitch city-proper sites
As state leaders work on framework legislation, real estate developers have introduced new urban proposals. Related Midwest proposed a domed stadium at the 200-acre former U.S. Steel South Works property along Lake Michigan near 87th Street and DuSable Lake Shore Drive, positioned directly north of the planned Quantum Shore Chicago development and close to the site of a future Advocate Health medical facility. Related Midwest President Curt Bailey asserted that the location offers iconic lakefront proximity, with potential completion by the 2032 season.
Separately, Chicago architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) released conceptual renderings for a domed stadium at the Rate Field site in Bridgeport. Partner Adam Semel emphasized the site’s transit accessibility via the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and the Dan Ryan Expressway, though the proposal remains an initial conceptual study. Sterling Bay CEO Andy Gloor and Carl Williams, father of Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, met with Mayor Brandon Johnson's senior advisor Jason Lee to pitch a Bridgeport stadium concept replacing the White Sox, while One Central developer Bob Dunn has discussed a lakefront plan with the mayor.
The franchise first launched its exploration of suburban locations in September 2021 upon reaching an agreement to acquire the former Arlington Park racecourse property in Arlington Heights. While that site remains an active option alongside Hammond and newly discussed Chicago locations, the team reiterated its overarching obligation to evaluate every avenue for the franchise’s future home.
We have a responsibility and obligation to explore every option available to the club, and we look forward to developing a transformational project that will attract global events and deliver jobs and economic growth to all of Chicagoland.
The Chicago Bears, Team statement
While no final decisions have been made regarding the stadium project, leadership emphasized that ongoing discussions will prioritize long-term community benefits and regional investment.