Bears 2025

[Bobref]

45 minutes ago, Sparty said:

Would imagine they’d still call them the “Chicago” Bears, but wonder the location in NWI.  Just how far from Chicago they’d be.  The far NWI region is really pretty land-locked as is.  

The Bears Arlington Heights property is 326 acres. But only about 100 acres is for the stadium facility, with the rest being developed for mixed use retail surrounding the stadium. I’m struggling to find a site like that in NWI that’s a reasonable distance from downtown Chicago. For comparison purposes, Gillette Stadium is 27 miles from Boston. Jerry’s World is 18 miles. from downtown Dallas. The 49ers play in Santa Clara, which is 43 miles. from downtown SF. 

As far as crossing state lines, Met Life Stadium is in New Jersey, about 14 mi. from downtown NYC. The Giants/Jets are the only ones with stadiums in a different state, unless you count the Commanders, whose stadium is in Landover, MD, which is about 12 mi. from downtown Washington, DC.

The intersection of I-65 and US 30 in Lake County is about 30 mi. from the Loop. The Bears’ Arlington Heights site is just about the same distance from the Loop.

So, is this real? Or, are the Bears just trying to light a fire under the Illinois Legislature with this talk of going to Indiana?

Edited December 18, 2025 by Bobref

[Sparty]

25 minutes ago, Bobref said:

The Bears Arlington Heights property is 326 acres. But only about 100 acres is for the stadium facility, with the rest being developed for mixed use retail surrounding the stadium. I’m struggling to find a site like that in NWI that’s a reasonable distance from downtown Chicago. For comparison purposes, Gillette Stadium is 27 miles from Boston. Jerry’s World is 18 miles. from downtown Dallas. The 49ers play in Santa Clara, which is 43 miles. from downtown SF. 

As far as crossing state lines, Met Life Stadium is in New Jersey, about 14 mi. from downtown NYC. The Giants/Jets are the only ones with stadiums in a different state, unless you count the Commanders, whose stadium is in Landover, MD, which is about 12 mi. from downtown Washington, DC.

The intersection of I-65 and US 30 in Lake County is about 30 mi. from the Loop. The Bears’ Arlington Heights site is just about the same distance from the Loop.

So, is this real? Or, are the Bears just trying to light a fire under the Illinois Legislature with this talk of going to Indiana?

You expressed my thoughts perfectly.  Thanks Bob.  

[Muda69]

36 minutes ago, Bobref said:

The Bears Arlington Heights property is 326 acres. But only about 100 acres is for the stadium facility, with the rest being developed for mixed use retail surrounding the stadium. I’m struggling to find a site like that in NWI that’s a reasonable distance from downtown Chicago. For comparison purposes, Gillette Stadium is 27 miles from Boston. Jerry’s World is 18 miles. from downtown Dallas. The 49ers play in Santa Clara, which is 43 miles. from downtown SF. 

As far as crossing state lines, Met Life Stadium is in New Jersey, about 14 mi. from downtown NYC. The Giants/Jets are the only ones with stadiums in a different state, unless you count the Commanders, whose stadium is in Landover, MD, which is about 12 mi. from downtown Washington, DC.

The intersection of I-65 and US 30 in Lake County is about 30 mi. from the Loop. The Bears’ Arlington Heights site is just about the same distance from the Loop.

So, is this real? Or, are the Bears just trying to light a fire under the Illinois Legislature with this talk of going to Indiana?

Yes.  Mr. Warren in his statement says this isn't about "leverage" but he's lying.

[Bobref]

2 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

Yes.  Mr. Warren in his statement says this isn't about "leverage" but he's lying.

On the other hand, the Illinois Legislature has proved they are very capable of screwing this up. One big question for the Bears ought to be “which place will have the most politicians with their hands out, Illinois or Indiana?”

[gonzoron]

42 minutes ago, Bobref said:

The intersection of I-65 and US 30 in Lake County is about 30 mi. from the Loop

The good news is, per Cody, they won't even have to travel to scout #1 draft picks.

[Sparty]

11 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

The good news is, per Cody, they won't even have to travel to scout #1 draft picks.

Out of notifications for the day so here’s a LOL

[Sparty]

17 minutes ago, Bobref said:

On the other hand, the Illinois Legislature has proved they are very capable of screwing this up. One big question for the Bears ought to be “which place will have the most politicians with their hands out, Illinois or Indiana?”

Those that say Illinois politicians with their hands out most, not so fast my friend.   I remember my dad telling me that an old HS stadium in Gary cost almost, if not more, to construct than the initial cost to build Lambeau in GB.  
A lot had to do with lake county (Indiana) and Gary politicians lining their pockets.  Something to the extent of charging exorbitant amounts of money to get sand from the dunes and to use the toll road.  

Edited December 18, 2025 by Sparty

[Bobref]

Just now, Sparty said:

Those that say Illinois politicians with their hands out most, not so fast my friend.   I remember my dad telling me that an old HS stadium in Gary cost almost, if not more, to construct than the initial cost to build Lambeau in GB.  

That would be Gilroy Stadium. A 10,000 seat stadium built in Gary in 1956, never actually finished, and abandoned in 1975. Sort of Gary in microcosm.

[Muda69]

33 minutes ago, Bobref said:

On the other hand, the Illinois Legislature has proved they are very capable of screwing this up. One big question for the Bears ought to be “which place will have the most politicians with their hands out, Illinois or Indiana?”

Or the Bears could go the upright, moral route and pay for 100% off the construction and infrastructure costs, and stop looking for a taxpayer funded handout. 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

White lodging group still owns the old Star Plaza section that has yet to be repurposed, last I heard fight about tax embayments with town of Merrillville.  

Not sure that site would have space to build out all the other stuff that Bears want to lure Super Bowls, National titles, Wrestlemania's etc.   

SJC is probably just a tad far 😂

I think they can come as far SOUTH as CROWN POINT/ST JOHN and as Far EAST as Burns Harbor

 

I think what's a tad bit different this time around is that someone like Kevin Warren is more of.a serious player in this world then Ted Phillips and with Virgina resting in peace, George could be persuaded to make the BEST business decision for Bears next generation 

 

Just now, Muda69 said:

Or the Bears could go the upright, moral route and pay for 100% off the construction and infrastructure costs, and stop looking for a taxpayer funded handout. 

 

I disagree 

Stadium 100% on team, yes,   

The value of the infrastructure stuff needed should be shared with the location 

and I am 100% with Bears with their need for property tax assurances.   

[Bobref]

9 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

White lodging group still owns the old Star Plaza section that has yet to be repurposed, last I heard fight about tax embayments with town of Merrillville.  

The unwillingness of Merrillville to provide tax abatement incentives is what has prevented White from redeveloping that land, but the site is only 40 acres. Not even close to what a stadium facility would require, let alone the surrounding development thr Bears want to do. The Arlington site was 326 acres.

[Sparty]

31 minutes ago, Bobref said:

That would be Gilroy Stadium. A 10,000 seat stadium built in Gary in 1956, never actually finished, and abandoned in 1975. Sort of Gary in microcosm.

I was thinking Gilroy was the name, but couldn’t remember if that was the correct name for this stadium or if Gilroy is/was the name of the stadium in Chicago that is used by multiple schools.  
 

 

[Sparty]

8 minutes ago, Bobref said:

The unwillingness of Merrillville to provide tax abatement incentives is what has prevented White from redeveloping that land, but the site is only 40 acres. Not even close to what a stadium facility would require, let alone the surrounding development thr Bears want to do. The Arlington site was 326 acres.

I would never got to Costco in Merrillville again, if the bears moved to the 65/30 area. Lol 

[US31]

There is a large area of undeveloped land near the 94/65 interchange....not sure it would be big enough to put a stadium in.  This could possibly bring Gary back from the grave.

Anyone who says that neighborhood is too bad for a stadium....hasn't spend much time outside a White Sox game

[Bobref]

At the risk of @Muda69 having an aneurysm or something, I’ve got 2 words for you: eminent domain.

[Muda69]

Just now, Bobref said:

At the risk of @Muda69 having an aneurysm or something, I’ve got 2 words for you: eminent domain.

No aneurysm here, Bob.  Just the realization that eminent domain has been abused many, many times in our country's history.  And any attempt by the Bears organization to get government officials to use eminent domain in order to obtain land for a structure primarily built for entertainment, is a gross abuse. 

 

[gonzoron]

1 hour ago, Bobref said:

That would be Gilroy Stadium. A 10,000 seat stadium built in Gary in 1956, never actually finished, and abandoned in 1975. Sort of Gary in microcosm.

Is there an abandoned former golf course just south of the stadium site? Looking at the aerial view on Google, there's a large green area just south of there that looks like it was a golf course.

[Coach Nowlin]

South Gleason Golf course 

 

Issues with Flood plain 

Sold in 2020 but has yet to be developed 

 

[gonzoron]

13 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

South Gleason Golf course 

 

Issues with Flood plain 

Sold in 2020 but has yet to be developed 

 

Thank you very much for the video. That was great.

[Coach Nowlin]

Sign me up 

 

 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

 

 

 

[Bash Riprock]

 

[Bobref]

2 hours ago, gonzoron said:

Is there an abandoned former golf course just south of the stadium site? Looking at the aerial view on Google, there's a large green area just south of there that looks like it was a golf course.

South of I-94?

[gonzoron]

50 minutes ago, Bobref said:

South of I-94?

 

[Bobref]

58 minutes ago, Bash Riprock said:

 

Wonder what his source is. The General Assembly isn’t even in session, and won’t be until Jan. 5. It’s BS.