By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-13 23:47:11 | Updated at 2026-08-14 08:11:45
9 hours ago
With the Chicago Bears set to move out of the Windy City to a new home, the team's owner is maintaining that nothing significant about the franchise's identity will change.
The Bears have spent most of their life playing at Soldier Field, located in the middle of the city on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Now, the team is looking to move to a new home located either in Arlington Heights, Illinois or the suburb of Hammond just over the border in Indiana.
But in an address to the media on Thursday, team chairman George McCaskey said the team wouldn't be renamed the 'Hammond Bears' or the 'Indiana Bears' if they choose to move to the Hoosier State.
'No. We will be the Chicago Bears whether we're in Arlington or whether we're in Hammond,' McCaskey said.
While there has been a concerted effort to keep the team in Illinois, as well as an ill-fated attempt to keep them in the city limits, McCaskey confirmed that the Indiana site is the most likely option.
The Chicago Bears will not be changing their name if the team moves out of the city limits
The Bears are exploring options to leave their longtime home of Soldier Field for Indiana
Team chairman George McCaskey says the team's 'focus' is a move to Hammond, Indiana
'Our focus is on Hammond, that's where we're advancing our efforts and that's where the bulk of our time, attention and resources are being devoted,' the owner said.
The team's board of directors voted to advance the development of a stadium in Indiana back in June. Since then, McCaskey described communication with Illinois legislators as 'minimal.'
Illinois legislature bills to solidify the team's tax situation were never passed by lawmakers. Meanwhile, Indiana already agreed to a tax assurance while offering the Bears up to $1billion in incentives to relocate to Hammond.
'We don't have an offer from the state of Illinois,' team CEO Kevin Warren said. 'And our focus now is on Indiana.
'And obviously, like I said, there have been occasional meetings that have taken place. But right now our focus is on Hammond, Indiana, to make sure that we bring that to life.'
The Bears have yet to begin building a new venue. They've reviewed one potential site in Hammond and are currently vetting a second area.
Throughout the 107-year history of the team, the Bears have never played their home games outside of Illinois.
The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field expires in 2033.
