Arlington Heights and Hammond emerge as top contenders as the Bears navigate stadium relocation. A crucial Illinois bill's Senate passage is key.
It's been a long discussion regarding the Chicago Bears and a potential move away from Soldier Field.
The Bears have been at the venue since the 1970s, and it's easily one of the most iconic stadiums in the NFL. Plenty of great memories have happened there over the years, so it'll be tough to say goodbye.
Bears insider David Kaplan weighed in on the matter previously, believing that the franchise was closer than ever to reaching an agreement to move to Arlington Heights, which would keep the team in Illinois.
Moving to Hammond, Indiana, has also been discussed. This would obviously be unknown territory for a franchise that has been in Illinois for so long.
Chicago executives met on Wednesday with the NFL Stadium Committee to update them on the franchise's position on a potential relocation.
According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the committee was aligned with the idea that Arlington Heights and Hammond were the only real two options for the Bears. No voting happened, and it's going to be another two weeks before the committee meets again.
The committee stressed the importance of the Illinois legislature working together to get the idea off the ground. This means the PILOT Bill will have to get through the Senate.
"Per source, the committee members agreed that these 2 sites are the only viable options and expressed a need to move the process forward 'expeditiously.'" Cronin said. "There was no vote taken, but the Stadium Committee will meet again within 2 weeks. Source says that the committee also acknowledged the Illinois legislature needs to continue to work to move the process forward, which will now require the PILOT bill to move through the Senate."
It sounds like fans are going to have to wait even longer for a decision to be reached.
The bill Cronin mentioned concerns securing property tax rates for the Arlington Heights site. So far, the bill has passed the state house and now needs to pass the state senate next.
At the same time, it sounds like the Bears are close to staying in Illinois if the bill passes the Senate.
For a timeline on when the bill could be passed, who knows? The current Illinois state session doesn't end until the end of May. So, an answer on the bill may have to wait a little while longer.
It would be hard to imagine the Bears leaving Illinois. This bill will play a key role in the future of this franchise, whether it stays in Illinois or moves to Indiana.
Can George McCaskey keep his franchise in Illinois?