For the first time in decades, Gary officials say they are offering more than just a nearby location in talks about bringing the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. This time, they say they have a financial plan they believe Illinois cannot match.
On Thursday, city leaders unveiled a proposal that lays out how Gary could host a new Bears stadium, pointing to new state legislation and three ready-to-build sites that could speed up construction if the team decides to leave Chicago.
At the center of the pitch is Senate Bill 27, authored by Republican state Sens. Ryan Mishler and Chris Garten. The legislation, moving through the Indiana General Assembly, would create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, a public group designed to finance and manage a professional sports venue.
The bill would reduce state taxes tied to the stadium project. That includes taxes on the land, day-to-day operations, and most bonds used to pay for construction. City officials argue the exemptions are critical to lowering financing costs and speeding development timelines.
“The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region,” the Bears said in a statement. “We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor [Mike] Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton expressed enthusiasm at the potential reality.
“This is not a speculative idea,” Melton said in a statement. “Thirty years ago, the challenge was financial alignment. Today, Gary is positioned to deliver what circumstances did not allow in the past.
Gary’s pursuit of the Bears is not new. In 1994, the city was among the locations considered during earlier stadium talks. In the mid-1990s, the Bears evaluated a stadium site near the Gary/Chicago International Airport under a proposal led by then-NIPSCO President Gary Neale, an effort that did not move forward.
The latest proposal also builds on groundwork laid in recent years by state Rep. Earl Harris, whose legislation created a Northwest Indiana professional sports commission aimed at positioning the region to attract a major professional franchise.
City officials now argue the regional and fiscal landscape has shifted dramatically, particularly as Illinois lawmakers remain deadlocked over public subsidies for a stadium project in Arlington Heights.
Under the Indiana proposal, the Bears would gain greater control over stadium assets while avoiding what city leaders describe as prohibitive tax structures elsewhere. Supporters say the framework offers clarity and speed, two priorities Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren has publicly emphasized in recent months.
“We are ready to move at the speed of business,” said Gary Common Council President Linda Barnes-Caldwell, pointing to backing from local, county, and state leaders.
Three sites, one regional pitch
City officials identified three potential stadium locations, each framed as “plug-and-play” sites ready for development under the proposed stadium authority:
- Gary West End Entertainment District, adjacent to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
- Buffington Harbor, a waterfront site with existing transportation infrastructure
- Miller Beach, near Indiana Dunes National Park, which draws roughly 3 million visitors annually
Officials argue the locations, combined with access to I-90/I-80, the South Shore commuter rail, and Gary/Chicago International Airport, make Gary more accessible to downtown Chicago than Arlington Heights.
“We are Chicagoland’s backyard,” Melton said, describing waterfront views of Chicago’s skyline as part of the city’s appeal.
While city leaders framed the proposal as a fully formed business case, major questions remain unanswered, including the projected public cost, revenue-sharing terms, and the extent of long-term financial risk for local taxpayers.
The Bears organization has not publicly committed to Gary, and Illinois officials continue to negotiate their own proposal. Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner told ABC 7 Chicago the legislature is still hearing Chicago’s offers.
“We’ve told the Bears that they need to show their work,” Buckner said. “They need to be able to walk us through what this proposal is and what it means for folks.”
Legislative approval of Senate Bill 27 is also not guaranteed. Still, the announcement signals a shift in Gary’s posture from aspirational bidder to active negotiator as the future of one of the NFL’s oldest franchises remains unresolved.