Key keywords: Chicago Bears stadium relocation, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Hammond Indiana new NFL stadium, Chicago Bears move from Soldier Field, Northwest Indiana sports infrastructure investment, NFL franchise relocation news, ABC7 Chicago exclusive In an exclusive interview with ABC7 Chicago, Indiana Governor Mike Braun shared his strong optimism that the NFL’s Chicago Bears will officially relocate their home stadium from Chicago’s iconic but aging Soldier Field to Hammond, Indiana, marking one of the most high-profile franchise moves in recent NFL history. For years, the Chicago Bears organization has been public about their desire to replace Soldier Field, which is currently the smallest venue in the league with a seating capacity of just over 61,000, and lacks the modern premium seating, hospitality spaces, and attached mixed-use development assets that drive top-tier revenue for modern NFL franchises. Negotiations with the city of Chicago and state of Illinois over renovation plans or new construction within state lines have stalled for more than two years, with disputes over public funding contributions, tax abatement terms, and land use rights creating insurmountable roadblocks for a deal in Illinois. Governor Braun confirmed that his administration has held multiple closed-door meetings with Bears ownership and senior leadership over the past six months, presenting a comprehensive incentive package to lure the franchise across state lines. The proposed Hammond stadium development, which would sit on a 200-acre site just 25 minutes from downtown Chicago off the Indiana Toll Road, carries a total projected cost of $2.3 billion, including a 70,000-seat retractable roof stadium, 250,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 300-room luxury hotel, and over 10,000 parking spots. The Indiana incentive package includes 30 years of sales tax abatement for all stadium-related revenue, $450 million in state-backed infrastructure grants for road and transit upgrades around the site, and tax increment financing for adjacent mixed-use development, a deal Braun says is “far more competitive than any proposal the Bears have received from Illinois.” Economic analysts project the development would create more than 12,000 temporary construction jobs and 4,200 permanent full-time positions in operations, hospitality, and retail, delivering an estimated $280 million in annual economic impact to Northwest Indiana, a region that has struggled with deindustrialization and job losses over the past three decades. While the Bears organization has not yet issued a formal commitment to the Hammond site, a team spokesperson told ABC7 that the Indiana proposal is “one of the most attractive options we are evaluating as we work to secure the long-term financial future of the franchise.” A final decision is expected to be announced by the end of 2024, with construction projected to start in 2025 and the new stadium opening in time for the 2028 NFL season if the deal moves forward.