Chicago Bears stadium proposal on Southeast Side gains attention as lawmakers work on legislation

A proposal for a new Chicago Bears stadium on the city's Southeast Side is gaining attention as lawmakers work on stadium legislation ahead of the fall veto session. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell accompanied Bears officials Kevin Warren and George McCaskey to a meeting with Illinois legislative leaders in Chicago earlier this week. The discussions come as a new potential stadium location is being promoted at the former U.S. Steel site on the South Side, located on a 200-acre site near 87th Street and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch Developer Related Midwest has released renderings of a proposed domed Bears stadium at the site. Company President Curt Bailey said the proposal has been presented to both the Bears and lawmakers who will return for the fall veto session later this month. "It's iconic for the Bears to be in Chicago, to be on the lakefront. You think about those shots of the skyline and the lake and the Chicago Bears," Bailey said. The stadium concept includes a window at the north end designed to showcase the Chicago skyline. SEE ALSO | Chicago architecture firm proposes renderings of new Bears stadium near current White Sox location Bailey said the Southeast Side location has been on the Bears' radar for four to five months. He said the property had previously been slated for a large data center project, but Related Midwest shifted plans as public sentiment toward such developments changed. "When you talk about the the size of the the site, the ability to do all of the things around the stadium that you want to do, whether it's retail or entertainment, you know this site that we're talking about is 9 miles from Soldier Field," Bailey said. Bailey noted the site is much closer to Soldier Field than the property the Bears already own in Arlington Heights. READ MORE | Illinois lawmakers weigh stadium authority plan for Bears Arlington Heights option Asked about the proposal, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the focus remains on keeping the team within city limits. "Whether it's this site or the lakefront or any other site in Chicago, the important thing is that there is obviously a stronger appetite amongst all of our stakeholders to keep the Bears in Chicago," Johnson said. In a statement, the Bears said they are continuing to pursue locations in Hammond, Indiana. "The Chicago Bears remain committed to building a world-class stadium and mixed-use district for our fans, the Chicagoland community and the team. We continue to work collaboratively with local and state leaders in Indiana to advance our stadium development plans in Hammond, where we are finalizing due diligence details across two sites in the Wolf Lake area. At the same time, we appreciate the recent engagement from Illinois leadership to explore legislation which has allowed us to share our feedback. We expect productive dialogue with both leadership teams in the coming weeks. We have a responsibility and obligation to explore every option available to the club, and we look forward to developing a transformational project that will attract global events and deliver jobs and economic growth to all of Chicagoland," the statement said. Bears officials have promised to continue conversations about a path forward for a stadium in Arlington Heights or Chicago, as well, according to ESPN's Ian Rapoport. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also released a statement Friday, saying: "Indiana has assembled an excellent deal to build a world-class stadium in Hammond, Indiana. All negotiations have been done in good faith and to ensure that Hoosier taxpayers are protected. We encourage the Chicago Bears to fully commit to a stadium in Indiana because it is nearly time for the state to shift its energy and resources to the next opportunity." Gov. JB Pritzker said stadium legislation being developed by lawmakers could allow the Bears to pursue the Southeast Side location. "This is up to the Bears. You know, there's a bill that's being put together that gives the Bears the opportunity to choose where they want to build a stadium in Illinois, and then it's going to be up to them where it goes," Pritzker said. Pritzker said he wants the legislation to be ready during the first week of the veto session, which begins Nov. 17, so it could be voted on during the second week, which begins Dec. 1. Bailey said the proposed project could move quickly if approvals are secured. "I think standing here today, you could credibly say you'd be open for the 2032 season, you know, but we'd have to move quickly," he said. The legislation under consideration would create a new stadium authority that would own the facility, meaning the Bears would not have to pay property taxes.