Yet another city is throwing its hat in the ring to become the new home of the Chicago Bears as stadium talks continue to drag on. The city of Portage in Northwest Indiana is trying to lure the team to a new stadium district dubbed “Halas Harbor,” located across the highway from the U.S. Steel plant near the lakefront. The site would be ready to break ground in June.
Rendering of Portage Bears Stadium concept
Portage joins Gary and Hammond in their pursuit of bringing the Bears nearly 47 miles east of where they currently play. Halas Harbor would have a direct connection to the Portage South Shore Line station, along with access to the east arm of the Little Calumet River and Interstate 94. The city has stated that it is confident the State of Indiana would support the proposal and funding per Crain’s.
Rendering of Portage Bears Stadium concept
The $5 billion mixed-use development would span 300 acres of shovel-ready land and include a massive domed stadium on its western edge. It would be surrounded by multiple parking lots, parkland, and an array of low-rise buildings with commercial and residential uses, as well as multiple mid-rises most likely containing hotel rooms and additional housing.
Rendering of Portage Bears Stadium concept
At the moment, the team has not expressed direct interest in the Portage plans, which have been in the works since December, though they have toured the Gary sites. In a turn of events, Iowa has recently declared that it is also interested in bringing the team to the state. The team has not yet decided where to move, with Illinois working toward finding a deal as well.
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They misheard…Bears like porridge.
This comment section needs a ‘thumbs up’ button.
Hey, look! They managed to keep room for the trailer homes in the first render! Gotta keep it authentic to the region and culture.
What’s curious is the emphasis on housing around these stadium proposals. Honestly, who would want to live in an island of a town away from everything and get royally f’ed when the rare sports game is happening?
It makes sense for all the housing in already established neighborhoods because those facilities are actually doing what they were designed to do; provide recreation in an active city. Wrigley will forever be one of the best examples. If the United Center can kick off its redevelopment, it’s game changing for the Near West Side. But these areas are both part of a whole; direct access to downtown, established job centers, infrastructure for families, and lifestyles that balance the chaos of games. These suburban stadiums with an entertainment hub? There’s no way we keep up the enthusiasm to visit repeatedly so those business afloat, unless excessive drinking of those crazy to live here is enough to keep the trendy sports bar afloat.
I will at least admit I’d much rather be close to the Indiana Lakeshore than middle of nothing Arlington. I say give Manhattan, IL a chance on the next proposal.
Green Bay is having some success with their Titletown development, technically in Ashwaubenon. This is probably the model that these Indiana suburbs and even AH are trying to copy. Though I would also argue that Green Bay is also super unique in the history that these new developments would not have. The Titletown District is also not really competing with any similar nearby developments that Indiana or even AH would be competing with in Chicago.
Those “trailer homes” in the first render are normal houses that are part of the Marina Shores Yacht Club. Houses in that development regularly sell for over half a million dollars. In addition, this location has direct access to downtown Chicago via the Portage/Ogden Dunes South Shore Line Station located just across the street. Pedestrian infrastructure is lacking at the moment but I imagine that would be addressed if this proposal came to pass.
Yea. I can actually see this one getting the Bears’ attention, though in a “wish it wasn’t so far east” way. (Their many North Shore season-ticket holders would go ballistic, this site being a 90 to 100 minute drive each way even _without_ any major construction zones on the Toll Road and I-94 which in real life is almost never.)
Also as pointed out there aren’t any trailer homes within this rendering.
Not sure if it has anything to do with this proposal’s appeal or chances but — technically the stadium and associated stuff would be along the very start of the West Branch of the Little Calumet. The rendering has an error, the East Arm of that river appears as a little stub of water whereas in fact that stream goes under IN-249.
The stadium draw is not only with the Bears games but will also include concerts, other sporting events, exhibitions and trade shows, but I still doubt that would be sufficient to keep those secondary businesses fully functioning. Arlington Heights still presents a better option with a larger base population in surrounding areas. Indiana has made it clear their intention to “drop their pants” to make a compelling proposition, the Bears are worth billions, very few government underwrites for such ventures prove worthwhile.
A land far, far away…
The Chicago Bears need to capitalize on the Chicago part and realize that their team is attached to a world class global metropolis. Other pro teams wish they had a natural draw to where their teams play. It would be reckless and out of character to leave the city and go this far away.
Basically puts the bears in colts country..
If someone is going to throw a bunch of money at a sports team, I’d rather it be Indiana. This area also needs the economic development far more than the northwest side does. Indeed, the potential impacts are far greater on the southwest side. In theory, if this helps stimulate the whole region, Illinois may benefit more from development in Indiana than AH.
I hope the Bears say yes to all the cities and we end up with 5 different stadiums and they split time between them all.
Please just go and let Indiana or Wisconsin or Iowa(!) learn what has been proven time and time and time and time again: Taxpayer funded stadiums rarely, if ever, pay back their investment to the taxpayers. The prestige of having a major sports teams just doesn’t pay the bills.
Burns Ditch, er excuse me Waterway, could become a “naming opportunity”….the McCaskey Moat? Ditka Drain? Payton Piddle? Or if the current team wins a Super Bowl, the Caleb Canal?
Why would anyone trust people who use AI to create renderings?