The Chicago Bears continue their site selection process for a new stadium with the release of sample renderings of amenities within a potential Hammond site. In the works for multiple years now, the multi-billion-dollar team is still refining plans for a partially publicly funded facility and district as the end of their lease at Soldier Field looms.
Potential site area for Hammond stadium via Google Maps
The details came in the form of a user survey sent to pass holders and general guests about the team building a stadium in Hammond, Indiana, just over the state line. It is worth noting that the team sent a similar survey for their Arlington Heights property over a year ago. Since then, they have moved away from the 326-acre site they purchased for over $190 million.
Rendering of suites via Bears
Earlier this year, we also covered a few of the proposed Indiana sites, centering around Hammond, with the team previously mentioning this is their sole focus, per Crain’s. The site would be around Wolf Lake, roughly 20 miles from Soldier Field. It would contain the new domed stadium along with a new mixed-use district around it.
Rendering of suites via Bears
For drivers, it would include 15,000 parking spots, 9,000 more than Soldier Field. The stadium would feature new suites and improved seating, as seen in the renderings. The team is working with Indiana to receive new extensive tax subsidies, after large swaths of Gary spent weeks without power.
Potential stadium rendering via City of Gary
This also comes while the Chicago Fire prep to erect a second crane at their privately funded stadium at The 78, the White Sox reveal images of their new privately funded riverside stadium, and the Bulls and Blackhawks continue construction on their new privately funded arena district around the United Center, though most of these will receive public funds for infrastructure.
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That looks wonderful. Can’t wait to see a game there.
Trash. If they move out of the city I’ll never go to anther bears game again
Gary Bears. Great
They waved off the proposals from Gary (and one from even farther east). Hammond is the city right alongside the Illinois and Chicago border at Lake Michigan.
literally they cannot keep the lights on, but the state has billions to throw at a domed stadium?
I’m okay with this proposal. Indiana is effectively subsidizing a massive amount of improvement for a Chicago suburb. We will still get a fair bit of tax benefit and this is a step in the right direction for beautifying the lake area here. It’s mostly a win win
Forget Chicagoans– it’s Indiana residents who should be outraged that their state would rather slash taxes for the billionaire bears rather than make Gary and surrounding areas livable.
Welfare Queens Chicago Bears should just move already Indiana is ready to give them the all the money they want. Just good luck keeping the lights on.
Billionaire getting a hand out from the IN state to build a stadium complex in a swamp. The tax payers in IN still owe a pile of money on the Colts stadium in Indianapolis. I feel the whole stadium construct has completely deceived the public and shake my head when these owners make these deals. Gary,IN is like a third word country but the state can give the McCaskeys $1.0b.
It’s amazing how many renderings they can provide without actually providing any clarity about location, access, transportation, etc. This is just vibes based rendering. If you removed the Bears jerseys & signage you literally wouldn’t know where any of this is in the country.
Hilariously, the first image is the Titans stadium, which just reinforces the idea that its another Manica copy/paste design with no real character.
No kidding, Heh…do you have a link for that image in connection with the Titans?
Can this area even sustain the traffic it will receive? The road network is quite shoddy as is and degrading in quality every day, and there is 1 train stop nearby (which is generous considering its a ~25 minute walk minimum to the site). Unless we interline the Metra/South Shore Line trains in the Loop this project simply won’t be feasible to reach unless you commit to driving there, which sounds like hell to me.
Phenomenal writing! Thank you for adding this.
“This also comes while the Chicago Fire prep to erect a second crane at their privately funded stadium at The 78, the White Sox reveal images of their new privately funded riverside stadium, and the Bulls and Blackhawks continue construction on their new privately funded arena district around the United Center, though most of these will receive public funds for infrastructure.”