Arlington Heights Bears Stadium: Official Press Releases, Timeline, Renderings, and Impact

September 9, 2025

Chicago Bears Moving to Arlington Heights, or Indiana UPDATED: June 5, 2026

The Chicago Bears’ potential relocation to a new stadium district has progressed through several years of official actions, public statements, and detailed planning—culminating in a June 2026 vote by the team’s Board of Directors to advance a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. Based strictly on official press releases and statements from the Chicago Bears, the Village of Arlington Heights, the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office, and the Illinois Governor’s Office, this article provides a complete, factual timeline of the Bears’ stadium plan, updated renderings, leadership changes, infrastructure impacts, and what suburban residents can expect moving forward.

June 2026 Update: Bears Board Votes to Advance Hammond, Indiana Stadium

On June 5, 2026, the Chicago Bears released a joint statement from Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren confirming that the team’s Board of Directors had met the prior day and voted to advance its stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. Read the full official statement here, or view it directly on the Bears’ official Facebook page.

In the statement, the Bears said the board “voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana,” with the exact site still to be selected. The team said a world-class stadium in Hammond would transform the region by connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago, through the Loop, and across the neighborhoods and suburbs north of the city, bringing Chicagoland together and delivering new opportunities to residents and businesses. The team has emphasized that no final site within Hammond has been chosen and that the announcement is not a final decision to leave Illinois.

Governor Pritzker’s Office: The office of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded the same day through spokesperson Matt Hill, noting the Bears’ century-long legacy in Illinois but saying the team had spent recent years “shifting their position on a stadium location,” which the office said has hindered progress. The statement added that Illinois leaders had been working with the Bears in good faith and that the Governor wants the team to remain in Illinois and stays open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.

Mayor Brandon Johnson: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a written statement calling the announcement “not surprising,” noting the team itself had said the vote did not mean a move to Hammond was a done deal. Without a final site selection, Johnson said, the City would continue discussions grounded in the interests of its residents “until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond.”

Kevin Warren’s September 2025 Open Letter

On September 8, 2025, Chicago Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren issued a formal update reaffirming Arlington Heights as the Bears’ preferred and only viable site in Cook County for a world-class, fixed-roof NFL stadium, while also confirming that the organization is now expanding its evaluation beyond Cook County.

In the Bears’ official Open Letter, Warren emphasized the Bears’ commitment to investing more than $2 billion in private funding, representing one of the largest private investments in Illinois and NFL history. The organization reiterated that it has not requested state taxpayer dollars to build the stadium, but did seek commitments for essential infrastructure improvements and reasonable property tax certainty.

The statement also confirmed that state leadership informed the Bears the project would not be a legislative priority in 2026, prompting the organization to begin evaluating alternative locations throughout the broader Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana, while still maintaining ownership of the Arlington Park property.

Where the Project Stands Today

The June 2026 board vote tips the scales significantly toward Hammond, Indiana, but stops short of a final decision. The Bears continue to own the 326-acre Arlington Park property in Cook County, and the team has left the door open to Arlington Heights should Illinois deliver the property-tax certainty it has sought. The exact Hammond site remains to be selected.

Key next steps include site selection within Hammond, environmental reviews, transportation impact studies, financing models, and continued community engagement. All milestones are expected to be announced through official Bears communications and government press releases.

What the Proposed Stadium District Includes

A fully enclosed, fixed-roof NFL stadium designed for year-round use
An entertainment district featuring restaurants, hotels, retail, and event venues
Pedestrian plazas and landscaped public green spaces
Structured parking and improved multimodal access
Metra station enhancements and coordinated transportation improvements

The Role of Illinois State Agencies

Highway and interchange upgrades overseen by IDOT
Metra access and station improvements
Utility relocations and stormwater infrastructure
Transit safety and regional corridor improvements

Community Concerns Raised by Arlington Heights Residents

Traffic congestion during major events
Public safety and emergency response capacity
Noise and event-day crowd management
Potential property tax implications
Parking spillover into surrounding neighborhoods

Conclusion

LocalSuburbs.com will continue to monitor official updates from the Chicago Bears, the Village of Arlington Heights, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. Our goal is to provide accurate, transparent, and community-focused reporting for suburban residents tracking this significant regional development.

How We Got Here: A Complete Official Timeline

2021–2022: Bears Begin Pursuit of Arlington Park
The Bears entered a purchase agreement for the 326-acre former racetrack and formally closed on the property in February 2023. The official closing announcement is available here.

2023: City of Chicago Acknowledges Stadium Alternatives
The City of Chicago issued multiple official statements confirming negotiations with the Bears and released conceptual renovation plans for Soldier Field in an effort to retain the team. Official Mayor’s Office press releases are archived here.

2024: Governor J.B. Pritzker Rejects Public Stadium Funding
The Illinois Governor’s Office confirmed that state taxpayers would not subsidize an NFL stadium. However, the state acknowledged that transportation and infrastructure improvements related to the project fall under IDOT, ICC, and Metra jurisdiction. Official releases are available here.

2025: Ownership Changes & Leadership Consolidation
Following the passing of longtime owner Virginia McCaskey, the McCaskey family reaffirmed long-term ownership of the franchise. Kevin Warren assumed the role of primary spokesperson for the stadium initiative.

2025: Arlington Heights Infrastructure & Budget Planning
The Village of Arlington Heights began documenting multi-year capital planning related to road improvements, water-main upgrades, public safety staffing, and transportation coordination near the Arlington Park site. The official redevelopment hub is available on the village’s Arlington Park Redevelopment page.

September 2025: Bears Release Updated Stadium Renderings
The Bears released updated conceptual renderings outlining a fixed-roof stadium, entertainment district, hotels, plazas, and year-round mixed-use development. View the complete set of renderings here.

Spring 2026: Illinois Legislative Session Ends Without a Stadium Deal
The Illinois General Assembly concluded its spring session without passing legislation to support a Bears stadium in Arlington Heights, leaving the property-tax certainty the team sought unresolved.

June 4–5, 2026: Board of Directors Votes to Advance Hammond, Indiana
The Bears’ Board of Directors voted on June 4 to advance a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the team releasing a joint statement from Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren on June 5. The exact site remains to be selected, and the team has not ruled out Arlington Heights. The full statement is available here.

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Official Sources Referenced in This Article

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Authored by: Joyce Guccione Editor in Chief

Bears Stadium: Official Press Releases, Timeline, Renderings, and Impacts?