Statement from State Representative Anna Moeller on Chicago Bears’ Stadium Announcement

June 5, 2026

Today, the Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey and President Kevin Warren released a statement indicating the team’s board of directors has “voted to advance” a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, “with the exact site to be selected.” Subsequent reporting has indicated that, while the team intends this step to be “real” and not for leverage, the move is not a done deal.

In April, the House passed a bipartisan economic development package that reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development, while also providing property tax relief for working people. I voted for that package.

This legislation was not advanced in the Senate, and an alternative package developed by Senators arrived in the House after 3 a.m. on the final day of session—providing no time for real, thoughtful consideration of the measure required before the Bears announcement.

While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, it’s been clear that people in our community want a smarter approach to economic development than simply handing over taxpayer dollars to billionaires and hoping the benefits will trickle down.

Today’s announcement by the Bears notably leaves room for the team to reprioritize their options again and develop in Illinois, and we all remain open to conversations.

Regardless, my focus will be on making life more affordable for working families—not on adding to their burden of funding stadiums for billionaires.