Chicago No Longer Considered ‘Viable’ for Bears Stadium

The Chicago Bears stadium saga rolls on, but it appears that the options are at least locked in.

As a long-suffering Bears fan, this whole deal with where the team is going to play their home games is just another embarrassing thing about this team.

They literally hired a guy (Kevin Warren) to get the stadium deal done, and it’s been an absolute mess.

Chicago No Longer Considered Viable for Bears Stadium

That said, there is some clarity: Bears brass met with the NFL’s Stadium Committee to clear up some things, and the biggest takeaway is that Chicago, the city itself, is not a viable option for home games.

That essentially means if there was any hope that the Bears would stay in Chicago, forget it.

For now, these are the only two “viable options”:

• Arlington Heights
• Hammond

NFL Wants Bears Stadium Decision Made Quickly

The NFL Stadium Committee’s involvement might speed up the process, as they want this stadium project to move “expeditiously.”

With no vote yet but another meeting set within the next two weeks, the ball is now in the state’s court to see if legislation, the PILOT bill, will get things moving forward or send a final signal to the team that they should probably start playing their home games in Hammond, Indiana.

READ MORE: Chicago Bears Season Ticket Prices Are Going Up Again in 2026

Will the Bears Stay in Illinois?

Personally, I hope it’s Arlington Heights. I’d be so bummed to see the team play their games out of state.

Anyway, it looks like a decision on the future of their next home is getting closer, but there are still some political hoops to jump through.