Illinois has no deal and no bill language. That's the upshot for Oak Park residents and Bears fans across the western suburbs after the team's leadership made clear Thursday, Aug. 13, that Hammond, Indiana is where they intend to build.

Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren told reporters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest that Hammond is the franchise's "sole focus" for a new stadium and mixed-use development. The McCaskey family has committed $2 billion in private money toward the project, and two specific Hammond sites are under consideration.

"Even though we've had occasional meetings with the state of Illinois, our sole focus at this point in time is working on a world-class stadium and mixed-use development in Hammond, Indiana," Warren said, according to Patch.

What Springfield didn't do

The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would have let Arlington Heights and Chicago create local stadium authorities, clearing a path for the Bears to avoid property taxes on a new facility. But the Illinois House adjourned without voting on the measure during the spring session, according to an Associated Press report.

Bears Chairman George McCaskey called communication with Illinois lawmakers since the board's June 5 vote to focus on Hammond "minimal." The team has no written proposal before the state.

Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at the Illinois State Fair the same morning, confirmed the Bears have not presented bill language to his administration. He said his office wants to protect both fans and taxpayers while working to keep the team in Illinois.

Warren said the team's requirements for an Illinois project have never changed: property tax certainty and infrastructure certainty. Neither has materialized.

The Hammond plan

Warren identified two properties: the Lost Marsh Golf Course, where due diligence is complete and the land is confirmed viable, and the Wolf Lake Terminal site, where environmental studies continue. He said the team may merge both into a single larger development. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has personally visited the Lost Marsh property.

Indiana has authorized up to $1 billion in public funding through a combination of food-and-beverage, hotel and admissions taxes in Lake and Porter counties, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Warren said stadium development costs are rising by nearly $150 million per year, adding urgency. He declined to set a timeline for a final decision.

What it means for fans here

Hammond sits about 20 miles south of Soldier Field. That's actually closer to Chicago's lakefront than Halas Hall in Lake Forest is, according to the AP. For Oak Park residents accustomed to driving or taking the Green Line downtown for games, a Hammond stadium would shift the trip south and east rather than eliminate it.

McCaskey acknowledged fan anxiety about crossing state lines but argued the proximity makes the adjustment manageable. The franchise will remain the "Chicago Bears" regardless of where the stadium lands, he said.

The Bears' current lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033. The Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session, scheduled Nov. 17–19 and Dec. 1–3, represents the next window for any Illinois stadium legislation.

No public statement from state Sen. Don Harmon, whose district includes Oak Park, was available as of Aug. 14.