Bears Owner Addresses Potential Name Change Amid Indiana Relocation
Chicago Bears owner George McCaskey revealed if the team would be called the Hammond Bears if they relocate to Indiana.
The Chicago Bears, a storied franchise in the NFL, are reportedly inching closer to a deal to relocate their operations to Hammond, Indiana, located roughly 30 minutes from Soldier Field. This potential move has caused concern among loyal Bears fans who fear the team's identity might change if they were to become the Hammond Bears.
However, the franchise's chairman and owner, George McCaskey, has put these worries to rest, stating unequivocally that the team will remain the Chicago Bears, regardless of whether they are in Arlington Heights, Illinois, or Hammond, Indiana. McCaskey emphasized to reporters that the team's focus is on Hammond, where they are making significant advancements in efforts to secure a new stadium.
Despite Arlington Heights' attempts to build a new stadium, the Bears have faced roadblocks, and Hammond has emerged as a more viable option. The Bears' board of directors approved a vote in June to push forward with the Hammond stadium project as communication with Illinois lawmakers became increasingly scarce. McCaskey and the franchise have already received tax guarantees from Indiana and were offered up to $1 billion in incentives for relocation, while Illinois politicians have shown little interest in keeping the team within their state.
The Bears had previously acquired a 326-acre plot of land in Arlington Heights with the plan to build a new stadium there, but the site was deemed infeasible due to high Cook County property taxes. Ownership had lobbied for a lump-sum payment instead of recurring property taxes, but their proposal was rejected by state legislators.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
