City of Gary releases formal Chicago Bears proposal/State Senate considering stadium authority bill INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gary officials on Friday announced they are pitching three sites as potential locations for a new Chicago Bears stadium. A document released Friday afternoon includes co nceptual renderings for a new stadium and identifies three possible locations: 400 acres just off I-80/94 on the city’s west end; 145 acres at Buffington Harbor next to Gary Chicago International Airport; and 760 acres at Miller Beach, which includes a mix of land owned by the city, the federal government and U.S. Steel. Mayor Eddie Melton, a Democrat, said in a statement that the city’s location and transportation amenities make it an ideal location. In addition, he said, Gary has the support of local, county and state leaders, unlike the Bears’ long-proposed location in Arlington Heights, Illinois. “Back in 1994, the Chicago Bears saw potential in Gary, and we have never forgotten that vote of confidence. Thirty years later, Gary is even better positioned. Gary’s proposal gives the Bears the tax certainty and stability that the organization says is key to success.” Mayor Eddie Melton, D-Gary The announcement came a day after Senate Republicans floated a bill to establish a northwest Indiana stadium authority. The bill’s primary author issued a brief statement. “Senate Bill 27 sets a framework as we continue discussions throughout the rest of the legislative session on the possibility of bringing the Bears to northwest Indiana.” Indiana state Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka That bill filing came a day after Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, said in Wednesday night’s State of the State speech that he is working to bring the Chicago Bears to Indiana. The team’s owners said late last year they are considering moving to Indiana due to ongoing disputes with the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois over a replacement for Soldier Field. Bears’ leadership late Thursday called the legislation “a significant milestone.” Sen. Rodney Pol, a Democrat whose district covers the northern half of Porter County, appeared in a video posted to social media on Friday with fellow Democratic Sens. Mark Spencer and Lonnie Randolph, both from Lake County. They endorsed the effort to bring the Bears to the Hoosier State. Pol told News 8 the stadium authority proposed under Senate Bill 27 could issue bonds to pay for construction and infrastructure. He said that authority would figure out who would pay for what. “You know, obviously, we have to make the dollars make sense. I mean, we’re all very excited about this, but we do not want to burden the taxpayer with this,” he said. “So, I think even with that in mind, we’ll still probably be more appealing and more affordable to the Bears to build the new stadium.” Besides Gary, Pol said Hammond and possibly Portage are also potential locations. If the Bears do move, he said, that means major investments in training centers and other associated infrastructure, which would mean new jobs and businesses in northwest Indiana connected to that. Unlike Indiana, Illinois has an annual budget cycle and its general assembly is scheduled to meet off and on through May, with the bulk of this year’s legislative action taking place during that month. That means Illinois lawmakers will still be meeting after Indiana lawmakers wrap up their session at the end of February. Pol said he doesn’t believe this puts Indiana at a disadvantage. Democratic strategist and a contributor on News 8’s “All INdiana Politics,” Lara Beck said introducing SB 27 is a critical step. “It’s really an economic engine that would benefit that part of the state. … In Indianapolis, we tend to think just central Indiana, but when you get out of central Indiana and you head to northwest Indiana, it is such an economic driver and I think it has real broad appeal.” Hamilton County Republican Party Chair and fellow “All INdiana Politics” contributor Mario Massillamany said he suspects the Bears’ goal in publicly investigating a move to Indiana is to get a better stadium deal in Chicago. Still, he said the potential benefit of having two NFL teams in the state make it worth the risk. “f you look at the impact of the Pacers going so far in the playoffs (in 2025), you look at IU and the impact it’s having on local businesses, we have to make the play. We have to make it,” Massillamany said. “All INdiana Politics” airs at 930 a.m. Sundays on WISH-TV. ...read more read less