Breaking: Major Investment Set to Transform Hammond, Indiana—What It Means for Jobs, Housing, and Your Wallet

Lead A landmark plan to relocate the Chicago Bears to Hammond, Indiana, cleared its first legislative hurdle Thursday, setting the stage for a multibillion-dollar NFL stadium on the banks of Wolf Lake. Hammond’s $2 Billion Game-Changer • Senate Bill 27, approved unanimously by the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee, authorizes a new restaurant and hotel tax across northwest Indiana to fund roads, transit upgrades and environmental work around the proposed site. • House Speaker Todd Huston told lawmakers the Bears will invest roughly $2 billion in construction and land acquisition, creating what supporters call “a world-class venue for all of Chicagoland.” Why Hammond? Frustrated by stalled talks in Arlington Heights, the franchise zeroed in on Hammond’s Wolf Lake corridor—minutes from downtown Chicago via the Skyway and home to an existing commuter rail line. Mayor Tom McDermott Jr. said the project would be “transformational,” adding that Hammond could soon stand alongside Indianapolis as Indiana’s second NFL city. Regional Ripple Effects Economic analysts project: • 9,500 construction jobs over three years. • 6,000 permanent positions in operations, hospitality and retail. • An estimated $180 million in annual visitor spending once the stadium opens. Hurdles Still Ahead Illinois lawmakers canceled a parallel hearing on potential tax subsidies for a renovated Soldier Field the same morning news broke of Indiana’s fast-moving proposal, signaling waning hope for a Chicago compromise. Before shovels hit dirt, the Bears must finish soil, wetlands and traffic studies and secure final approval from the full Indiana House and Senate—steps legislative leaders say could wrap before the spring recess. Community Voices Environmental groups want guarantees that Wolf Lake’s migratory-bird habitat will be protected, while union leaders have pressed for project-labor agreements to keep jobs local. Small-business owners near downtown Hammond already report early inquiries about restaurant leases and hotel expansions. What’s Next • House floor vote expected next week. • Senate concurrence and governor’s signature could follow within days. • If financing closes by summer, ground-breaking could occur in early 2027, positioning Hammond to host its first regular-season game in fall 2030. Bottom Line The Bears’ pivot south of the state line has transformed Hammond, Indiana, from an industrial lakeside city into the epicenter of one of the NFL’s most closely watched stadium battles—one that could redraw economic maps across the entire Chicago metro region.