HAMMOND, IND. — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced that an agreement for a $5 billion domed stadium and mixed-use development for the Chicago Bears in Hammond, Ind., is nearing completion. The Chicago Bears' ownership and board of directors voted in June 2026 to advance efforts on the Hammond stadium project.

Braun spoke at a Valparaiso University event, where he addressed the ongoing nature of negotiations. "I've done so much real estate in my career. Until you ink it, it's not done," Braun said. He added, "But it's moved a long distance in a short period of time because it moved hardly at all for five-and-a-half years [in Illinois]."

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. appeared at the event alongside Braun. "One of the things that struck the Bears the most about this whole ordeal is the fact that a Republican governor and a Democratic mayor can work hand-in-hand and get a job done in a bipartisan manner," McDermott said.

In Illinois, the spring legislative session ended on May 31, 2026, without state leaders ratifying a bill to help the Bears build a stadium and mixed-use development on team-owned property in Arlington Heights. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker suggested the possibility of a special session to revisit the stadium issue. "We think we're as close as anybody to getting a stadium done here," Pritzker said.

Pritzker also addressed the state's financial approach to the stadium project. "We don't want to raise taxes on the people of Illinois," he said. Pritzker added, "We have offered infrastructure support, which is actually most of what the Bears have been asking for." He further stated, "I don't think Indiana is a whole heck of a lot closer than we are." The Indiana stadium plan received political approval in February 2026 and is slated to fund about 60% of the stadium cost.