How one Indiana city went from skeptical to serious contender for Bears' new stadium

When the Chicago Bears kick off against the Minnesota Vikings for their 2026 home opener on Sunday, it will mark the start of their 55th season at Soldier Field. It also may be the last. Hammond, Indiana, certainly hopes it is.

The Bears announced in June that they were moving forward with stadium development plans across state lines in Hammond, Indiana. This isn’t the first time the Bears have talked about moving to Indiana, as there were discussions in the late 1990s, but none were serious.