(The Center Square) – Although Indiana Gov. Mike Braun doesn’t know for sure the Chicago Bears will play in Hammond, he said the team should favor his state over “slower-footed” Illinois.
Braun spoke in Gary on Monday.
When asked about the Bears, he said the Illinois General Assembly followed five-and-a-half years of “crickets” by gaveling out of session this spring without stadium legislation.
“You know what I think the Bears are gonna think? When you’re moving at the speed of business to address a crisis like this, thank goodness you’re gonna be in Indiana hopefully, not in a place that’s slower footed,” Braun said.
Braun said his office talks to the Bears twice a week. He said the only real deadline is 2033, when the team’s lease at Soldier Field expires.
“You never ink those deals and know they’re for certain until that last document is signed,” Braun said.
Braun signed legislation in February that would impose a 1% food and beverage tax in Lake and Porter counties, a 5% hotel tax in Lake County and a 12% ticket tax.
Indiana Senate Bill 27 also allows for the capture of new property taxes at the stadium development.
When asked about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently meeting with Illinois officials, Braun said his office talks with the Bears twice a week.
The governor said trying to lure the Bears to Indiana would not be a wasted effort if the team stays in Illinois.
“In this year and a half, with the reorganization of state government, we’re growing twice as fast as Illinois, twice as fast as Ohio, three times as Kentucky, six times as fast as Michigan,” Braun said.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to The Center Square’s request for comment.
Jon Styf contributed to this story
