Bears Owner Confirms Team Moving Forward With Indiana Stadium

  • August 15, 2026

Where is the new home of the Chicago Bears going to be built? The franchise’s owner has offered further details.

While the Bears faced the Cleveland Browns in a preseason matchup on August 15, the local Chicago telecast revealed that majority owner George McCaskey would step into the commentary booth to talk about the ongoing arena search. McCaskey, who took over leadership of the organization last year following the passing of his mother, Virginia, made his appearance in the third quarter of the team’s exhibition debut.

A couple of days earlier, on August 13, McCaskey hosted a collaborative media session alongside Kevin Warren, the team’s president and CEO. At this briefing, McCaskey verified that the organization was weighing two potential locations for their next venue: Arlington Heights in Illinois and Hammond in Indiana. He emphasized, however, that the Indiana alternative is currently the primary focus.

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(Shawn Dowd, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

“We are directing our attention toward Hammond,” stated McCaskey. “We are pushing our plans forward in that area, and that is where we are investing most of our energy, focus, and assets.”

Should the franchise relocate to Indiana, McCaskey assured fans that they will retain “Chicago” as part of the “Chicago Bears” brand.

Below are the details the Bears’ owner discussed during his August 15 television appearance:

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George McCaskey confirms Indiana is the primary target

When requested to elaborate on the franchise’s arena plans, McCaskey echoed the statements he shared at the earlier media briefing.

“To be clear, our progress is concentrated on Hammond, Indiana,” McCaskey explained. “We have found one feasible location at the Lost Marsh Golf Course, and we are currently evaluating a second option, the Wolf Lake Terminal, to assess its suitability. We are conducting thorough research on both areas. This process is highly methodical and takes time, so we appreciate everyone’s patience.”

George McCaskey shares his perspective on Caleb Williams

The team chairman went on to express his thoughts regarding the Bears’ roster for 2026, offering accolades to Ben Johnson, who is in his second year as head coach, alongside Caleb Williams, the team’s third-year signal-caller.

“He is a fantastic young man who strives for excellence. His connection with Coach Johnson is outstanding, and he is highly regarded by his peers in the locker room. He puts in a lot of effort, and we have high expectations for his future,” McCaskey noted.

The Bears’ leader also reflected on the organization’s playoff journey from the previous season, highlighted by a victory against their historic rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in the wild-card matchup. Their subsequent defeat to the Los Angeles Rams during the divisional playoffs prevented them from reaching the NFC title game.

“We had an incredible run, though it was cut short,” McCaskey commented. “It was an extraordinary, thrilling, and amazing journey. In the end, however, we did not reach our ultimate goal and must strive to go deeper into the postseason next time.”

McCaskey departed from the broadcast booth during the following television timeout, right after a highlight play where Bears back Salvon Ahmed pulled in a screen pass and sprinted 56 yards into the end zone.

This piece was initially published by USA TODAY: Bears majority owner verifies organization is advancing plans for Indiana arena. Key takeaways