A bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears, or another sports franchise, to Northwest Indiana passed out of the Indiana House Ways and Means committee Tuesday with two amendments.
House Bill 1292 would establish a Northwest Indiana professional sports development commission, which would study plans to attract one or more professional sports franchises.
The commission would be tasked with creating a comprehensive master plan for building the facilities needed to attract one or more professional sports franchises in the region.
The House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill Tuesday to remove language about paying any state employee on the commission travel expenses and non-state employee commissioners the minimum salary per diem and reimbursement for travel outlined in state code.
The committee also removed language from the bill allowing the commission to hire an executive director and others to carry out the commission’s duties.
Bill author State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, joked ahead of the Ways and Means Committee vote that the amendments negated the reason for bringing the bill before the committee.
“There’s going to be no cost … that’s what the amendment does,” said committee chairman Rep. Jeffrey Thompson, R-Lizton. “I know what your intent is, and I think you have some good intent with this bill.”
By removing the fiscal elements of the bill, Harris joked that he would “presume that’s an automatic ‘yes’ by everybody.” The bill passed 18-1 out of committee with Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, voting against it.
Under the bill, the commission would explore attracting professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams. But, since the Bears have been looking for a new home, Harris said when he proposed the bill in the 2024 session it got attention then as a possible new location for the team.
“The Bears are the big boy, so that has received the most attention. Honestly, I would love it if the Bears moved their location over to Northwest Indiana, but we are open to any sport,” Harris said.
Harris said he hasn’t talked to anyone with the Chicago Bears organization about a potential move to Northwest Indiana.
The Chicago Bears purchased the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in February 2023 and hoped to build a new enclosed stadium with a big entertainment and residential development. In December, the Bears and Arlington Heights reached an agreement to set taxes at $3.6 million per year.
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In April 2024, the team laid out plans for a new publicly owned domed stadium on the lakefront but left unanswered how the city would pay for expensive infrastructure improvements.
If the Bears, or any other team, were to move to Northwest Indiana, Harris said that team would keep its name but have a stadium in Northwest Indiana. Similar to how the New York Jets and New York Giants have New York in their name but play across the state line in New Jersey, he said.
The bill outlines the 19-member commission, which includes the mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend. The remaining members would be appointed by various people, including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, the governor, and leaders in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.
The commission, which will require 10 members present for a quorum and an affirmative 10 votes to take action, should hold its first meeting before Sept. 1.
Once established, the commission would be able to enter agreements or contracts for grants or appropriations from federal, state, and local governments, individuals, foundations or other organizations. It would also be able to operate, own, manage or lease property.
The commission would spend money from the professional sports development fund, which would be funded through general assembly appropriations, grants, gifts and donations. The money from the fund can’t be revered to another fund.
The legislature has done many things in recent years to grow Northwest Indiana like building up casinos, the lakefront, the Gary/Chicago International Airport and the potential Lake County Convention Center, Harris said.
The professional sports development commission would continue to make Northwest Indiana “a game changer,” Harris said.
“Sports is a big thing and it’s great economic development,” Harris said. “The impact of (the commission) will be tremendous. Professional sports will drive economic growth, create thousands of jobs and it will continue to attract new businesses and tourism to the area.”
Harris said his father, who served as a state representative before Harris, filed similar legislation when he was in office to bring a sports franchise to Northwest Indiana. Now, Harris said he’s “picked up the ball on that and am carrying it.”
The bill fits for a budget session, which the Indiana legislature is currently in, because it establishes a fund, Harris said. But, he filed the bill last year to get the conversation around creating the commission moving forward, he said.
This year, Harris said his bill has been co-authored by three Republicans, including Rep. Tim O’Brien, R-Evansville, who grew up in Northwest Indiana.
“The Bears are his team. He still has his roots here in Northwest Indiana,” Harris said of O’Brien.
The bill will now move for consideration by the whole House.
