Lake County council appoints NWI Oilmen president to sports commission
Don Popravak, president of the Northwest Indiana Oilmen baseball club, said the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission will work across the region to create a 'cohesive professional sports development area here.'
'It will help drive tourism. It will help drive economic development for cities and towns across those counties,' Popravak said. 'There is unlimited potential here.'
The Lake County Council appointed Popravak to the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission Tuesday as proxy for council president Christine Cid, D-East Chicago.
House Bill 1292, authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, would establish a Northwest Indiana professional development commission and a professional sports development fund. The commission would be tasked with exploring and implementing strategies to attract one or more sports franchises to Northwest Indiana, Harris said.
The bill outlines the 17-member commission, which include mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend, while the remaining members would be appointed by various people, including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, and Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph county leaders.
Under the bill, the commission would explore attracting professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey or soccer teams. But, since the Chicago 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 Chicago Bears purchased the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in February 2023 and hopes 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.
Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune reported that team officials have shifted their focus for a new stadium away from the city's lakefront back to Arlington Heights.
But, Harris said his bill allows Northwest Indiana to be considered as the Bears consider a new home. Northwest Indiana is in the Chicago market, he said, so the fan base for the Bears – or any Chicago team – is there, he said.
'This makes it more attractive for them to come to Northwest Indiana. It provides another option,' Harris said. 'I think there is an opportunity for them if they can't work things out in Illinois.'
Lake County Councilman Charlie Brown, D-Gary, asked Popravak if he can assure the council that the commission will secure a shot at moving the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana.
Popravak said that about $3 billion would help secure the Chicago Bears. Given that the Chicago Bears are debating stadiums in Chicago and Arlington Heights, that would be a difficult assurance to ask for, he said.
'I can't guarantee things like that. Those are a little bit out of my reach,' Popravak said. 'Those are big stakes.'
Cid asked Popravak to keep the council updated on the progress the commission makes. Popravak said he would, and that the commission has a meeting planned in July.
Since he was elected, Harris has touted Northwest Indiana's resources like the lakefront, the Gary/Chicago International Airport, the South Shore railroad, casinos and the planned Lake County Convention Center. A stadium for a sports franchise is the next step, he said.
Nearly 30 years ago, Harris said his late father proposed legislation to bring a sports stadium to Northwest Indiana, also aiming to draw the Chicago Bears to the region.
'To be able to pick up the ball, as his son, I'm very proud and happy about that, and I'm sure he would be also,' Harris said. 'I'm glad to see this bill has made the movement that it has and it will make it through the process, and excited about what it will mean in terms of professional sports, economics and jobs in Northwest Indiana.'
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