Latest news with #TheBears
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to attract Chicago Bears to Indiana passes out of Senate committee
A bill aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana was amended and passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday. 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. 'We know that professional sports drives economic development, it also creates jobs, it attracts new business and tourism,' Harris said. 'I've also had a lot of fun with the conversation about The Bears, how they are trying to find a new home and whether or not I'm stealing the Bears from Chicago and messing with certain people's favorite team. But this really is, in all honesty and seriousness, an opportunity to continue to grow Northwest Indiana and the assets that we have there.' Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, offered an amendment to make the professional sports development fund a local fund. With the move, Mishler said his amendment removed state appointees — which brings the commission's total members from 19 to 17. But, the bill would maintain an appointee by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation so that the state has a partnership with a potential sports franchise. 'I like your idea,' Mishler told Harris Thursday in committee. 'I was real excited that you brought this forward. I have actually been in a couple discussions with people that have considered Northwest Indiana. It's prime development there close to Chicago.' The bill outlines the 17-member commission, which includes 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 Mishler's amendment, the commission will require nine members present for a quorum and an affirmative nine votes to take action. It 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 reverted to another fund. 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 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 previously 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 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. 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. But, a year later, after the NFL owners meetings concluded on April 2, 2025, Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren confirmed the team no longer has a singular focus on building its new stadium downtown. 'The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights,' Warren said. 'One thing I have said before is that there are not linear processes or projects. They take time. They take a lot of energy and effort. And I am very, very pleased with where we are' The amended House Bill 1292 passed out of committee 12-0. It will advance for consideration by the whole Senate. akukulka@
NBC Sports
17-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Mecole Hardman took a free agent visit to Chicago on Monday
The Bears are not done at wide receiver apparently. After adding Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, the Bears had receivers Rondale Moore and Mecole Hardman in town for free agent visits Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. Moore's visit previously was reported. It appeared Hardman was on his way out of Kansas City when the Chiefs re-signed JuJu Smith-Schuster. Hardman left for the Jets in free agency a year ago before the Chiefs traded for him in the middle of the year. He played only six games with two starts and caught 14 passes for 118 yards with Kansas City. He did not play in the postseason. Hardman caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII, delivering the Chiefs a 25-22 victory over the 49ers to end the 2023 season. In his six NFL seasons, Hardman has appeared in 80 games with 28 starts, catching 178 passes for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns.
NBC Sports
14-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Report: Bears extend OG Jonah Jackson's contract by a year
The Bears have given offensive guard Jonah Jackson a one-year contract extension through 2027. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media reports that, as part of the trade for Jackson, the Bears added guarantees in 2026 with $7 million fully guaranteed and another $5.25 million guaranteed for injury. He will get all of the $17.5 million he was scheduled to earn this season in the three-year, $51 million deal he signed with the Rams. The Bears gave up a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for Jackson. Jackson, 28, has started 61 games in his five NFL seasons, and he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He played left guard for new Bears coach Ben Johnson for four seasons in Detroit. In his only season in Los Angeles, Jackson played only four games because of a shoulder injury. He took snaps at left guard, center and right guard.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dies at 102
The Bears announced that team owner Virginia Halas McCaskey died at the age of 102. McCaskey took control of the team after the death of her father George Halas in 1983. She was on hand for the team's only Super Bowl title after the 1985 season and was alive for eight of their nine overall NFL championships. 'While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,' McCaskey's family said in a statement. 'She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans. Over the last 41-plus years, Mrs. McCaskey continued the steadfast mission set forth by her father to uphold the values of the City of Chicago, its people and its fans. Mrs. McCaskey understood, not only her father's love and appreciation of football and the team which he played for, coached and owned, but also the love of the Chicago Bears by its fans. She always kept in mind what the Bears meant to the City of Chicago and what the city meant to the Bears." McCaskey's son Michael McCaskey succeeded her as team chairman in 1999. Her son George took over that role in 2011.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Harris makes bid to attract Bears, other pro sports teams to NWI
Northwest Indiana is throwing its hat into the ring — again — to court the Chicago Bears to build a stadium in the region. The courtship, though, is an open one as a new bill aims to attract any sports franchise to Northwest Indiana. The state legislature is considering House Bill 1292 which 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 bill's author, State Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, said 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 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 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. 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. Northwest Indiana is in the Chicago media market, Harris said, so residents see games and commercials for Chicago sports teams. 'In terms of team loyalty, that fan base is already there in Northwest Indiana for Chicago teams,' Harris said. 'We're open to any sport, just want to keep it broad.' The bill outlines the 19-member commission, which would 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, the governor and Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph county leaders. 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 reverted to another fund. The legislature has done many things in recent years to grow Northwest Indiana like building up casinos, the lakefront, the Gary Airport and the forthcoming 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. Lake County Commissioner Michael Repay, D-3rd, said the bill is a smart endeavor to bring sports to Northwest Indiana. Repay said he'd be open to joining the commission, and he'd like to see a soccer team play in a future Northwest Indiana stadium. 'The time to do something like that isn't when you have an immediate offer. The time to do something is in advance of an offer,' Repay said. 'We're ready for it, whether it's the Bears or anyone else.' 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 passed out of committee House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee on Monday. It was recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee because it establishes a fund. akukulka@
