The Chicago Bears most likely aren't coming to the western suburbs, and they may not stay in Illinois at all.

Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren declared Thursday, Aug. 13, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest that Hammond, Indiana is the franchise's "sole focus" for a new stadium and mixed-use development. The McCaskey family has committed $2 billion in private money toward the project, Warren said, and the team has identified two specific Hammond sites, according to Patch.

For Hinsdale residents who have spent years watching the Bears' stadium saga unfold across the suburbs, the announcement marks a decisive turn away from Illinois. A Hammond stadium would sit roughly 35 to 40 miles southeast of the village, a significantly longer trip than the roughly 20 miles east to Soldier Field.

Two sites, one vision

Warren named the Lost Marsh Golf Course, where due diligence is complete and the land has been confirmed viable, and the Wolf Lake Terminal site, where environmental studies continue. He said the team may merge both properties into a single larger development. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has personally visited the Lost Marsh property.

Indiana has authorized up to $1 billion in public funding through a combination of food-and-beverage, hotel and admissions taxes in Lake and Porter counties, according to the Chicago Tribune. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun expressed confidence in August, saying the project has "moved a long distance in a short period of time."

Illinois talks go quiet

Bears Chairman George McCaskey called discussions with Illinois lawmakers since the board's June 5 vote to focus on Hammond "minimal." The Bears have no written proposal before the state, he said.

Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at the Illinois State Fair the same morning, confirmed the Bears have not presented bill language to his administration. Warren said the team's longstanding requirements for an Illinois project, property tax certainty and infrastructure certainty, have never been met.

"We don't have any legislation in Illinois. We don't have a deal with Illinois," Warren told reporters. "Our focus, again, at this point in time, is in Hammond, Indiana."

Warren said stadium development costs are rising by nearly $150 million per year, adding urgency. He declined to set a timeline for a final decision.

Hinsdale connection on the field

One bright spot for local fans heading into Saturday's preseason opener against Cleveland at Soldier Field: Hinsdale native Kiran Amegadjie, a third-year offensive tackle who started playing football at age 13 with the Hinsdale Falcons, has been taking first-team reps at left tackle during training camp after an injury to Braxton Jones. Amegadjie, a former Yale standout drafted in Round 3, is expected to see significant playing time Saturday, according to Sports Illustrated.

The franchise will remain the "Chicago Bears" regardless of where the stadium lands, McCaskey said. The current Soldier Field lease runs through 2033, and the Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session, scheduled Nov. 17–19 and Dec. 1–3, represents the next window for any Illinois stadium legislation.