where is the new bears stadium going to be
The new Chicago Bears stadium does not have a finalized location yet as of early 2026, but there are three main options in play: Chicago’s lakefront near Soldier Field, the Arlington Heights suburb, and several potential sites in Northwest Indiana.
Where it’s most likely to be
Right now, the leading concepts are:
- A new fixed‑roof lakefront stadium, just south of Soldier Field in Chicago, as part of a larger Burnham Park/lakefront redevelopment plan.
- A domed stadium and mixed‑use “stadium district” on the Bears’ 326‑acre Arlington Park racetrack site in Arlington Heights, which the team already owns.
- Newly proposed sites in Northwest Indiana (Hammond and Gary) that state officials are actively pitching to the team.
No binding stadium agreement or final public approval has locked in any of these locations yet.
Quick rundown of each option
1. Chicago lakefront (near current Soldier Field)
- Concept: A new enclosed, fixed‑roof stadium built just south of Soldier Field on the Museum Campus lakefront.
- Status: The Bears and city officials have unveiled renderings and cost estimates (around several billion dollars) and are seeking political and financing approvals.
- Key point: Team leadership has publicly said the lakefront is their preferred site “at this point in time,” but not guaranteed or “inevitable.”
2. Arlington Heights (Arlington Park site)
- Concept: A domed, multi‑use stadium plus an entertainment and residential district on 326 acres at the former Arlington Park racetrack in the northwest suburbs.
- Status: The Bears bought the land in 2023 but slowed the project over tax, infrastructure, and state‑support questions; construction timing and financing remain unresolved.
- Key point: Still a live option, especially if suburban financing and infrastructure deals become more favorable.
3. Northwest Indiana (Hammond / Gary area)
- Concept: Multiple potential sites near major highways, casinos, or lakefront areas that could host a new stadium and surrounding development.
- Examples mentioned by officials:
- Near Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana and I‑80/94.
* Buffington Harbor waterfront site in Gary.
* Miller Beach area near Indiana Dunes National Park.
* A Hammond site near Wolf Lake.
- Key point: Indiana lawmakers are actively pushing enabling legislation and pitching the Bears, but no team commitment yet.
Side‑by‑side view
| Option | General area | What’s proposed | Status as of 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago lakefront | South of Soldier Field on Museum Campus, city of Chicago | [6][9]New fixed‑roof stadium as part of a larger lakefront redevelopment | [6]Team’s stated current preference, but still needs political and funding approvals | [9]
| Arlington Heights | Former Arlington Park racetrack in northwest suburbs | [1][7]Domed stadium with mixed‑use district on 326‑acre site the Bears own | [10][7][1]On hold / under reconsideration due to tax and infrastructure issues | [8][7][10][1]
| Northwest Indiana | Sites in Hammond and Gary (Wolf Lake, near Hard Rock Casino, Buffington Harbor, Miller Beach, near airport) | [3][5]New stadium plus surrounding tourism and entertainment development | [1][5][3]Being actively pitched by Indiana; exploratory stage, no agreement with Bears | [7][5][1][3]
What this means for “where is it going to be?”
- The short, honest answer : there is no officially chosen site yet; the Bears are still weighing Chicago lakefront, Arlington Heights, and Northwest Indiana.
- The most advanced public plans in terms of detailed renderings and political discussion are for a new stadium on Chicago’s lakefront and the already‑purchased Arlington Heights land.
- Indiana’s offer has become a real factor in late 2025 and early 2026, adding pressure and options but not a final decision.
So for now, when people ask “where is the new Bears stadium going to be,” the only accurate response is: it’s still undecided, with Chicago’s lakefront, Arlington Heights, and Northwest Indiana all in the mix.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.