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PHOENIX — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not express a preference for the Wolf Lake site in Hammond or the Arlington Heights site that the Chicago Bears are pursuing but Goodell wants the Bears to commit to a site relatively soon.
What that means for the team’s potential move to Indiana remains to be seen.
The commissioner also issued a pointed remark to Illinois state officials, who are currently working on a megaprojects bill to pave the way for the franchise to make its move to Arlington Heights, Ill., and keep the franchise in the Chicago area.
“It’s really important that there come a resolution and it’s relatively soon,” Goodell said. “It’s important. I’ve spoken to officials in Illinois. This is an important time to get this resolved sooner rather than later.”
Bears president Kevin Warren echoed Goodell’s urgency in an interview with Pro Football Talk on Monday.
"We don't have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we'll know,” Warren told Pro Football Talk. “I mean, we have to know because we will have completed the due diligence in Indiana and we'll see what happens in Illinois."
The state of Indiana, led by governor Mike Braun, has aggressively pursued the Bears.
The Indiana general assembly passed Indiana Senate Bill 27 to create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, which would issue bonds to help finance the stadium.
Fans in Illinois want the Bears to stay in their traditional state. When the question was phrased to Goodell, it was posed as whether a founding NFL franchise should make the move.
Goodell’s response was to say the league is focused on the Bears building an updated stadium.
“That’s something that I think, from this standpoint, they’re focused on looking for the best resolution to the stadium,” Goodell said. “That’s an important element to the success of, as you note, a founding team. They are still playing in Soldier Field, which has got a lot of great tradition, but as far as advancements in technology and advancements in the quality of the stadium for the fan experience, I would say it’s not at the top of the list.”
The league has also been supportive of the Bears’ flirtation with Indiana.
Goodell toured proposed stadium sites in northwest Indiana in January, lending credence to the team’s flirtation with its neighboring state.
“They need to find a solution for a stadium, and they have looked, not only in Indiana, but also in Illinois at other sites and invested in a site,” Goodell said. “I think they have been responsible with that.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bears stadium: NFL's Roger Gooddell says site must be determine 'relatively soon'
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What that means for the team’s potential move to Indiana remains to be seen.
The commissioner also issued a pointed remark to Illinois state officials, who are currently working on a megaprojects bill to pave the way for the franchise to make its move to Arlington Heights, Ill., and keep the franchise in the Chicago area.
“It’s really important that there come a resolution and it’s relatively soon,” Goodell said. “It’s important. I’ve spoken to officials in Illinois. This is an important time to get this resolved sooner rather than later.”
Bears president Kevin Warren echoed Goodell’s urgency in an interview with Pro Football Talk on Monday.
"We don't have a set deadline, but I am confident that sometime this spring/summer, we'll know,” Warren told Pro Football Talk. “I mean, we have to know because we will have completed the due diligence in Indiana and we'll see what happens in Illinois."
The state of Indiana, led by governor Mike Braun, has aggressively pursued the Bears.
The Indiana general assembly passed Indiana Senate Bill 27 to create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, which would issue bonds to help finance the stadium.
Fans in Illinois want the Bears to stay in their traditional state. When the question was phrased to Goodell, it was posed as whether a founding NFL franchise should make the move.
Goodell’s response was to say the league is focused on the Bears building an updated stadium.
“That’s something that I think, from this standpoint, they’re focused on looking for the best resolution to the stadium,” Goodell said. “That’s an important element to the success of, as you note, a founding team. They are still playing in Soldier Field, which has got a lot of great tradition, but as far as advancements in technology and advancements in the quality of the stadium for the fan experience, I would say it’s not at the top of the list.”
The league has also been supportive of the Bears’ flirtation with Indiana.
Goodell toured proposed stadium sites in northwest Indiana in January, lending credence to the team’s flirtation with its neighboring state.
“They need to find a solution for a stadium, and they have looked, not only in Indiana, but also in Illinois at other sites and invested in a site,” Goodell said. “I think they have been responsible with that.”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bears stadium: NFL's Roger Gooddell says site must be determine 'relatively soon'
Continue reading...
