* Suffolk University poll taken for the Tribune…
Q: Would you prefer the new Chicago Bears stadium be located in Indiana, or at Arlington Heights, the site of the old race track?
Q: If the Bears move to Indiana, will you still support them or switch to another team? Or are you not a Bears fan?
The intensity is not exactly great for the Bears in their home town.
Methodology…
This survey of 500 residents of the city of Chicago was conducted April 11 to April 15, 2026, and is based on live telephone interviews of adults 18 years of age or older, residing in all 50 wards in the city of Chicago. Quota and demographic information — including region, race and age — were determined from census and American Community Survey data. Surveys were administered in English and Spanish. The margin of sampling error for results based on the total sample is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. All surveys may be subject to other sources of error, including but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.
More here.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:26 am:
I wonder how many of the high value Bears fans live on the north shore or northern suburbs. I mean the fans spending thousands of dollars a year on the team. I do not think those fans want the team to move to Indiana, and they probably matter most. I have not been to a Bears game in years and have no real plans to go anytime soon.
- Remember the Alamo II - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:35 am:
=== I wonder how many of the high value Bears fans live on the north shore or northern suburbs. ===
Then maybe those “high value” Bears fans can volunteer to kick in a little extra property tax money to keep the team here.
- ChicagoVinny - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:36 am:
Last season was fun but most of the time I endure the team rather than support it.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:38 am:
=Then maybe those “high value” Bears fans can volunteer to kick in a little extra property tax money to keep the team here.=
The McCaskey’s should be first in that line. If it was such a big deal to be the Chicago Bears that is.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:40 am:
The Bears moving to a scab state that strips people’s rights is slap in the face to what Chicago and Illinois stand for, and the team’s tradition. Pitting Chicago against Indiana for the owner’s benefit, instead of committing to stay in the state, is already a terrible look. They should call themselves the Indiana Bears.
- Red Ranger - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:42 am:
I just dont get it. Why does the average Bears fan care? Why this passion for them remaining in Illinois? Most people watch the Bears on TV, does IN vs AH matter in that scenario? If you are a Bears fan living on the Southside or in Orland Park and going to the game, Hammond is a lot easier to get to than AH. The obsession people have for the Bears staying in IL is just odd.
- Oklahoma - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:43 am:
The best way I heard it explained to me was this:
- the companies that pay for boxes and suites have executives that live on the north shore
- the fans that buy expensive seats and season tickets are in the western suburbs
- the fans that sit in the grandstand seats and tailgate are in the SW suburbs and NW suburbs
- the fans in Chicago will watch from the bar
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:45 am:
===Why this passion for them remaining in Illinois?===
Exactly where in that poll do you see “passion”?
Also, some people hate Indiana.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:46 am:
Football is now a made for TV event it matters little where the stadium is. And I should ad it is also now a made for gambling event something you can do anywhere
- Jerry - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:56 am:
Agree with Dupage Saint. The Moochers are building a TV studio for what….12 shows a year. And mark my word. They are gonna start charging to watch the shows.
- Annon'in - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:57 am:
The fight song does mention “pride and joy of illinois” Guessin’ they could not think of a lyric for indiana….their the pride and ______ of indiana…what fits? Banana, Montana, Fontana, J-K-L-N-Q-R-S-T-W….
A better question might why Tribbies bought a poll from Suffolk U.?
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 11:59 am:
Always a hazard in overestimating one’s value.
- Tom - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:01 pm:
I do not see how they turn down Indiana. I suspect that once a world-class stadium is built, it will sell out regularly. Once the Bears decided to leave the City, I no longer cared where they ended up.
- sewer thoughts - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:04 pm:
red ranger trying to apply some ridiculous “rational, efficient” standard to *checks notes* sports fandom. yes, totally, really smart.
- ChicagoBars - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
Speaking generally…if I was planning to invest a billion on a mixed use hospitality district I’d sure want the anchor tenant I’m wooing to poll better than 39% among potential customer in the project’s nearest metropolis.
Eek. And Oof.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:12 pm:
=Hammond is a lot easier to get to than AH.=
Maybe if you live in the South Suburbs. But the demographics of the season ticket and suite owners suggests otherwise.
With regards to the poll, supporting the Bears is a bit of an ambiguous question as it can take many forms. Folks that attend the games in person are clearly supporting the team financially. Perhaps TV watchers are but they often have no competition on the airwaves given NFL licensing rules. I suspect for a lot of fans supporting means continuing to follow/root for the Bears and I doubt that will change much regardless of where the stadium is. And there are a bunch of people who are totally indifferent or don’t care much about the team.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:15 pm:
Oklahoma summarized the market pretty well.
On the otherhand, 2 in 9 Bears fans in Chicago threatening to switch teams if the Bears move to Indiana has to give The Bears pause, and definitely gives the General Assembly some leverage.
All that aside, keep in mind that stadium ownership, location and revenue control are not driven by football games. There are eight home games a year.
Its the team wanting to capture the potential revenue from FIFA, concerts, the Democratic Convention, and whatever else they can dream up. And not just the ticket sales and the concessions, but parking, hotels, restaurants etc.
They want to build an entire entertainment district, and its hard for me to see how that works for them financially in Indiana.
Execs might go to Indiana for football games, but parents are not driving their teens to Indiana for Taylor Swift or Beyonce concerts, i dont think.
Please tell me if I am wrong.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:17 pm:
=== but parents are not driving their teens to Indiana for Taylor Swift or Beyonce concerts, i dont think.===
Um, yes they would.
- Red Ranger - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:20 pm:
I see (or hear) the passion everyday on sports radio. This dominates the conversation and the callers act like this decision has some impact on them personally.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
===I see (or hear) the passion everyday on sports radio===
That is not a representative sample. A handful of blithering ragers does not a majority make.
- Tom - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:28 pm:
=That is not a representative sample. A handful of blithering ragers does not a majority make.=
CapFax blog is the sports radio of politics. And we love Rich for doing this daily for us junkies.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:31 pm:
=but parents are not driving their teens to Indiana for Taylor Swift or Beyonce concerts, i dont think.=
Wrong. They do.
- Regular democrat - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
Has anyone in the Mccaskey family received any business training in the last 50 years? Nobody has any finance backround? If they did they would have been half way finished with this stadium. For god sake get it over with already. Stalling a guaranteed winner over property taxes. Still numbs my mind
- Amalia - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:43 pm:
Tribune poll only asks of residents of Chicago. so that’s not doing it for me. I’m not listening to SD Gates.
- Boone's is Back - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:45 pm:
There’s an important question that I don’t see being asked in this conversation. What is the resale value of the team at both locations? I would imagine that the resale value at AH would be much higher, given that the surrounding real estate that could be developed into mixed use and commercial, much like what you see the Ricketts did in Wrigleyville. There would also be greater demand for concerts, etc. You get a nice deal in Hammond for the actual stadium but you lose out on the additional value and perks that you would get in Arlington.
- Leatherneck - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
The Green Bay Packers and their shareholders need to step in and personally fully fund the new Bears stadium, preferably still within Illinois. As a delayed favor and thank you for Papa Bear bailing out Old Man Lambeau in 1932 to help the Packers in the NFL.
- Lee Elia - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
A student in any Finance 101 could figure out on his first day by running some comps on the property tax burden on similar properties in other cities.
The highest stadium property tax bill is SOFI Stadium in LA.
They have two NFL teams playing in their newly constructed domed stadium and the property tax bill is 10 million a year.
What investor in his right mind would put shovels in the ground if the tax bill was going to be between 100 and 200 million a year?
Obviously the Bears want to know how much property tax they will owe.
Why would they commit to paying up to 20x higher taxes than the other teams in the NFL?
- Jerry - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
@Lee: then President Warren needs to tell George to either sell the team, or move to Indiana. It’s not anyone else’s problem. You bought the land. You pay the taxes. Or leave.
- AlabamaShake - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:07 pm:
= but parents are not driving their teens to Indiana for Taylor Swift or Beyonce concerts, i dont think.=
LOL - what? They definitely would.
But also, most people going to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concerts aren’t actually teens going with their parents.
- Lee Elia - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:09 pm:
10% of Chicago residents agree with you that the Bears should move to Indiana Jerry.
Curious how the entire Chicago region, which is their actual fan base would answer that question.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:16 pm:
It’s incoherent to both argue that the Bears should stay, and that we should not give the Bears what they want. The Bears should definitely move to Indiana if Indiana taxpayers want to meet the Bears’ ridiculous demands.
- Frida's Boss - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:24 pm:
To the poll- 26% of them aren’t even fans of the “hometown” team. 19% don’t care. Take them out of the equation.
So only 55% have a real opinion either way about the team. Breakdown that 55% - 78% would still support the team and 32% would switch teams. But would they really switch?
Winning teams matter, given that most NFL ticket prices are beyond the reach of “regular” people; a winning TV and media product will keep people engaged in the team.
Look to the Giants and Jets being in New Jersey. No lack of fans since they moved there.
- Lee Elia - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
Oklahoma summarizes it well?
Chicago residents are too poor to go to Bears games?
The wealth in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Streeterville, West Loop, River North, Bucktown/Wicker Park, New Wast Side, Lakeview, North Center, Old Town, Beverly, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Printers Row neighborhoods rivals many of the premier suburbs.
- purple people eater - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:30 pm:
I’m not a Bears fan, as a transplanted Iowan I have been a Minnesota Vikings fan ever since my Grandpa took me to a game. Having been a Vikings fan since they days of old Metropolitan Stadium, I can attest that modern stadiums are a true marvel. Best of luck getting all the stadium bells and whistles you bears fans deserve…
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:34 pm:
===rivals many of the premier suburbs===
Exceeds.
- River Heights PI - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:39 pm:
I’m not sure why there wasn’t an option for “stay in Soldier Field” for that first question. There are multiple people quoted in the article who speak about Soldier Field, so why wasn’t it reflected in the questions asked?
I mean, even if it’s only, like, 5% of people who want that option, I’d still personally like to know how many people aren’t happy with the two choices presented in the question.
- Downstate - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:41 pm:
I’d suggest that the number of fans desirous of watching the Bears in an indoor Indiana venue, would more than make up for the loss of disgruntled ones.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 1:53 pm:
Well heck, who wouldn’t “prefer” them to be in Illinois? As that question with “even if it results in the state losing more revenue than it is projected to gain” and I’m guessing the figure drops below 50%. Well below. I’m surprised at the relatively modest number of people who say they will stay fans if the team goes to Indiana - come on now.
- ste_with a v_en - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:12 pm:
The Chicago Wolves play in Rosemont and no ones thinks it’s a problem.
They’ll move to Arlington Heights, still be called the Chicago Bears, and life will go on.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
==I’m not sure why there wasn’t an option for “stay in Soldier Field”==
Because that’s not an option. They are moving one way or the other. They are leaving Soldier Field. Why ask a question about it?
- Stephanie Kollmann - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:26 pm:
Not one penny to help the McClaskeys decide not to drive their business over a cliff
If Indiana was so great, they would be there already, just like the rest of us
- Stephanie Kollmann - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
Maybe I’m wrong and Indiana is a great business proposition for them
- Stephanie Kollmann - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:30 pm:
If they’re such Illinois patriots they’re willing to pay a premium to stay in IL: let them
- Remember the Alamo II - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 2:48 pm:
=== Maybe I’m wrong and Indiana is a great business proposition for them ===
The Bears are looking to spend $2 billion on a new stadium in AH. They would be getting a free stadium in Indiana. I understand there are other considerations here (such as the ownership of the stadium) but $2 billion is nothing to sneeze at. Anyone qualified to make this decision would have to kick the tires on Indiana.
- Oklahoma - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 4:07 pm:
Umm, Lee Elia, I did not say that Chicago residents are too poor to go to Bears games. It was explained that more Chicagoans watch Bears games from a bar than from the seats. Might have more to do with the quantity of bars than anything else.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 5:06 pm:
To Stephanie at 2:26pm: If I could afford a house in Indiana, I would have moved back in 2022. But prices soared. I’m still looking to go.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 6:16 pm:
I was being slightly hyperbolic with my post. I realize that Desperate fans have flown across oceans to see Beyonce and Swift.
As far as mortals go, “Major concerts” in Gary, Indiana in 2025 include Sting, Def Leppard and Glenn Jones.
“Major concerts” in Hammond in the last two years include ICE Cube and Anthony Hamilton. I like ICE Cube, but his last Top 100 hit was 1999, Hamilton last had a hit in 2008.
At the end of the day, Lake County, Indiana has 200K fewer residents than Lake County, Illinois.
There are market reasons why major concerts do not happen in Lake County, Illinois.
The smallest county that Beyonce has played in the last decade I think is Wake County, NC (Raleigh), 1.3 million.
It is hard to imagine international stars chosing Hammond over Soldier Field or Wrigley.
With the exception of places like Vegas, Orlando, and Coachella, sports teams and concert venues go where the market is, not the other way around.
The public does not have all the info, unfortunately. But The Bears should have a business plan, and hopefully lawmakers in both states are asking to see that business plan to see how many events they are projecting each year and their attendance.
Again, maybe I am wrong, there’s a great economic promiseland just across the border that everyone else has been to blind to see. If that’s true, Indiana should go ahead and build their own stadium, make it publicly owned, the only thing they’d be missing is those 8 Bears home games. Maybe move the Indiana Fever there?
- ZC - Wednesday, Apr 22, 26 @ 7:41 pm:
I don’t think you can take public opinion pledges here too seriously; what they’re saying is, they don’t want the Bears to leave the state. Big surprise. Will they really boycott the team, if it starts winning big? I doubt many of the poll respondents know.
Still it’s a bit of a gamble for the Bears, which is probably why they keep negotiating for Arlington Heights. They can’t know for sure either.
- The apologist - Thursday, Apr 23, 26 @ 6:50 am:
Woah that’s really low. 39%?!? Yikes!