Mike Ditka, who coached the 1985 Chicago Bears to the franchise's only Super Bowl title, died on Oct. 9, 2026, at age 86, his family announced. On Oct. 11, the Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers 31 to 7 at Lambeau Field, according to FOX 6.
What taxpayers still owe
NBC Chicago reported in March 2024 that the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority still owed $375 million in principal and $214 million in interest, a total of $589 million, on bonds for the 2002 renovation of Soldier Field. The debt is scheduled to be paid off in 2032 and will cost more than $1 billion when all is said and done, NBC Chicago reported.
The Bears and the NFL contributed $200 million to the renovation, and the authority issued bonds for the remaining $398 million, backed by Chicago's 2 percent hotel tax, according to NBC Chicago. Those balances change as payments are made, and the figures above are as of that March 2024 report.
The stadium push
In April 2024, the Bears unveiled a plan for a publicly owned, domed lakefront stadium next to Soldier Field with a total cost of $4.7 billion, according to CBS News Chicago. The spring 2024 legislative session ended without action on the team's request for public money, Axios Chicago reported.
On June 5, 2026, the Bears announced that the team's board had voted to advance a stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site yet to be chosen, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Indiana has approved legislation that supporters say could provide up to $1 billion in incentives for the project, and Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch said Indiana is "willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds," FOX 32 reported.
The same report said a bill in Illinois that would have let communities create stadium finance authorities for publicly owned stadiums, with property tax relief the Bears sought, was not taken up by the House before the session ended. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said, "We are ready and willing to re-engage with the Chicago Bears." Mayor Brandon Johnson's office said that "until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond," the city will keep talking, according to FOX 32.
Our question
Who should pay for the next Bears stadium, and what should happen to the old one's debt? Tell us on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram, or write to contact@reofact.com.
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