Hammond mayor hails bipartisan advance of Senate Bill 27 as framework for potential Chicago Bears stadium

The mayor of Hammond, speaking at a city-hosted event, said Senate Bill 27 — advanced 24-0 in the Indiana House Ways and Means Committee — sets up a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority and a development framework designed to support a possible Chicago Bears stadium near Wolf Lake.

The mayor said the state would contribute more than $1 billion toward the proposal, and described a financing approach that could include a local admissions tax, higher Lake County innkeepers tax and a Lake/Porter County food-and-beverage tax modeled on the financing used for Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. "The state's gonna spend over $1,000,000,000 dollars on this proposal, and it's we're gonna require payback," the mayor said, adding that the state would expect repayment through those revenues.

Why it matters: If enacted and accepted by the team, the legislation would create the institutional structure to acquire property, finance construction, and operate a stadium. The bill also names Hammond as the defined "city" in the statute; the mayor said the precise site remained subject to the Bears' due diligence and the team's announcement.

What the…