The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a stadium authority bill, aimed at attracting the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana, which means the bill will move forward for consideration by the Indiana Senate.
Senate Bill 27, authored by State Senators Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, would establish the Northwest Indiana stadium authority to “acquire, construct, equip, own, lease, and finance” a sports stadium.
“The underlying bill sets up a stadium authority, a framework, for a possible project in northern Indiana,” Garten said during Thursday’s hearing.
The committee amended the bill to remove the authority’s goal of 15% participation by minority business enterprises and 5% participation from women’s business enterprises to participate in the procurement and contracting process.
State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, asked for a roll call on the amendment, and it passed 8-4, with all Republican members voting in favor and all Democratic members voting against it.
The bill would establish a three-member board: the director of the Office of Management and Budget, the public finance director or designee, and another member appointed by the Office of Management and Budget.
The authority would work toward acquiring, financing, constructing and leasing land and capital improvements. It would also have the power to finance, improve, construct, reconstruct, renovate, purchase, lease, acquire, and equip land and capital improvements, according to the bill.
The bill would require a National Football League team to enter into a lease for the stadium for at least 35 years. After the term of the lease, the lessee would have the option to purchase the capital improvement for $1 if certain conditions are met.
Under the bill, the authority could issue bonds, and the lease rental payments could be made from local excise taxes, food and beverage tax and innkeeper’s tax.
Typically, Randolph said when a board is established it includes the Speaker of the House, or a designee, and the Senate President Pro Tem, or a designee. Randolph asked why those members of the board for the authority aren’t included.
Further, Randolph asked why the bill doesn’t call for representation from Northwest Indiana legislators.
“This is legislation that affects Northwest Indiana directly, even though it’s going to be beneficial to the state. There should be, in my opinion, representation on the board by legislators from that particular region,” Randolph said.
The Office of Management and Budget appointee could be a legislator from Northwest Indiana, Garten said. As it pertains to the Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tem, Garten said the bill follows the framework of the Lucas Oil stadium authority, he said.
State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said he supports the bill, but it could be amended further to more closely align with the deal the state made with the Colts.
Randolph supported the bill, but raised concerns with the elimination of minority and women business participation as well as the makeup of the board.
What to know about the Chicago Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field
The bill passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee in a 12-0 vote. It moves forward for consideration by the Senate.
Following the filing of Senate Bill 27, the City of Gary proposed three locations for a potential Chicago Bears stadium.
With Indiana legislation filed to support financing a northwest Indiana stadium, Gary officials identified three “plug-and-play” sites: Gary West End Entertainment District, Buffington Harbor and Miller Beach, according to a press release.
The Gary West End site has 400 acres of land, access to Interstate 80/94 and near the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, the future Lake County Convention Center and the Little Calumet River.
The Buffington Harbor location has 145 acres of land near Cline Avenue and the Chicago Skyway with access to Amtrak. The city said the lakefront location offers marina and hospitality potential.
The Miller Beach site has 760 acres of land next to the Indiana Dunes National Park. It’s the largest plot of land available, near nature preserves and large recreational areas.
The bill offers a financial framework “that Illinois simply cannot match,” according to the press release. The bill “creates a pathway for the team to control its own destiny without the prohibitive tax burdens and stalled infrastructure talks currently seen in Illinois,” according to the release.
In response to the new legislation, the Bears quickly issued a statement: “The legislation presented by the State of Indiana is a significant milestone in our discussions around a potential stadium development in Chicagoland’s Northwest Indiana region. We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor (Mike) Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren and Chairman George McCaskey took NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on a tour of the Arlington Heights site the team owns, and two sites in Northwest Indiana, including one near Wolf Lake in Hammond, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The tour took place Jan. 10 before the Bears’ epic come-from-behind victory over the archrival Packers. The visit is significant because the National Football League may loan $200 million or more for the stadium project, if it is approved by league owners, the Chicago Tribune reported.
During his State of the State address last week, Gov. Mike Braun said with Indiana’s strong business environment, “it’s not surprising” that the Chicago Bears have looked to orthwest Indiana to build a stadium.
“We are working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to the Hoosier state so they can really see what a great place is to have a business. We’ll work hard to do it. Let’s get it across the finish line,” Braun said.