Author’s note: I gathered the information in this post from public reporting, government documents and public records to help readers keep track of the people involved. It reflects what was known as of October 30, 2026. Sources are linked at the bottom. If you spot an error or have a tip, please let me know. — Joe Bjorklund
The Bears stadium story has a big cast: team executives, a league commissioner, two governors, legislative leaders, mayors and critics. Here is who’s who, what each person’s role is and where they have stood, based on public statements and reporting through October 30, 2026.
The Bears and the NFL
Who
Role
Where they stand
Kevin Warren
Bears president and CEO
Led the Arlington Heights push, then the Indiana search; said Aug. 13 that Hammond is the “sole focus”
George McCaskey
Bears chairman
Said the team will be the Chicago Bears whether in Arlington or Hammond
Pat Ryan
Bears minority owner (about 10%)
Reportedly involved in fall 2026 talks with Illinois leaders
Roger Goodell
NFL commissioner
Toured Arlington Heights and Indiana sites; met Illinois leaders in Aug. and Oct. 2026; wants a Chicago-area Super Bowl
Illinois state government
Who
Role
Where they stand
JB Pritzker
Governor
Opposes paying to build a private stadium; open to infrastructure help; said something will get done in veto session
Chris Welch
House Speaker
Passed the House megaprojects bill; did not call the Senate’s version
Don Harmon
Senate President
No substantive public statements found
Bill Cunningham
State senator; led Senate talks
Sponsored the Senate stadium-authority approach
Kam Buckner
State representative
Sponsored the House megaprojects (PILOT) bill
Willie Preston
State senator (Chicago)
Voted no, saying the bill would send the Bears to Arlington
Local officials
Who
Role
Where they stand
Jim Tinaglia
Arlington Heights mayor
Strong supporter; wants to bring the Bears back to Arlington Heights
Mary Beth Canty
State rep., District 54 (includes the site)
Backed the megaprojects bill
Nicolle Grasse
State rep., District 53
Bill sponsor; supports the PILOT approach
For the November 3 election, the challengers in these districts and the 27th Senate District have their own positions. I cover those in a separate election guide.
Chicago and Indiana
Who
Role
Where they stand
Brandon Johnson
Chicago mayor
Has pushed to keep the Bears in the city, including the lakefront and the Michael Reese site
Mike Braun
Indiana governor
Signed SB 27 creating a Hammond stadium authority with about $1B in public money
Critics and watchdogs
Friends of the Parks, a Chicago parks group, opposed the 2024 lakefront stadium and threatened a public-trust lawsuit.
Field of Schemes, a blog by Neil deMause that tracks stadium subsidies, has published estimates of the tax breaks in each Illinois proposal.
Economists such as J.C. Bradbury, Dennis Coates and Brad Humphreys have reviewed decades of research and found stadiums rarely deliver the economic growth promised.
Teachers unions raised concerns that property tax breaks could cut school funding.
Supporters
Touchdown Arlington, a pro-Bears business coalition in Arlington Heights, argues the path to Arlington Heights is still open.
The mayors of Palatine, Rolling Meadows and Schaumburg support the stadium while asking for a say in road planning.
I’ll update this list as new people enter the story, especially if a bill is filed in the veto session.