On June 5, 2026, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors voted to advance plans for a potential new stadium. On Pardon My Take, host Dan Katz laughed at the immediate fan spin, noting, "On Friday it came out that the Bears board of directors voted to go forward with the Indiana site, and then almost instantly after that, there was people commenting being like, 'But there's still a chance-'"
The move highlights the franchise's long-standing stadium lease issues. Dan Katz explained that "the Bears don't own Soldier Field, so they lease it from the City of Chicago," preventing them from owning any lakefront property under local public land rules.
Katz believes this is a classic leverage play, comparing it to historical relocation threats. He argued that "what the Bears are doing right now is exactly what they did back in the early to mid-'90s."
While the front office plays politics, the sports world is still keeping an eye on the gridiron. Over on The Pat McAfee Show, the hosts looked ahead to the team's division rivalries, noting that "The Bears are a 425 game the week before that" during a discussion of high-profile window slots.
Whether the Indiana vote is a genuine relocation plan or just a hardball tactic to force Chicago's hand, the Chicago Bears have officially signaled they are willing to look outside state lines to get what they want.