It’s a Chicago-Indiana war for the Bears: Now I know what KC’s feeling | Opinion
The Chicago Bears are being wooed to neighboring Indiana. When I learned the news, I finally understood how our Kansas-Missouri football border war probably feels to many longtime fans.
As a Chicago girl, I get it, Kansas City. How’d this happen?
The story isn’t a new one. The Bears are looking for a new stadium, and Indiana wants to accommodate them. On Thursday, Indiana lawmakers approved an amendment to State Bill 27, clearing the way for the Bears to build a stadium there, in Hammond. The bill creates a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, empowered to issue bonds, acquire land and finance the stadium’s construction.
Sound familiar?
If you read my column about going to see a Chiefs game last December, you may remember that was my first time to see a professional football game, but I was born and bred on the South Side of Chi-town and worked in Northwest Indiana when I was a young reporter. I claim “Da Bears” and the right to weigh in and talk some smack.
During my teenage years, I remember riding past the Bears’ beloved Soldier Field on Lake Shore Drive when my mom or sister took me to high school, and later when I drove myself downtown or to visit friends. As it is with the Chiefs, it seems almost unimaginable to think of Soldier Field and not think Bears.
There are similarities between the two fields:
- Like Arrowhead Stadium, Soldier Field is an imposing presence from the highway as you drive by.
- The Bears debuted at Soldier Field on Sept. 19, 1971. The Chiefs first played Arrowhead August 12, 1972.
- Like Arrowhead, Soldier Field is a favorite location to see major entertainment acts.
Unlike Arrowhead, Soldier Field is an iconic and historic site. Its official opening day — which coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the Chicago Fire — was Oct. 9, 1924. The famous brown stone columns have been around for what seems like forever. Of course, the current football stadium was built up behind them.
If the Bears move the 27 miles southeast to Hammond (and that seems like a big if), it won’t be unlike the Chiefs moving roughly 23 miles west to Wyandotte County. It’s close by, but maybe too close for comfort.
For many Missouri Chiefs fans, the Wyandotte County location will feel like a slap in the face when they travel those familiar miles to see their team. And I believe they will go, from Jackson, Johnson, Clay and Cass counties on the Missouri side, as well as many others.
The difference is that Chicagoans really only drive over the Indiana border now to get cheap gas and smokes. Indiana cities Hammond, East Chicago and Gary aren’t quite what they used to be.
It’s been a long time since I lived and worked there, but I couldn’t hide a smirk watching a YouTube short make fun of my old city:
“You really want a professional sports team to represent Gary, Indiana?”
“Could be just what that town needs.”
“What that town needs is an exorcism or a well-placed meteor strike.”
Sorry, Gary — I enjoyed my time living and working at the old Post-Tribune there — but that’s funny.
Bears fans are probably months or longer from a decision and years from a move. Remember how long we waited to find out?
But the Chicago Bears in Hammond? I don’t see it. One commenter on the video said the team should change its name to “The Gare Bears.” Get ready for the jokes, folks.
