SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As the Chicago Bears get ready for their divisional playoff matchup Sunday night, the future of where the team will call home remains in question.
The Bears had been exploring a plot of land in Arlington Heights, but are now looking into other options, including in the Hoosier State.
Things are getting serious enough that two Indiana state senators have introduced a Senate bill to try and sway the Bears towards taking their talents to Indiana, and Governor Mike Braun even chimed in on this during his state of the state address.
"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." Said Governor Mike Braun. "We'll work hard to do it, let's get it across the finish line."
But those in Arlington Heights don't share Governor Braun's vision of a second NFL team in Indiana.
The Bears relocating to the Chicago suburbs at one point seemed like a foregone conclusion, but now, complications have come up.
The village's mayor saying Friday that it's necessary to take the team's proposal of potentially moving to Indiana seriously.
"We must stand together as Illinoisans to prevent our state from being out of the NFL business altogether. We all must take this very seriously; I said it in the newspaper with a report we did a few weeks ago. Yes, I take Indiana very seriously, everyone should," said Jim Tinaglia, mayor of Arlington Heights.
In the late afternoon Friday, the city of Gary released suggested renderings of a new stadium, and an entire pitch for why they say the Bears should move there.
The Bears lease on Soldier Field ends in 2033, however, they can exit the lease early for a fee.