It appears that the wind is blowing out.

Those gusts are always a topic of discussion in the Windy City, but it’s typically for the baseball teams this time of year. This time, the wind blowing out is a sign of the Chicago Bears’ imminent departure from the city as they move towards building a new home in a different zip code.

Bears team president Kevin Warren provided an update on the stadium search on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Warren told reporters that the team’s “sole focus” is on moving to Hammond, Indiana, at this point. He said the team has held occasional meetings with the state of Illinois, but the focus on Indiana hasn’t changed.

Warren added that representatives from Indiana, including the governor, have been “stellar to work with” and “phenomenal partners.”

The due diligence has been completed at the Lost Marsh site in Hammond and is viable for a stadium, he said. During that process, the Bears found the Wolf Lake site that is now undergoing due diligence as well for potential viability.

Timeline for new Chicago Bears stadium

Warren wouldn’t rule out Illinois, but said the team has no offer from the state and the team’s focus is now on Indiana.

“I think the biggest thing, for our fans, is we have to get this right,” Warren said. “This is a 40-to-50 year decision. And we have to pull all these things together. I’m looking forward to bringing it to close from a legislative standpoint so we can get on to the construction.”

Warren noted the rising cost of construction as a factor in trying to get a deal done for a stadium.

The message comes on the heels of a June statement from the Bears that initially noted the team’s desire to pursue the project across the border in Indiana.

“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,” Bears chairman George H. McCaskey and team president and Warren said in a June statement. “It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

Why the Bears are leaving Soldier Field

The Bears’ days at Soldier Field had long been numbered, even if there was some uncertainty surrounding the next location.

A search that began in 2021, team officials floated multiple options to build a new home. That included the thought of a move to Arlington Heights, keeping the Bears in Illinois and moving just 30 miles northwest of the existing site. However, this offseason presented a new option – Hammond. An idea that wasn’t taken seriously at first quickly became a realistic possibility for a variety of reasons.

Indiana was not only willing to provide financial assistance in the process, but it also came without the political challenges in Illinois.

While various locations have been rumored, only one thing remained certain – the Bears weren’t going to be playing in Chicago anymore, a city they called home since 1921.

The Bears expressed that stance in a public statement on May 21.

“The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal,” the team said. “There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”

Now it appears that site is down to one – Hammond.

Are the Bears leaving Chicago?

The Bears are likely leaving Chicago, barring something unforeseen.

Arlington Heights and Hammond have been the two sites most connected to the Bears for some time as Chicago faded from the list of possibilities.

Even if Illinois comes forward with a plan that is attractive to the Bears, it seems likely that deal would still take the team out of Chicago’s borders.

Will the Bears change their name?

Bears chairman George H. McCaskey shut down the idea of the team’s name changing, regardless of where they end up.

“We will be the Chicago Bears whether we are in Arlington or whether we’re Hammond,” McCaskey said. “As Kevin [Warren] said, our focus is on Hammond. That’s where we’re advancing our efforts and that’s where our time, attention and resources are being devoted.”

What did George McCaskey say about the Bears stadium situation?

Even though the situation has been a source of stress and anxiety for the fans, McCaskey is confident that they will be able to adjust.

“We feel that anxiety, we feel that stress,” McCaskey said. “It’s going to require an adjustment. But when I’ve driven that route, other than a sign telling me so, I wouldn’t know that I just crossed the state border.

“Once people see the building, once they get in there, once they understand that our top priority from Day 1 was a world class stadium experience, we think we’ll make that adjustment. We think Bears fans are up for that.”

McCaskey noted that the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, visited the Lost Marsh site. He believes the league will eventually become comfortable with the idea of the Bears moving to Hammond – likening it to the Chiefs’ upcoming move across the border to Kansas.

While McCaskey wouldn’t say whether he hopes Illinois presents a plan to prevent the move, he did say that the rising costs to build a stadium a real concern as the situation drags on.

Perhaps one of the most important elements to the new stadium project, regardless of location, is the loss of just that – the elements.

The loss of outdoor games, McCaskey believes, will be offset by the ability to host other big events. Those big events includes the likes of the Super Bowl, College Football Playoff, World Cup and more.

This story will be updated.