The Chicago Bears are generating headlines for potentially moving to Indiana, but they are far from the first NFL team to talk about leaving a big city or even crossing a state line.
Even the Bears themselves haven’t always played in Chicago. They started off in Decatur and were known as the Staleys when they were founded, and eventually they moved to Chicago after they were purchased by George Halas.
Naturally the team is not the only club to relocate, a process that has been fairly commonplace in the NFL throughout its history. Stadium consultant Marc Ganis said sometimes a lack of available land in the city means a move to the suburbs. Other times, teams want domed stadiums where they can host Super Bowls and NCAA Final Fours. There are also political and financial reasons.
While there was some quiet on the relocation front for several years, teams have begun pursuing new stadium options in recent years. The Los Angeles Chargers left San Diego and the Los Angeles Rams left St. Louis in the 2010s and partnered on a new stadium in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood. The Las Vegas Raiders moved from Oakland to Sin City, but even they don’t technically play in Las Vegas, as their mailing address is in Paradise.
Teams also can carry their current name even after crossing state lines. The Chiefs dealt a massive blow to Missouri when they announced they’ll move to Kansas in 2031. They’re following the lead of the New York Giants and Jets, both of whom crossed the state line into New Jersey when they partnered on a new stadium in the 1970s.
Could the Bears soon join those other teams moving across state borders? Ganis sure thinks so.
“If there’s no change in circumstance in the near term, the Bears are going to Hammond,” he said.
Other teams have stayed in the state but moved to different cities. The Dallas Cowboys technically play in Arlington after spending years playing in Irving, Texas. The San Francisco 49ers play in Santa Clara, California, having moved from San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.
In all, NBC Chicago counted 10 teams that carry a city name that isn’t where they currently play.
Four others also carry the state or region name instead of a city name. The Arizona Cardinals were known as the Phoenix Cardinals after they moved from St. Louis, but even that wasn’t technically accurate, as they played their games in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe.
The Carolina Panthers (Charlotte) and Tennessee Titans (Nashville) also carry state names, and the New England Patriots are named after an entire region.
In addition to the Chiefs, the Cleveland Browns are the latest team to move from their namesake city, leaving downtown Cleveland and building a suburban stadium that is expected to open in coming years.
Ganis acknowledged the initial shock for the fans. However, from a financial standpoint, the teams have to decide it’s a good move otherwise they wouldn’t do it.
“Typically, when a team builds a new stadium, that stadium has got waiting lists and PSLs have been sold. Because the fans are getting so much more in a new stadium. They’re getting better bathrooms and concourses and scoreboards and lighting and sound systems and concessions,” Ganis said.
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