Kevin Warren’s Leverage Play Falls Apart Before It Can Take Hold

Summary

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Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Kevin Warren’s Leverage Play Falls Apart Before It Can Take Hold

Hosts: Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola

Date: June 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola react in real time to breaking news: the Chicago Bears’ board of directors, with Chairman George H. McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren, officially voted to advance a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana. The announcement, however, is riddled with uncertainty; most notably, the Bears do not have a specific site selected. The hosts dissect the announcement, its lack of substance, the ongoing stadium saga, and what this messy leverage play means for the team, its fans, and local politics. The episode captures the hosts' signature mix of analytical precision and fan-driven frustration, exposing how little has actually changed—despite bombastic headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Down the Bears’ Hammond Stadium Announcement

• The board voted to “advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana,” but offers no actual site for the stadium.

  • [02:53] Dan Bernstein: “Where are you building it? Somewhere. We're gonna go build it somewhere.”
  • The language is intentionally vague, filled with big promises but little substance.
  • [04:11] Dan Bernstein: “I thought you had the site... Now you don't have a site. I will believe this when that building is standing.”

• The hosts highlight the absurdity of the announcement:

  • “With the exact site to be selected…” becomes a recurring punchline and symbol of the noncommittal Bears approach.
  • Both hosts question why anyone should believe this is anything more than a PR maneuver.

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2. Ongoing Leverage Play & Political Theater

• The Bears’ moves are interpreted as shifting leverage tactics between Indiana and Illinois.

  • [08:29] Dan Bernstein: “If…Illinois lawmakers could come up with a better deal. They don’t have the money. The Bears don’t have the money.”

• The hosts suggest the Bears are simply playing both sides, hoping to create a bidding war, but lack actual substance or readiness on either front.

• Quote: [12:00] Dan Bernstein:
  “This is conman. Reset the clock, move the goalpost, move the deadlines, change the timetable...This is failing leverage. This is losing. This is just watching the Bears take L after L after L with Kevin Warren leading the way.”

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3. Financial & Logistical Barriers

• The McCaskey family reportedly lacks the liquidity to finance the stadium without either leveraging the franchise as collateral or bringing in new equity partners.
  • [08:58] Dan Bernstein: “They can't do it without using the franchise itself as collateral...the McCaskey family, as currently constructed. They can't afford this project.”
• No actual project site, engineering plans, or environmental studies exist; everything is "back to square one."

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4. Political Response & Fallout

• Illinois lawmakers and Chicago officials react—largely dismissive or angry at the Bears’ tactics.

  • [10:26] Matt Abbatacola: “If I'm a lawmaker here in Illinois…don't ever come back to me again. You have Soldier Field…do not ask for a goddamn thing from this state.”

• Indiana's governor and officials celebrate, but the hosts mock this as premature.

  • [40:42] Matt Abbatacola (on Indiana's governor's statement): “Would you like to rescind your statement?”

• The hosts note how quickly the public narrative falls apart:

  • [21:14] Dan Bernstein (quoting Courtney Cronin): “While I’m being told the Bears announcement on Hammond is, ‘real’...a league source told me the Bears leaving the state is not a done deal.”

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5. Fan Reaction & Frustration

• Social media is awash with confusion and cynicism. The “site to be selected” clause draws ridicule.
  • [17:44] Matt Abbatacola: “What a fucking clown show. Like, what do you, what do you mean, site to be selected?”
• Both hosts emphasize their indifference about the team's location, provided public funds aren't misused.
  • [17:07] Matt Abbatacola: “We don’t care where they play.”
  • [17:14] Dan Bernstein: “Not at all.”

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6. The Endless Cycle: Delays, False Starts, and Zero Progress

• The Bears’ stadium saga is characterized by resets, redirected focus, and no tangible results.
  • [32:03] Dan Bernstein: “You may end up not being able to borrow enough money. Or maybe you’re gonna have to sell a chunk of your franchise...because you haven’t built your business...[and] don’t have the kind of money to be able to do something like this.”
• Timeline predictions are grim; the hosts doubt any new stadium will be ready before their kids graduate high school—or even before they become grandparents.
  • [24:20] Matt Abbatacola: “…Henry just finished seventh grade...I was going to say that he will graduate high school before the Bears play in a new stadium…”
• The narrative’s cycle: focus on Chicago, then Arlington Heights, now Indiana, always without actionable specifics.

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7. Notable Segment: “Don’t Fall for the Okie Doke”

• The repeated plea is for fans, media, and lawmakers to look beyond the headlines and see the lack of substantive progress.
  • [20:47] Dan Bernstein: “Don’t fall for the Okie Doke. Don’t, don’t. Don’t be one of those people. Don’t fall for the Okie Doke. This doesn't change anything. They don't have a site.”
  • [43:41] Dan Bernstein: “And you better believe we will. Have a great weekend. And don’t fall for the Okie doke. That’s all I’ll tell you. This is God. He's in progress. Is stopped.”

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Select Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 02:53 | Dan Bernstein | “Where are you building it? Somewhere. We're gonna go build it somewhere.” | | 08:58 | Dan Bernstein | “They can't do it without using the franchise itself as collateral...the McCaskey family, as currently constructed. They can't afford this project.” | | 12:00 | Dan Bernstein | “This is conman. Reset the clock, move the goalpost...This is failing leverage. This is losing.” | | 17:44 | Matt Abbatacola | “What a fucking clown show. Like, what do you, what do you mean, site to be selected?” | | 20:47 | Dan Bernstein | “Don’t fall for the Okie Doke...This doesn’t change anything. They don’t have a site.” | | 24:20 | Matt Abbatacola | “He will graduate high school before the Bears play in a new stadium.” | | 31:01 | Both | “Nothing’s changed. This is the next step in the con game.” | | 43:41 | Dan Bernstein | “Don’t fall for the Okie doke...Progress is stopped.” |

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 01:55–08:00: Immediate reaction to the Bears' Hammond stadium announcement; focus on the missing site selection.
• 08:00–12:00: Financial limitations and family business barriers to a new stadium build.
• 12:00–16:00: Interplay of Illinois-Indiana politics; hosts urge political leaders to stop negotiating with the Bears.
• 16:06–18:00: Fan and social media skepticism; derision for the “site to be selected” language.
• 18:14–23:39: Hosts diagnose the "con"; compare the process to a shell game and highlight lack of progress.
• 24:20–26:30: Timeline skepticism—long odds of a near-term new stadium; discussion of legislative responses.
• 31:01–35:10: Arlington Heights land holdings; mounting tangible and opportunity costs.
• 35:10–39:42: League approvals, continued bluffs; Governor Braun’s statement parodied.
• 42:04–43:41: Final thoughts; exposes the rapid unraveling of the Bears’ PR play; hosts encourage skepticism.

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Summary

Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola, through candor and irreverence, dismantle the Bears’ much-hyped Hammond stadium announcement. The show exposes the hollow nature of the “commitment” to Indiana, pokes fun at the vague “site to be selected,” and urges fans and lawmakers alike to see the proposal for what it is: another bluff in an endless leverage game with no real progress. The episode is a must-listen for anyone invested in the Chicago Bears' future, urban politics, or the unending comedy of NFL stadium deals.

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Transcript

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[Dan Bernstein]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward progress. Come on.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward Progress A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matabeticola on 312Sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

We give you forward progress on 312Sports. And just as we post DBU, just as we rap, we get the now we get the news that the Bears have come out with an announcer. Their board of directors has voted. Let me read you the statement from Chairman George H. McCaskey and President and CEO Kevin Warren. How he hasn't been fired today, if not days ago, I have no idea. Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met. These are two of the members of the board who put their name on this and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana with the exact site to be selected. Where are you building it? Somewhere. We're gonna go build it somewhere. We believe a world class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Connecting northwest Indiana to the south side of Chicago, through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. I want to read that again. I want to read again, please. We Believe. George and Kevin believe. They say they 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. Maddie, you're, you're in Libertyville. Do you feel connected to Hammond?

[Matt Abeticola]

I do now.

[Dan Bernstein]

You better now with this project. And I knew growing, growing up in Deerfield, we all craved connection to Hammond, Indiana just couldn't wait. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses. You don't have a site.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I know, Dan, it's. Where are you building with that there? But I mean to say with the exact site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

What, how many other sites were there? What do you mean the exact site? I thought you had the site.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right? I mean how many sites within Hammond are available to do this?

[Dan Bernstein]

I thought you had the site.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I thought it was done. I thought they got, they had the area locked down.

[Dan Bernstein]

I thought Roger Goodell had his hard head. They were walking around the swamp. They were walking around the slag heap. They had it picked out. Now you don't have a site. I will believe this. When that building is standing, when they, even after shovels could go in the ground, that's where the, where the, where's the site? So first of all, you're, if you don't know where you're going to build this, how this is how. Why would anybody take this seriously if you don't have a site?

[Matt Abeticola]

So is this, is this just, hey, Indiana is gonna, is willing to give us this. And now like. But the details were never worked out. Were the details ever worked out?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I mean they know it's, it's the basic arrangement but, but they don't have a site.

[Matt Abeticola]

So it's like we have this money, this promise of this money. So we're going to accept all of your money. We're going to build. Now let's figure out where we're going to do it at.

[Dan Bernstein]

So this is their statement to Illinois. And by the way, was this concurrent with a for sale sign on the land in Arlington Height?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, they have to sell that. Right, Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

That should be announced. If this is true. You should announce immediately that your land in Arlington Heights is for sale because I don't know what else you would use it for. A big 350 acre practice facility.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, you're not going to do that. So yeah, you have to, you have to sell that site. And I mean because you're, you're, you're on the, you have to pay 3.4. 3.4 million next year for that property. Yeah, I mean, you want to, you want to, you want to ditch that as quick as possible.

[Dan Bernstein]

You want to keep pissing away money out there, Boy. When I said Kevin Warren led them to the brink and led them up. So this is the next double down move for them. But it's. Nothing's changed until they. They don't have a site. That's the best part of this. Like, we're committing to Hammond. Oh, you're going to build in the site? No, we're committing to the project. They're committing to a stadium development project. What's changed today? They still own the land in Arlington Heights. What's changed? Other than the. Other than Kevin Warren speaking again, what's changed?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I don't know. I just, you know, when I saw the, the, the message come through, I was like, oh, okay. Wow, they really are. I mean, I made a joke on DBU saying, you shouldn't, you know, they should pull the deadline by noon today. Indiana should say either get off the pot.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Matt Abeticola]

This deal's off the table by noon today. I made a joke about it. And then we see this come through at 11:30 this morning. But as I'm reading it, I'm like, wow, they really do. They're really going to move into Indiana. And then I read with the exact site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's part of the project now. They're committing to the project is what they said.

[Matt Abeticola]

But you don't have a place to build it yet, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's like saying we're staying in Chicago. We're staying. That's it. We're staying in Chicago. Where are you going to play? I don't know. There's no, listen, there's no plan. There's no. What's the plan? Committing saying we. We sat. Let's just, let's tell them we all sa that and we voted and we're moving forward and. Because everybody will just eat that up and nobody's going to stop and think that it's going to be. No one's going to take us seriously until we have a plan and a site picked out in Hammond. We already know the actual site they did pick out wasn't fully vetted and now they're starting from scratch, they're going to limit their options, say, well, we like the deal, so. Yeah, to the deal, but we don't know where yet.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's what it comes down to. It's like we, we like all this free Money, Right. We'll take all the free money. That. That's a. That's a better plan than having nothing in Illinois.

[Dan Bernstein]

If somebody could match. If it just so happened that maybe the Illinois lawmakers could come up with a better deal. They don't have the money. They. The Bears don't have the money.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, we already know. But. But damn. But we knew that already and we knew that they said. They said they would have to borrow 2 billion, do that. That's where all the risk for the McCaskey family came, was borrowing that money. Is it possible they couldn't get that money?

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no way. There's no way. No, no. They can't do it without using the franchise itself as collateral. This is, and I mentioned this months ago, that's been standing in the way is their lack of liquidity. And it's worth $10 billion. But you have to collateralize a chunk of that or bring in some other owner that they. The McCaskey family, as currently constructed. They can't afford this project.

[Matt Abeticola]

Right, but they said they would have to borrow that $2 billion.

[Dan Bernstein]

But that's just for the stadium.

[Matt Abeticola]

That's what they were taking on.

[Dan Bernstein]

But now the costs are through the roof and they're going even further. They don't have a plan. They don't have a site. They don't have any drawings. There's been nothing done about, not even thinking about whatever site. Now they're going to go touring sites in Hammond and try to find out and then begin the start of the environmental studies and all that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, well, you know what I do.

[Dan Bernstein]

If it's everything back, they're not going any. If they end up going somewhere, it's going to be years. Years. None of this means anything. It's Kevin Warren, still playing games.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I'll tell you what.

[Dan Bernstein]

If they got to get rid of

[Matt Abeticola]

him, if I'm the governor, if I'm a lawmaker here in Illinois, if I'm someone in charge, a player at the table, I tell the Bears, don't ever come back to me again.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's fine.

[Matt Abeticola]

You have Soldier Field. Your lease expires there in 2033. You can renew that there. But don't ever come to me again and look for any handout of any kind in this state. If you want to build in Arlington Heights, go ahead, go for it. You're not getting any kind of fucking break now of any kind. The opportunity to work together is done. You are a business. You're the business owner. You want to build in Arlington Heights, Great, go for it. But do not ask for a goddamn thing from this state.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that's a great thing about politics. And the people who make those decisions can try to run on that or keep their seats. And look, and let me just say this too. Were they to do that, fine by me as a taxpayer.

[Matt Abeticola]

I love it. Exactly.

[Dan Bernstein]

I love Indiana. Go find.

[Matt Abeticola]

Go.

[Dan Bernstein]

Doesn't affect me. It just doesn't affect me other than having my tax dollars go to better things. So feel free to do that. But it's just the way that people react to this. As if the Bears are packed up, ready to go, set to put it. They don't have a site for this. What am I missing?

[Matt Abeticola]

You're not missing anything. I mean the, the, the statement said it all right there. They're going to find a site. They don't have a site to be selected yet.

[Dan Bernstein]

So now that, now they've decided partnership

[Matt Abeticola]

with, with Indiana, they're taking the money from Indiana. And now the project starts from scratch.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're resetting. This is conman. Reset the clock, move the goalpost, move the deadlines, change the timetable. And as you wait and wait and wait and wait and change your mind, our focus is Arlington Heights. Well, that was only after. Our focus is Chicago. And now it's we. Oh, we voted on it. We had a super secret vote on it. Oh, you better believe we're serious now. Now we're were focused on the Hammond project. Okay, so you're going to build at that site that you picked out. Not necessarily. We could pick out other sites. This is just, it's a classic symptom of the con. We're just. This is failing leverage. This is losing. This is just watching the Bears take L after L after L with Kevin Warren leading the way.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. If I'm the governor, I say, hey, good luck to you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep, he's going to luck.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's a sad day when you. When, when the city of, of of of Chicago and the state of Illinois loses the Chicago Bears to Indiana. But hey, good luck to you. We wish you all the best. You know, it was, it was great trying to get something done with you, but we couldn't do it.

[Dan Bernstein]

So.

[Matt Abeticola]

See you later.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bye.

[Matt Abeticola]

Take care. And don't ever come back and looking and look for anything ever again.

[Dan Bernstein]

Be the pride and joy of a slag heap and toxic waste and human waste. You can be the pride and joy of a smelly corner of a flyover state. Go ahead.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, shovels in the ground before 2025 ends.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. We are so far from shovels in the ground anywhere. And the other thing the bears have to say, unless you say our commitment to Hammond, Indiana is solidified by our placement of the Arlington Heights property on the market. Immediately. Yes, immediately. That that land is for sale. And, and they could do that and just take offers and then pull it off like. But even if you're, if you're continuing this bluff, do, do that. Say we're selling this land and see what you could get for it.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that should have been the next step after this vote was done because

[Dan Bernstein]

as long as you own the land, nothing. This doesn't change anything. You're gonna have a lot of people saying a lot of things. And the fact that they would do this on a Friday when you usually want to unveil bad news. Yeah, like this is. It's. It's a Friday at 11:00am hey, we voted. Well, did, do you vote? Yes. Did George vote? Yes. So is there any. Anybody else who would. No, we've decided. We haven't voted anything else, but we voted and we are, we have. We're telling you that we voted on it. We are telling you that we voted to now focus on our project in Hammond, Indiana.

[Matt Abeticola]

What site? Site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

Site to be selected. There are multiple Hammond, Indiana sites. Do tell. Let's go over them. Let's, let's find out about all of these sites that are a possibility where you can build a stadium and a mixed use entertainment district with the proper roads, infrastructure, egress. That is all okay environmentally for everybody involved. And that's where you want to say you want to plant your flag where nobody lives and it's going to take you forever to get to an airport. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. But make it real. Make it real. Just pick, pick the site and start digging because I will believe you then I promise you I'll believe you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, I'm just going through some of the comments on the the Bears Instagram page. Not a whole lot of positive.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, but they. Because people think they're actually leaving. Come on, man.

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[Dan Bernstein]

this is, this is Kevin Warren doing what he does.

[Matt Abeticola]

Someone posted 8 minutes in 1204 comments and no likes. Now it's got a lot of likes. Well, oh, man.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, because it's become a political football, so. And I think it's better than your state because we don't give money to the poor people.

[Matt Abeticola]

I've said this along, Dan, I, I. And you know, you agree we're on the same page with this. We don't care where they play.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not at all.

[Matt Abeticola]

We don't. And actually, and this isn't about, oh, I hate Indiana and I don't like Indiana politics.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't want.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's got nothing to do with that. I literally don't care. I don't care where they play.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not to mention Illinois south of I 80 is no different from Indiana. Politically correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

So when I.

[Dan Bernstein]

So anything that's, anything that we say insulting some of those folks in Indiana applies, well, to plenty of people in Illinois too.

[Matt Abeticola]

And when I saw it, I was like, wow, I can't, I can't believe they're really going to do it. And then just reading that line with the exact site to be selected, I just thought, what a fucking clown show. Like, what do you, what do you mean, site to be selected? So you're starting. So yes, here's the offer. We're willing to give you billions of dollars. Take our money. Fine, we're going to take the money. Now let's start this project. And you want this clown in charge of that project.

[Dan Bernstein]

You know what this is going to be? You know what this is? And everybody can see right through Kevin Warren, because we know the playbook already and this is for the number of people. And it gets back to that wonderful piece that guy Canuck boy did. Just talking about the various tells of the Khan and it's keep changing your. Look over here. Look over. Oh, wait, you were looking over there, now look over here. And here he is again. The, the sophistry of this. To have, you know, the, our, our focus, our sole focus, the lakefront. Look over here. We're going to talk. Wait, you know what? I changed my mind. This isn't working. Look over here. What are we looking at? Oh, Arlington Heights. Our focus is Arlington Heights. Well, everything got bungled and now we're screwed because we can't afford to build anywhere and we need money and we might have to go to a swamp. We don't want to go to a swamp. That George McCaskey doesn't want his legacy to be moving the bears out of the state into a carcinogenic swamp. So. But I got no Choice. We don't have the money. We can't really build because we haven't really built out our business on the money. So what do we do? Kevin, I got it. Don't worry. Look over here. Now. Now look over here. This is where it's going to be. Look how. Look at this glorious swamp. This beautiful swamp and all the smokestacks. It's gorgeous. Look at. Look at all this. Where are you going to build? I don't know. Somewhere here. Why would you.

[Matt Abeticola]

Not there. Because.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, not here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Exact site hasn't been selected yet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, we. No, it's going to take us. We need time. This is going to. We just read an email on DBU from somebody saying, hey, I'm a season ticket holder at Soldier Field. I don't want the clock to reset on my season tickets. I don't want to pay a new psl. Stay at Soldier Field. If you can't afford to build, stay there. Just. Just be where you are on the lakefront. Play your games. And you know what? I think that's what we're looking at. Just by the timeline alone. And not to mention how many of these politicians are going to change in the house instead of the composition of the Illinois House. It could change around. Maybe there's a governor that doesn't have presidential aspirations. Maybe it's something else. But, man, don't fall for the Okie Doke. Don't fall for the Okie Doke. Don't, don't. Don't be one of those people. Don't fall for the Okie Doke. This doesn't change anything. They don't have a site.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah, that's the craziest part about this whole statement. With the exact site to be selected,

[Dan Bernstein]

are you going to go back to Roger Goodell who toured that site and approved that site?

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. I mean, is there another area within Hammond that they could. They could build on? Okay, here's our very specific in saying Hammond.

[Dan Bernstein]

So our friend Courtney Cronin just posted.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

While I'm being told that the Bears announcement on Hammond is, quote, unquote, real, I. E. Not a leverage play, a league source told me the Bears leaving the state is not a done deal. Per source, Indiana is in the lead right now, but, quote, Illinois can still get back in the race, unquote. Granted, the state has a lot of ground to make up after not passing legislation that would have ensured the Bears property tax certainly. Oh, see, it takes you. How long has it been? About an hour. About an hour that now you're not

[Matt Abeticola]

Even an hour figuring this out.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay, call their bluff. Call it then. Dan. Fine. Go to Indiana. We're sorry that we couldn't give you billions and billions and billions in tax credit. Go to Indiana. Enjoy it. Take care.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is so funny. Like where Shovels and ground. Shovels and ground. I haven't seen shovels. And now they won't even say where the ground is because they don't have a site yet.

[Matt Abeticola]

And.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Dan Weederer has a picture of Biggie Bagel from the Dunkin Donut race.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And it says think of this stadium situation as a Duncan race. Another attention grabbing lead change. But the finish line isn't even on the scoreboard yet.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, so this isn't happening.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm so glad that this happened before we taped forward progress.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm so glad that we could at least get. Just. Come on man.

[Matt Abeticola]

Just add this into the story of this giant clusterfuck.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's perfect to a sight to be determined. How can you now. Now you're gonna spend all your time. Well, all of our vice presidents and all of these billions of dollars and all these people we paid just. Now it is June 5th and now you're deciding to find that you're. The stadium project isn't shovels in the ground. You've redefined what stadium project is. You notice that these are just. These. This is a con. This is how it looks. So now stadium project means we gotta find a place to put this thing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yep. Exact site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exact site to be selected. Over here.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Too stinky over here. I don't know. Too cancery?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't hear.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe over there.

[Matt Abeticola]

Are there any roads?

[Dan Bernstein]

No. How's the environmentals? Have we done soil sampling? No, not really. Done water table testing? No, no any of that yet. Okay. Okay. This is not like I might be. It is possible. Let me ask you this. Is it possible that I could be a grandparent before the Bears play a game in a new stadium?

[Matt Abeticola]

It was funny. I was just going to say so. Henry just finished seventh grade so he'll be going into eighth grade in the fall. So he's an eighth grader now. I was going to say that he will graduate high school before the Bears play in a new stadium. Because their. Their lease is up in Soldier Field 2033. And he's the class of what, 2031.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is that right?

[Matt Abeticola]

My math. So he'll be out of high school before the Bears play at another stadium.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here is House speaker Emmanuel Chris Welch. In April, the House passed an economic development package that was the product of extensive negotiation with the Bears and other stakeholders. That bipartisan legislation reflected our belief that we can incentivize statewide development and provide property tax relief for working people. While Indiana is willing to raise taxes and promise $1 billion in taxpayer funds, Illinois is focused on the needs of working families who want relief at the gas pump, at the store, and on their insurance bills, not taxpayer funded stadiums. Illinois remains open to ongoing efforts to secure the Bears in Illinois. However, it will take time to get it right. And Brendan Moore of Capital News just said this feels like February all over again. Yes, that's what it is, because this is what the con is. Keep resetting the clock. Keep moving your eyes here, moving your eyes there. They don't have a plan. They don't have engineering designs in a plan.

[Matt Abeticola]

They don't have a place that's.

[Dan Bernstein]

They don't have a. They don't have a place, they don't have a plan. They don't have blueprints. They don't have any place to put. They don't even know where they would begin to put a shovel.

[Matt Abeticola]

And again, this is Bears reporter Courtney Cronin, which you read. While I'm being told that the Bears announcement on Hammond is real, and that's in quotes. Real, I. E. Not a leverage play, a leak source told me that the Bears leaving the state is not a done deal.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, no, of course not. Of course not. Wow.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay. Hey, can I read you something else that I think you'd enjoy?

[Dan Bernstein]

Sure.

[Matt Abeticola]

This is from one of our guys in the NFL, Kevin o'.

[Dan Bernstein]

Connell.

[Matt Abeticola]

He was talking about the quarterback room. We have more from Kevin about the quarterback competition.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

I want players who are smart, tough guys that love football, guys who I don't even want to say are great teammates that need to attempt to be a great teammate. You need to repeat that time and time again because that process never stops. But it also doesn't mean that everybody has to be smiling every day when they speak to reporters. I want them to be open. I want them to be honest, because I think it's all part of having a transparent quarterback competition that allows these guys to truly demonstrate that they can consistently be the same guy every day and stack really good days. And when they do that, the team grows. And that's what I ultimately care about. That position of being an igniter for our team to what our ceiling may be for this year.

[Dan Bernstein]

What.

[Matt Abeticola]

What actually matters is what I care about. Did we take the right footwork On a play, did we have our eyes in the right spot? Did we make a protection call against one of our defenses and the blitz looks. Did we do our jobs to manufacture the starting point and potential path to success for this offense? And there's enough that goes into that that I don't have a ton of space left over for who says what and how they say it. I mean, it's all a reflection of how people handle competitive situations, and we're all going to handle them differently. What I care about is when they step between the white lines, that there's growth and development, and that is really is a competition.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is he okay?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't think so.

[Dan Bernstein]

Has he been sleeping?

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't think so, Dan.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't think he's been sleeping.

[Matt Abeticola]

I mean, there's a few things I'm going to keep checking on. This is one of them your guy haircut guy under the bridge? Another?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, but he doesn't sound well.

[Matt Abeticola]

I don't know what he said. Again, I've read this a few times. No, I don't know what he said.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I think when you got Kyler Gordon. Not Keller Gordon. Kyler Murray.

[Matt Abeticola]

Murray? Yes. He's your starter.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

This is not an open competition.

[Dan Bernstein]

No.

[Matt Abeticola]

You.

[Dan Bernstein]

You signed him to be the starter. Make him the starter and tell J.J. mcCarthy to shut up.

[Matt Abeticola]

Like, if Kyler. Unless Kyler Murray's arm falls off, he's the starting quarterback.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's not there to back up.

[Matt Abeticola]

Correct. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not.

[Matt Abeticola]

We have a competition, but we have

[Dan Bernstein]

a statement from the mayor of Chicago.

[Matt Abeticola]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Over the last several years, the Bears have stated their intentions in multiple jurisdictions. Today's announcement is not surprising. It is also not surprising that Bears officials have stated this vote does not mean a move to Hammond is a done deal without a final site selection. Until we see shovels in the ground in Hammond, the city will continue to engage in discussions grounded in the interests of our residents.

[Matt Abeticola]

This is something, man.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is. This is great. This is just great. It always. You get the initial blush of the headline where they call Adam Schefter and they call their people, hey, look, this is going to be.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hey, publish this.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you can always tell. You can always tell. Like, make sure you see who's getting what and who's saying what and notice to whom they're reaching out. When the Bears reach out to get their favorable spin on this. And then because they know who actually can look at these announcements at multiple angles and they know who doesn't want to or can't so they all always know that. They know who's going to put a headline on it that benefits them, but just scrutinize it. Take a deep breath and scrutinize it for two seconds and then you say, oh, oh. So you don't really have a place to build. You're not really committing to anything. So what's changed? You still own all that land in Arlington Heights. What's actually changed?

[Matt Abeticola]

Nothing's changed.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nothing.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nothing has changed. This is the next step in the con game.

[Dan Bernstein]

It doesn't. Don't people see through it? Don't people see through this?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, I think the right people do.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're moving forward with this project focused on Indiana now, but they don't have a place to build. It's June of 2026. Kevin Warren was hired three and a half years ago. He just reset the clock again

[Matt Abeticola]

after you bought land in Arlington Heights that George Hallis talked about since 1975. You bought that land five years ago

[Dan Bernstein]

and here you are and you bought that land five years ago and you reset the clock again and you've been

[Matt Abeticola]

paying money on that land.

[Dan Bernstein]

And one of the biggest problems over that time may be that the costs of doing this drive up and the costs of borrowing everything, all of the costs, building materials through the roof, you've made the thing. It may be a self fulfilling prophecy that by dicking around as long as you have to get a deal that's so perfectly aligned for you that you may end up not being able to borrow enough money. Or maybe you're gonna have to sell a chunk of your franchise to somebody who can come in like a white knight and bail you out because you haven't built your business, you don't have the kind of money to be able to do something like this.

[Matt Abeticola]

You know, if you do have a project though, Dan, and you have a site for that project and you want it done, I would suggest you call Russ Armstrong and our friends at Chicago window guys at 873-029-171 because they'll get stuff done. That's what's important. If you need new windows in your home, give our guy Russ a call. 847-302-9171.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's the opposite of what the Bears are doing. Everything about my interactions with Russ has been, sure, when, when, when can I come over? Okay, look at this. You want this? You want this? You want this? What's this going to cost? Oh, okay. When, when can you start it? Well, I own the factory. We can start building the windows. I'll go make them and I'll give you a call as soon as they're ready. Okay, great. And they're like, they're ready. Can we put them in? Yes. Okay. How are the windows? Awesome. Thanks.

[Matt Abeticola]

Done that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Done. That's your experience with Chicago window guys. 847-302-9171. So wait. Wait for the first wave of headlines to. To crest to roll up the beach and recede, because that's what's already happening. And then wait for people to look at this and say, hold on a second. Let's. Let's look at what this is and what it isn't. Yeah, we're focused. They were focused here, and now they're focused.

[Matt Abeticola]

Another site to be selected. That's all you need, Dan. Site to be selected. That's it. That's all you can pull away from that statement? That's all you need to know. Site to be selected. What? I. I thought you had a site. What do you. What do you mean? Site to be selected?

[Dan Bernstein]

Huh?

[Matt Abeticola]

So is that what this vote was? The vote was we're going to put out a dumb statement that doesn't mean anything.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ah, here.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yay. Yay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Pat Ryan. Nay. I'm done with stupid stuff

[Dan Bernstein]

that is. Okay. There's Brad Biggs. At the NFL level, Indiana is clearly in the lead for a Bears stadium league. Approval would still need to come from stadium and finance committees, as well as a full vote. While Arlington Heights isn't dead, Illinois needs to pull together quickly to present a plan to consider. I don't really think they do.

[Matt Abeticola]

No, they don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

They.

[Matt Abeticola]

They don't. They don't need to do anything.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I don't think Illinois is for. I don't think this forces them to do anything quickly. Correct.

[Matt Abeticola]

And I want to. I want to be part of that meeting when they bring it to the stadium committee for a vote. Where are you guys voting? I mean, where are you building?

[Dan Bernstein]

Indiana somewhere.

[Matt Abeticola]

Where in Indiana somewhere?

[Dan Bernstein]

Good.

[Matt Abeticola]

And then Roger Goodell's like, well, I thought you had the site in Hammond. We don't know. We're hoping Illinois comes back with something for us. But don't call their bluff and say, good luck. Help pack their bags.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is great.

[Matt Abeticola]

Send a big moving truck.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is great.

[Matt Abeticola]

Hellas Hall. And say, we'll help you.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's a tweet here from Paris. Shuts of NBC from a key Illinois lawmaker after receiving a call from Kevin Warren this morning. He also says he looks forward to continuing discussions with me.

[Matt Abeticola]

Kevin Warren Said that to the lawmaker.

[Dan Bernstein]

Illinois lawmaker. We didn't name him from a key Illinois lawmaker. He also says he looks forward to continuing discussions with me.

[Matt Abeticola]

So the Illinois lawmaker gets a call

[Dan Bernstein]

from Kevin Warren today.

[Matt Abeticola]

Kevin lawmaker or the Illinois lawmaker calls Paris shuts.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Matt Abeticola]

And says, I talked to Kevin Warren, and Kevin Warren told me he looks forward to continuing our conversation.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. He's so bad at this. How does he think that's not going to get out?

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, well, whatever site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good luck.

[Matt Abeticola]

Good luck in Indiana. That's all I'm gonna say.

[Dan Bernstein]

He does this whole thing, and then he literally got a war and picks up the phone. Hey, I really. I'm looking forward to working with you. Continuing. Hey, anything moving the attic? Not really. Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. This is so funny. Like, who's. Who does he think is falling for this? Yeah.

[Matt Abeticola]

Nobody. Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I have the special plan now. And he went back into McCaskey. Okay.

[Matt Abeticola]

Yeah. So he called an Illinois to keep talking and, like, he thought that. That Illinois lawmaker would just keep that to himself.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right. Don't tell anybody I called you. This is 52 seconds ago. This tweet from Paris shuts.

[Matt Abeticola]

And so within. Within the last 40 minutes, that Illinois lawmaker reaches out to a reporter.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, Kevin Warren just called me.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, hey, listen, if you want to believe it, go ahead and believe. Believe it. That's fine. You have your own choice, your own brain as a. As a person to make. Make your. If you. If you. If you think the Bears are moving to Indiana based on that statement they released today. Well, Kevin's got a bridge to sell you as well. I was gonna call. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And. And he does when it comes to the. The selling of bridges right here. Oh, he'll take advantage of all of that.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's. It's already coming through on social media. Matt, I thought you. I thought they were. They were staying in Illinois. You want to believe it, Go ahead and believe it. They're. They're not going to Hammond, Indiana.

[Dan Bernstein]

If I. What this statement says, if I were you. Take bets on that.

[Matt Abeticola]

Make.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I'd make a market in that. If I were you. Oh, well, I am. That is so funny. That is. It didn't take an hour before it was already exposed that Kevin Warren got a call or Kevin Warren called a key Illinois lawmaker and told him he looks forward to continuing discussions with him.

[Matt Abeticola]

Why.

[Dan Bernstein]

Why do you. Why do you feel you can. You want to continue. Look forward. Why would you look forward to continuing discussions with An Illinois lawmaker. If you just put out that. Your name on that, right?

[Matt Abeticola]

If you're. If you're moving to Indiana and you're going to select a site to build on, you don't need to talk to me. We don't need any more conversations. And I'll tell you what. Now, whatever. Whatever Illinois was doing, it's a lot less now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay? So you want to.

[Matt Abeticola]

You want to build in Arlington Heights. It's that you're going to get a lot less help from this state.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, the governor, Mike Braun Hoosiers. Help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state. We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the 85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before. Thank you to Speaker Houston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment to making this move a reality. Welcome to Indiana, Governor. Oh, Governor, we just found out that Kevin Warren just called an Illinois lawmaker to tell him he looks forward to continuing to work with him. Would you like to rescind your statement?

[Matt Abeticola]

Then he had to invoke the name of the 85 Bears defense, too. Come on, Ring. They said it's the 85 Bears. I like this. Indiana.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Even Indiana's hurting 85. But nobody gets a. About the 85 Bears except people like me. And nobody cares about me. Trust me, this is. By the time that thing gets built, there aren't going to be many 85 bears left.

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, it'll be.

[Dan Bernstein]

It'll be just like, you know, Gary Fencik showing up to hit a button that makes the giant Bears roar to get people excited.

[Matt Abeticola]

When was this released? This statement came out. It says 33 minutes ago.

[Dan Bernstein]

Go. So did he. They didn't. That leverage didn't last an hour.

[Matt Abeticola]

An hour exposed within an hour.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's just not. It's not. Not that difficult to make phone calls. Maybe Kevin could have waited a little longer before he was trying to reassure all the Illinois lawmakers that he so desperately needs. He didn't even wait an hour before calling them. He called them. That's the other thing. It's not like.

[Matt Abeticola]

And.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow. I also. I'm just gonna say this. I. I know. Which. Let me just. Let me just say, as far as key lawmaker goes, it's. It's more than a key lawmaker. It's somebody essential and. And critical to the process that he called. Oh, boy. It wasn't.

[Matt Abeticola]

It's not the governor, I hope. All right, well, enjoy Indiana. That's all I'm gonna say. No fair season ticket holders.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just.

[Matt Abeticola]

Again, enjoy Hammond.

[Dan Bernstein]

Again. No, no. Just. Where is. Where is the site? Where are they going? Why are you going there When. Where. Where are the plans? Where are you building?

[Matt Abeticola]

Well, that's too many questions. It's too many. The only question is where site to be selected.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's a big one. The place of where you're going to build it. That's. I think that's a big, big one. Oh, we know we're going to Hammond, Indiana. Damn it. We love it.

[Matt Abeticola]

We.

[Dan Bernstein]

That aisle is there, but not at the moment. But that's why we're going dynamite.

[Matt Abeticola]

All right, well,

[Dan Bernstein]

stadium ticket.

[Matt Abeticola]

We'll stay on top of this.

[Dan Bernstein]

And you better believe we will. Have a great weekend. And don't fall for the Okie doke. That's all I'll tell you. This is God. He's in progress. Is stopped.

[Matt Abeticola]

Forward progress. A Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 312 Sports.