The Chicago Bears’ plan to relocate to Northwest Indiana just doesn’t sit right with Delores Davis and Gwen Williams, both lifelong North Siders.
“How’s that going to sound? Indiana Bears… it doesn’t sound right,” said Williams, 72.
“No, no, hell to the no, I’m done,” said Davis, 67.
“Chicago needs to keep Chicago in Chicago. That’s what makes Chicago,” Davis said. “They want to go to the suburbs, but we don’t want that. We want them right in Chicago so we can get over there and see them.”
The Bears announced Friday that the team’s board of directors voted a day earlier to advance their plans to build a stadium in Hammond, Indiana.
Bears fans who gathered Friday around the football team’s original Chicago home — Wrigley Field — had mixed feelings about the potential move. Those who live in Chicago fumed, while fans from Indiana celebrated the team’s announcement.
Terrance Weems, 53, from Gary, Indiana, went to Friday’s Cubs game with a group of friends, all of whom live in Indiana and are “very happy.” The Bears announcement was the hot topic on their bus ride to the game.
“I think the thing that people are misunderstanding is feeling that Chicago is gonna be losing something. It’s not about the loss. Northwest Indiana has been part of Chicago forever,” Weems said. “Nothing’s changing as far as how Northwest Indiana and Chicago relate.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.