>> The battle for the Bears may be headed to the 4th quarter as the team looks to move on from its home at Soldier Field, a suitor has emerged across the state line.

Hammond, Indiana, the team spokesperson reportedly said that Hammond is the site.

The Bears are focused on after the Indiana General Assembly created a new stadium authority that could help finance construction.

Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers are trying to keep pace and are considering a so-called mega project bill that could help the Bears relocate to Arlington Heights.

Joining us to discuss where the Bears could end up is Thomas McDermott junior, the mayor of Hammond, Indiana.

Mayor McDermott, thank you for being with us.

My neck.

I don't doing very well.

So if you would, can you give us an update on on talks with the Bears?

What's the last you've heard about a possible move to your city?

>> Well, I mean, obviously, I want to thank Governor Braun and the Indiana legislature for expediting bill to fund the Bear Stadium.

I think Indiana's for to the Bears is very generous.

I think it's given the Bears a lot to think about.

Obviously any decision made by the Bears to leave.

Illinois is a big deal to them and I think they want to proceed cautiously.

But I think in the end he's got a great offer on the table that feel really good about our chances.

>> Okay.

So, you know, we mentioned and you did as well as state lawmakers passed that bill creating northwest Indiana Stadium Authority.

What all does that authority have the power to do?

>> It has the power to around the stadium to acquire property to set rates.

You know, tell book acts once it's up and running.

But I mean, it's a similar to what Indiana created when they created Lucas Oil Stadium for the Colts in Indianapolis State.

Literally model that legislation.

And the legislation has been very effective in financing Lucas oil field and, you and running it afterwards.

But it's an opportunity for the Bears to be in control of their own destiny and they get revenue 365 days a year and said it just home games like they get currently.

>> So, you know, lawmakers here in Illinois are considering their own legislation to allow so-called mega projects of hundreds of millions of dollars to basically negotiate a payment in lieu of property taxes.

If bill were to pass, are you still confident that Hammond has a competitive offer?

>> I know we have a competitive offer.

I mean, the thing is are the bears comfortable making a move similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs just did and Missouri and leave in Missouri and going to Kansas and playing their own games or I mean, that's something on McCaskey family.

And Kevin were cancer.

All I know is Indiana's done a great job of putting a great on the table.

We have a superior business climate due respect, Illinois.

I mean, there's a 40 year deal.

We're talking about it even if Illinois can even mats what Indiana put up to near 0, which is where where, where we are right now and years one through.

48, the Bears would be far better off doing business in Indiana as opposed Illinois.

>> And folks have raised as well.

The question of sort of return on investment for Indiana taxpayers.

Are you confident that this would be a good deal for them as well to to move forward with some of this public funding.

>> You know, I've heard a lot of this ad and I think it really depends on the perspective you're looking at opportunities from, you know, downtown Chicago.

You have a lot of the amenities that we strive for here in northwest Indiana.

You know, I know you have a lot of hotels.

You have the district restaurants, you know, so losing the Bears.

Wow it with that.

Really take away from the quality of life for a Chicago resident.

Yeah, I'm sure would to a certain extent.

But I can tell you here in Northwest Indiana, we don't have a lot of those quality of life things that we just talked about it.

And I think you know what, the bears relocating their stadium air.

You would see an entire development similar to what you see in downtown Chicago right here in Hammond.

So I think it would be a real positive for for And I can understand if you're in downtown New York, maybe it doesn't have the same impact or downtown Chicago.

But I think for him and it's going to be a big, big economic boom boom for us.

>> Yeah, that's one of the things I wanted to ask you about.

I mean, what do you Bears moved to Hammond would do for your city?

>> I think it would change the northern part of our city.

It would look a lot more like Chicago getting the type of attractions you see in downtown Chicago.

I know the Bears are under a state I've called it.

Bears, and don't know what ultimately be named, but it would be an entire area dedicated to the Bears.

Certainly like what we see when we go to Wrigley Field and what the Ricketts family did around Wrigley Field is, you know, when you go to a Cubs game and we stay the night, the hotel close to the field and you go to restaurants, Ricketts families get all that money.

I think that's something that the Bears are interested in as well.

Instead of being tenants in Soldier Field, they want the hotels.

They want the restaurants.

They want everything around there and were given them that opportunity.

And Hammond.

>> Now, of course, the Bears haven't made any firm commitments.

Team staff has still been a meeting with Governor Pritzker here and members of his staff do have any concern that those talks with Illinois are ongoing.

>> I obviously we want this really bad.

I'm I'm doing my best to try to ignore everything and to try to just a positive and think about all the great advantages, the bears with that.

But yeah, obviously we spent a lot of time on this deal and I want to happen and I know that.

Let's be honest.

I'm a Bears fan.

Nobody wants to see him leave Chicago.

But if the Bears or leave in Soldier Field, I think wisest move would be coming 20 miles away from the Hammond, Indiana.

I really think that's a lot better than Arlington.

It personally.

It's a lot better business deal for the Bears.

But I think everybody every Bears fan would tell you, just like I'm gonna tell, you know, we want to see him since those stay in Soldier Field.

But I don't think that's going to happen.

So what's the next best thing?

In my opinion?

With like in Hammond?

>> Yeah.

Well, how about that?

A potential site near Wolf Lake.

Tell us about it.

You know what, what could the timeline like for development, that sort of infrastructure that might be needed there?

>> I know there's massive amount research that needs to be done.

I last I heard it's well over 500 million dollars worth of infrastructure.

The state of Indiana is pledging to that area.

It's going to be right around 300 acres controllable by the Bears this new authority, state setting up.

It's beautiful part of our city.

I host concerts there every summer and we have 100,000 people come through a park there.

We've just book to re-enact Jelly Roll's plan that park.

So this is an area that northwest Indiana in Chicago's already used to go into.

This is the same general area where the Bears a look and they would be lucky to have that area would gorgeous and beautiful.

You can see the Chicago skyline over Wolf Lake.

It's just a beautiful place to be, especially in the summer spring in the So >> what we've got just about 30 seconds left.

But before I let you go, you know, you mentioned lots of Bears.

Fans would like to see the team stay in Soldier Field or stay in Illinois.

What would you say to fans who may be skeptical about a Bears moved to Indiana?

>> I get But I think if you're on the South side, Chicago even in downtown Chicago, if the Bears moved am and I think they're a lot closer to year, then they would be if they moved Arlen tonight, sir.

So the you know, so regardless, if you're going to move the Bears, the of the to the North are live tonight to south to him.

And how are the majority of Bears fans going to fail?

I actually feel like the south side of Chicago Guard listen much better as far as the bears demographic is concerned.

I feel like we're bears fans down there.

Other respect to the northern suburbs.

I think this is more blue collar, theres types atmosphere.

And I think northwest Indiana, be great for everybody personally.

>> All right.

Well, if there