The Chicago Bears’ move to Indiana appears to be edging ever closer to becoming definitive. The second-oldest NFL franchise is on the verge of moving out the iconic Soldier Field in Illinois and across state lines where they plan to build a $5 billion domed stadium and mixed-use development. The Bears want to move from historic Soldier Field to a stadium in the suburbsGettyNow, the deal is “in the red zone,” according to state Gov. Mike Braun. “I’ve done so much real estate in my career. Until you ink it, it’s not done,” Braun said at a Valparaiso University event. “But it’s moved a long distance in a short period of time because it moved hardly at all for five and a half years [in Illinois].“The Bears is a function of due diligence to get where we need to be to close it.”Reports emerged on Monday that three potential sites in the state are being evaluated via geotechnical surveys around the lake that straddles the Indiana-Illinois state line.The work includes taking soil samples, which some have argued is a strong signal of intent to migrate to the state, though the Bears are still yet to formally announce a final decision on their relocation. However, the Bears brass did formally vote last month to pursue the Hammond project on the Wolf Lake site after plans to build in their preferred choice of Arlington Heights appeared to fall through, despite ‘exhausting every opportunity‘.“One of the things that struck the Bears the most about this whole ordeal is the fact that a Republican governor and a Democratic mayor can work hand in hand and get a job done in a bipartisan manner,” Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., who was also in attendance at the Valparaiso event, said. Ultimately, Illinois lawmakers couldn’t come together and assemble an offer that was as remotely attractive as Indiana’s before they ended their Legislature session on May 31. “They started that journey [Arlington Heights] six years ago, got 5.5 years into it, and there was no response” from Illinois,” Braun said.The Bears initially had plans to build a stadium in Arlington Heights that would have kept them in IllinoisChicago Bears / ManicaThe Bears are expected to relocate to Hammond, across state linesGettyBears’ head turned by low-tax environment’McDermott Jr. ultimately feels that the Bears have made up their mind to make the switch to Indiana, like many other Illinois businesses have, due to their their low-tax, business-friendly environment.“I’m there on the border, so I’ve seen companies literally move across the street” to save tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes,” he explained. “I think we all need to recognize that gap exists and close these deals.”This is a view which is shared by Family Express President and CEO Gus Olympidis, who resides in Valparaiso. “I see the Bears story as symbolic of what we’ve been experiencing for a very long time, the exodus of Illinois businesses to Northwest Indiana,” he said. Olympidis acknowledges that Mayors alone can’t secure deals of this magnitude, though he does credit Braun for his efforts thus far.Soldier Field has been home to the team for decadesGettyIndiana has been working hard to bring the Chicago Bears to HammondGetty“I’m excited by the Bears. I think we’re almost there, but we’re not there yet,” he said. “It is always a little risky to overplay something before it happens because if it doesn’t happen, you have some explaining to do.”Bears have made Hammond ‘cool’According to McDermott, though, the fact that an NFL team as big as the Bears have been linked to Hammond in the first place has already paid huge dividends. “Hammond has become cool,” he said. “Different types of economic development opportunities are presenting themselves because of the Bears publicity.”Heather Ennis, CEO and President of Northwest Indiana Forum also stated that just being considered as a potential site has brought attention that gives them “pride and swagger”“We get to be choosy now. We’re going to probably say no to some investment now because we can as economic development folks here find higher and better uses for properties,” she said. For Braun, it’s all about the end goal serving both parties, and said, “If we play our cards right, it will be a win-win.”Stay up to date on all things NFL across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.