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One of the largest law firm in Indianapolis has filed as a lobbyist for the Chicago Bears, amid a ramp-up in conversations about moving the team to northwest Indiana.
An application for Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP was completed Wednesday with the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission, indicating the firm will represent CBFC Development LLC, an affiliate company of the NFL franchise.
The filing does not disclose which attorneys or employees of Taft will work on the Bears’ behalf. A representative for Taft did not immediately return a call requesting comment Friday. Indiana Legislative Insight was the first to report the filing.
Disclosure of the registration comes as Indiana lawmakers on Thursday took their first public steps to create legislation to potentially lure the Bears to Lake County.
Having a lobbyist will enable the Bears to work directly with Statehouse leaders on crafting and polishing legislation tied to the team’s interests.
It’s not uncommon for sports teams to enlist lobbyists. In fact most Indianapolis professional sports teams have lobbyists who register ahead of every legislative session in the event relevant bill language is introduced.
Language amended into Senate Bill 27 would create a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority authorized to acquire land, finance capital improvements and enter into leases with private entities–including NFL teams.
The bill marks the Indiana Legislature’s first formal overture to the Bears organization after public comments from lawmakers, local officials and Gov. Mike Braun indicating an appetite for bringing the state a second professional football franchise.
For nearly a month, the team has publicly expressed an interest in leaving Illinois if it can’t work out at a deal in Arlington Heights, where it has acquired property, and has sent representatives to tour potential stadium sites in northwest Indiana. On Friday, Arlington Heights officials made a plea to Illinois lawmakers to pass legislation that would make it easier for the Chicago suburb to strike a deal with the Bears.
The legislation was originally filed as a vehicle bill–essentially a placeholder–when the legislative session kicked off on Dec. 8.
The newly amended SB 27 is authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown.
The Bears have come out in support of the Legislature’s first overture, calling it “a significant milestone” in a potential move to northwest Indiana.
“We appreciate the leadership and responsiveness of Governor Braun and Indiana lawmakers in advancing a framework that allows these conversations to move forward productively.”
IBJ reporter Marek Mazurek contributed to this story.
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