Welcome again to a different season of Chicago Bears soccer at Soldier Field.
No, there’s no dome but (however right here’s what that will seem like). And no, we don’t understand how lengthy the group shall be taking part in by Lake Michigan (extra on that right here). But we do know that there’s a brand new head coach, new basic supervisor … and new expectations for quarterback Justin Fields.
Here’s what to know should you’re going to a Bears dwelling recreation this season.
Planning your journey
What’s the schedule?
There are 17 regular-season video games this season — with 9 at dwelling. Here are season predictions from our Bears writers.
What’s the ticket coverage?
Only cell tickets will get you into Soldier Field. Purchasers can handle their tickets on their cell gadget or on-line, together with the flexibility to share tickets or submit tickets for resale. Here’s how to do this.
We advocate including your ticket to your telephone’s digital pockets earlier than heading out (in case of weak indicators or gradual Wi-Fi on web site). Screenshots of tickets will not be legitimate for entry.
If you’re new to Soldier Field, right here’s a seating chart — and the way the sphere seems from that view.
Game instances might shift beginning in Week 5, thanks for versatile scheduling by the NFL (and for TV causes). So test these tickets. If a recreation is canceled and never replayed due to COVID-19, tickets bought by means of Ticketmaster will routinely obtain a full refund.
What time do the gates open?
Gates open two hours earlier than kickoff (in order that’s 10 a.m. for midday begins). With elevated screening and steel detectors in any respect video games, arriving early is strongly inspired.
What’s the bag coverage — and what’s prohibited?
One bag per particular person is allowed, however … that bag have to be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches. If you don’t have a bag that matches that requirement, a one-gallon resealable clear freezer bag or clutch purse no bigger than 4½ by 6½ inches is appropriate. Medical luggage are allowed as properly.
<u>Leave this stuff at dwelling</u>
- Weapons/firearms
- Aerosol cans (mace, pepper spray, hair spray, and many others.)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Seat cushions with zippered covers, pockets or flaps
- Balloons and seaside balls
- Cameras with lenses that exceed 6 inches when totally prolonged
- Cans, bottles or different beverage containers (together with sealed plastic water bottles)
- Clothing or signage with offensive or vulgar language or that blocks followers’ view
- Confetti
- Fireworks or smoke bombs
- Illegal medicine
- Laser pens and pointers
- Noise-making gadgets (horns, whistles, and many others.)
- Poles of any form, together with selfie-sticks
- Strollers
- Umbrellas
- Video or film cameras
- Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vaping, utilizing smokeless or e-cigarettes and chewing smokeless tobacco
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Any coolers and ice chests (together with soft-sided)
Anything else new to find out about?
Aside from the brand new Bermuda grass, every little thing inside Soldier Field shall be cash-free. So meaning credit score, debit or pay as you go card or cell fee is what you’ll want for concessions, retail gear and roving meals and beverage distributors. Fans can switch money to a Visa pay as you go card for no price on the ticket workplace window at Gate 8, the Gate 0 professional store, the “Water Wall” professional store and professional store within the Club 100 Level.
What’s one of the best ways to get to Soldier Field?
Soldier Field is situated at 1410 Special Olympics Drive in Chicago.
<u>Chicago Transit Authority</u>
Check out transitchicago.com for fare info, route schedules and maps.
<u>Metra</u>
Six Metra traces connect with Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center:
Metra provides two weekend-pass choices. Unlimited rides on Saturday or Sunday are $7. Up to a few kids age 11 and underneath can experience free with every fare-paying grownup. A weekend cross contains limitless rides for $10, out there solely within the Ventra app.
Heading to a weeknight recreation? There are two all-day cross choices out there solely within the Ventra app. The $10 Day cross permits limitless rides throughout the whole Metra system whereas the $6 Day Pass permits limitless rides inside three fare zones. Fares could also be bought prematurely.
Check metra.com for route schedules and maps.
- From Ogilvie Transportation Center (southbound on Clinton Street at Madison Street) and Union Station (bus cease on Jackson Street east of Canal Street): Take the nonstop 128 Soldier Field Express to the stadium. The roundtrip bus fare is $5 for adults or $2.50 for seniors and youngsters ages 7-11. The categorical service is out there beginning about 2½ hours earlier than recreation time till half-hour after kickoff, and resumes for an hour after the sport on a load-and-go foundation.
- South Shore Line: Runs on the Metra Electric Line tracks from South Bend, Ind., to downtown Chicago. Select trains will cease at Metra’s 18th Street Station, which connects passengers on to the stadium’s entrance through a pedestrian walkway. As 18th Street Station just isn’t a frequently scheduled cease, passengers using it on as of late should buy tickets for Museum Campus/eleventh Street.
- Metra Electric Line: Will present further service throughout Bears dwelling video games with trains stopping on the 18th Street Station and the Museum Campus/11st Street Station, which is close to Soldier Field.
<u>Pace</u>
A restricted variety of Pace buses shall be out there at every boarding location — on Routes 236, 768, 769 and 776 — for transportation to Soldier Field throughout Saturday and Sunday dwelling video games solely throughout the Bears’ common season. All riders shall be seated on a first-come-first-served foundation. Buses start boarding as much as half-hour earlier than departure. Cost is $4.50 every approach. Check pacebus.com for the newest info.
<u>By bike or private scooter</u>
- Pregame drop-off: Locations are on the 18th Street turnaround simply west of Lake Shore Drive and on Balbo Drive at Columbus Drive.
- Postgame pick-up: Balbo Drive at Columbus Drive.
How a lot is parking — and the place’s the perfect spot?
It varies.
<u>At the stadium</u>
- All parking areas surrounding the stadium require a pay as you go parking cross, which shall be despatched to followers electronically after buy. Fans can both print their cross and show it on the rearview mirror of their car or have it scanned from the Bears app.
- These tons open 4 hours earlier than kickoff and shut two hours after the sport.
<u>Off-site parking</u>
- Some off-site tons — together with Museum Campus, Millennium Garages and McCormick Place Lots B, C and D — permit followers to buy passes prematurely.
<u>Lots that settle for money for drive-up parking on recreation day</u>
- Grant Park South (entrance is on Michigan Avenue between Jackson Boulevard and Van Buren Street): Regular each day posted price if not bought prematurely. No tailgating allowed. No shuttle service.
- McCormick Place Lakeside Garage Lot C (entrance on Fort Dearborn Drive): No tailgating allowed. No shuttle service.
- Burnham Harbor Lot (entrance situated on Waldron and Special Olympics drives): Available starting in November, after boating season. Tailgating is allowed.
<u>Lots with shuttle service to Soldier Field</u>
- thirty first Street McCormick Place Lot B (3050 S. Moe Drive): Shuttle operates two hours earlier than kickoff by means of two hours after the top of the sport with restricted return service out there throughout the recreation. Tailgating is allowed.
- Grant Park North (entrance is on Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe streets): Free shuttle departs from decrease Randolph Street and arrives at 18th Street. Service begins three hours earlier than kickoff and ends two hours after the top of the sport. No tailgating. Regular each day posted price if not bought prematurely.
- Millennium Garages (entrance is situated off Columbus Drive between Monroe Street and Randolph Street): Free shuttle departs from decrease Randolph Street and arrives at 18th Street. Service begins three hours earlier than kickoff and ends two hours after the top of the sport. No tailgating. Game-day, drive-up and advance, pay as you go parking can be found.
<u>Alcohol-free, family-friendly tons</u>
<u>Residential areas</u>
- No parking is allowed inside this space surrounding Soldier Field throughout Bears dwelling video games. Violators might be ticketed and towed.
Pregaming and picture ops
Can I tailgate?
If you go to a Bears recreation however don’t tailgate, did it actually occur?
Fans can tailgate on all floor a lot of the Museum Campus, the higher degree of the Waldron Deck and the Southwest Parking Facilities (McCormick Place thirty first St. Lot B, D and E solely) — however hold the setup to your parking spot. Tailgating throughout the video games or after night time video games and consuming alcohol within the “Family Friendly” No Alcohol tons are all prohibited.
<u>Leave this stuff — or behaviors — at dwelling</u>
- Advertising banners or shows
- Disorderly conduct
- Deep fryers or any oil-based cooking or frying
- Picketing or political campaigning
- Tents or canopies of any dimension
- Tethered blimps, balloons and different outsized inflatables
- Fire pits, open fires and open flame heaters
- Propane tanks bigger than 19 kilos
- Fireworks
- Setups or video games using sidewalks and/or streets
Any suggestions?
Keep it easy, says a Bears die-hard tailgater.
“By the time I get in and set up and get everything rolling, it’s time to get in for the game,” mentioned Ken Michalski, who has faithfully tailgated at Chicago Bears video games for 38 years and was inducted into the Tailgating Hall of Fame in 2021. “It’s very limited on time.”
Pre-cook meals in foil pans that may be heated up rapidly on the grill, or stick with easy entrees resembling scorching canines and hamburgers. Michalski additionally recommends streamlining what you deliver, so breakdown is simpler earlier than you head into the sport.
Everyone is aware of the old-guard choices of the best way to fill that cooler: Bud Light, Miller Lite, Modelo and, after all, welcome to the membership, White Claw. But a tastier tailgate will be had. Here are 10 suggestions.
What about consuming across the South Loop?
There are spots — each indoors and outside — the place non-tailgaters can seize some pregame grub (and some bars too).
What else to see earlier than the sport
Statues of George Halas and Walter Payton have been unveiled outdoors Soldier Field in 2019. The two 12-foot, 3,000-pound creathions are each Gate 0, the doorway on the stadium’s south aspect.
A doughboy statue to honor World War I servicemen will be discovered within the courtyard inside Gate 0. There can also be a sculpture to have fun Special Olympics, which began in 1968 at Soldier Field, between the Field Museum and the north finish of the stadium.
Those coming into the stadium from the north can stroll into the stadium previous the Memorial Water Wall, 250-foot lengthy granite wall adorned with eight medallions and seals to honor every department of the armed providers.
Once you’re on the recreation
Soldier Field options
Well, initially, it’s in Chicago — so there’s good views of the downtown to the north, Lake Michigan to the east and a backed up Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive to the west.
A stroll alongside the higher southern wall of the outdated the stadium not solely provides a way of scale to the massive new construction in addition to the far smaller outdated one, however it’s adorned with memorials.
Soak it in all, Bears followers. Because a transfer to Arlington Heights seems like a foregone conclusion.
What’s that I hear?
Among the longest-running traditions within the Bears’ lengthy historical past is their combat track, “Bear Down, Chicago Bears.” The track, which is performed each time the Bears rating at Soldier Field, was created in 1941 by composer Al Hoffman, underneath the pseudonym Jerry Downs.
Bear down, Chicago Bears, make each play clear the best way to victory;
Bear down, Chicago Bears, put up a combat with a would possibly so fearlessly.
We’ll always remember the best way you thrilled the nation, along with your T-formation.
Bear down, Chicago Bears, and allow them to know why you’re sporting the crown.
You’re the pleasure and pleasure of Illinois, Chicago Bears, bear down.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com