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Featured, Our Articles · January 28, 2020

Bears' Recent Moves Prove the Organization Doesn’t Care About Its Fans

You can always count on the Chicago Bears to find a way to upset their fans.
It started last Friday when the team announced that every section of Soldier Field will see a ticket price increase for the 2020 season. Fans could see an adjustment from 1.6-5.3 percent and an average increase of 3.9 percent for next season.
The news came out two days before the 34-year anniversary of the Bears’ Super Bowl win over the Patriots. Despite the drought, the Bears organization felt it was right to raise the prices for a team that is still searching for their second Lombardi Trophy.
And a little over a week before the raised ticket prices were announced, the Bears decided to move training camp to Halas Hall in Lake Forest to take advantage of their newly renovated state-of-the-art facility. This decision ends the 18-year run of training camp at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.
Selfishly, I was in favor of the move because it cut my commute to training camp from two hours to 15 minutes. But having training camp at Halas Hall extremely hinders the amount of people that can attend.
According to Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips, there will be “a public component to many of the sessions to incorporate our loyal and passionate fans.”
If fans are naive enough to believe Phillips, then go ahead, but Halas Hall can’t accommodate 10,000 fans like Olivet Nazarene University, and that is a fact.
The raised ticket prices and decision to move training camp indicate one thing about the franchise: the Bears don’t care about their fans.
How else could the organization justify raising prices after the team ended with an 8-8 record and third-place finish in the NFC North this past season?
Maybe Phillips and chairman George McCaskey are still living in the past with the glorious 12-4 season in 2018. Even though Chicago was eliminated in the first round, making the playoffs is an achievement for a team that routinely misses them.
Naturally, the ticket prices increased after the 2018 season. According to ticketiQ, the Bears had the second most expensive average ticket price in 2019.

However, the greedy organization also issued a price increase in 2017.
Yes, that was after the disastrous 3-13 season in 2016. The average ticket prices heading into the 2017 season went up 2.6 percent.
When you assess what essentially transpired the past couple of seasons, the Bears’ moves begin to look quite suspicious. First, raise ticket prices after the worst season in franchise history, then the following season invest in multi-million dollar renovations and finally raise the ticket prices for the next two seasons.
Anyone else see the problem with this?
Once the renovations, which included a revamped weight room, hydrotherapy pools and a 13,000 square-foot indoor turf training area among other things were complete, the Bears decided enough with Bourbonnais.
Moving training camp brings some major consequences: the town of Bourbonnais will lose a substantial amount of revenue. Children, most likely, will not have the same opportunity to get autographs, and only a select few of fans who obtain the free tickets will be able to watch practice. How is this in any way incorporating the fans?
The NFL is all about making money, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the billion-dollar franchise will do whatever to take their loyal fans’ money. Chicago loves their Bears, and the fans are still yearning for the possibility to cheer on a championship football team as they drive by on double-decker buses in downtown Chicago.
The people in charge at Halas Hall know that and will take advantage of that devotion and take every last dollar, because they know they can. Phillips may have the title as president and CEO, but he may as well add “Professional Thief” on his desk nameplate, too.
If the Bears were an organization that consistently made playoff appearances, were a threat to compete for the NFC North title or were even relevant by the time December started, then the increased ticket prices and training camp move wouldn’t be big issues.
Except that isn’t the Bears, and there is no guarantee general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy are the ones to turn Chicago into a winning football team. There are several glaring holes on this Bears roster that Pace and Nagy have to address: quarterback, offensive line and tight end. And that is just the offense.
Until those positions are filled, the Bears won’t be competitive any time soon.
So, regardless of what happens at the end of the 2020 season, don’t be shocked if ticket prices increase again.
Because, remember, the Bears could care less.

Filed Under: Featured, Our Articles Tagged With: 2020 Season, Bears Season Tickets, Bourbonnais, Chicago Bears, George McCaskey, Olivet Nazarene University, Ted Phillips

Nicholas Moreano

Nicholas Moreano is a sports multimedia journalist and the Bears beat reporter for The Chicago Audible. He has a master's degree in Communication from DePaul University and obtained his bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Iowa.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jimmy R says

    January 28, 2020 at 9:43 am

    Supply and demand. Chicago is the third largest city in the country and Soldier Field only holds 62k fans. If fans are still paying to see an inferior product on the field, it’s on them, not Bears executives.

    Reply
    • True Fan says

      January 29, 2020 at 8:31 am

      I’m UPSET that they aren’t winning but I’m going to EVERY home game to cheer them on. Ticket price increase or not.

      Reply
      • Jesse Gipsom says

        January 29, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        Sucker born every day that sir is who you are…..im a fan not a fanatic

        Reply
  2. Brad says

    January 28, 2020 at 9:53 am

    Over half of NFL teams raise ticket prices each year. Bears have only raised ticket prices 3 times the past 6 years. Who cares if they move training camp. A lot of teams do that. Bears used to be in Platteville, WI. Cowboys used to be in Wichita Falls and San Antonio and are back in California. This article is a terrible take.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      January 28, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      Terrible I agree

      Reply
    • Jerry Sternadel says

      January 29, 2020 at 11:34 am

      You hit the nail on the head. Sounds more like wine (er) than winner. Some folks just look for the negative to make a big issue.

      Reply
  3. Quincy The Great says

    January 28, 2020 at 11:49 am

    Good read. An interesting perspective eloquently written. Good work.

    Reply
  4. Nicholas V says

    January 28, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    The Bears revenue is their family income. Until they sell the product to some millionaire that sees the Bears as his play toy, we will continue to see this cheap shit super expensive bullshit of a product

    Reply
    • Keith Richards says

      January 29, 2020 at 11:41 am

      Right on ! Too bad the ownership couldn’t change to a “Municipal” one like in Green Bay

      Reply
  5. Chris says

    January 28, 2020 at 3:14 pm

    Love the YouTube videos you guys know your stuff

    Reply
  6. Tommy says

    January 28, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    You mean Bears Couldn’t care less.

    Reply
    • Ben Adams says

      January 29, 2020 at 11:36 am

      Yes, thanks Tommy for pointing out that the common expression is correctly…..”couldn’t care less” or more specifically
      “could not care less”
      “could NOT care less”.
      I’m surprised that a college graduate doesn’t know this?
      Come on Mr. Moreno, but I do agree with and like your article.

      Reply
      • Nicholas Moreano says

        January 29, 2020 at 11:59 am

        Hey Ben,
        Thanks for the comments about the article. According to Merriam-Webster, the phrase “could care less” is synonymous with “couldn’t care less.” I trust the dictionary.
        Also, my last name is spelled Moreano.

        Reply
    • Jesse Gipsom says

      January 29, 2020 at 1:10 pm

      Facts and we should protest these middle of the road mf.lets be real for the last 30 years we have sucked they should sell to owners dedicated to winning…

      Reply
  7. Tod says

    January 28, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    I have to agree with you wholeheartedly, but I learned or should I say my family did back in 2003. When the Bears returned home everyone was so excited well 3veryone but us. See not only did they redo Soldier Field they also took our seats away. Seats. Mind you that we had in our Family since my Grandfather started going in 1943. Great seats to 3 behind the Bears Bench about 15 rows and 2 in the Endzone. When we got the ticket renewal forms in 2003 the year they returned they moved all our seats to the southwest endzone almost to the top. Not only that but least we forget the PSL @ $2,500 per seat and we had 5 seats. That is when I stopped going cause I couldn’t afford it and 2 I came to the realization that the Bears don’t care about us true fans. The ones who went to the games in the late 60’s & early 70’s. No matter the weather. The ones who basically made them all rich. Great Article.

    Reply
    • Nicholas Moreano says

      January 29, 2020 at 8:28 am

      Hey Tod,
      I sent you an email. When you get a chance, take a look at it. Thank you!

      Reply
  8. AIRBORNE says

    January 28, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    I’m a Chicagoan and Bears fan living in Nashville Tennessee I love Chicago but ashamed because the Bears ownership and management are a DISGRACE ! should I become a Titans fan?!!

    Reply
    • Jerry Sternadel says

      January 29, 2020 at 11:35 am

      yes please

      Reply
  9. Lawrence Perez says

    January 28, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    I’m a Chicagoan and Bears fan living in Nashville Tennessee I love Chicago but ashamed because the Bears ownership and Management are a DISGRACE! Should I become a Titans fan?!!

    Reply
  10. James says

    January 28, 2020 at 10:06 pm

    The simplest way for the Bears to improve is to lock Ryan Pace out of the draft room just as the draft begins.

    Reply
    • Joe says

      January 29, 2020 at 10:46 am

      He drafts guys w/out much experience at their positions for some reason…..The qb thing though…..that will always be talked about….we couldve fn had Mahomes……funny thing is KC was actually very interested in trubisky too……

      Reply
  11. Melody says

    January 29, 2020 at 12:37 am

    I agree with not caring about us fans I also know it’s a business and like most businesses prices go up I stopped going a few years ago because I just couldn’t afford it
    I watch every game on tv and go to other stadiums cuz it’s cheaper

    Reply
  12. Robert Gustafik says

    January 29, 2020 at 3:54 am

    I have been a season ticket holder for over 35 years, my tickets then were $17 a piece per game, now look at the prices, I guess the Bears don’t believe in a season ticket discount for seniors? My kids are die hard fans and help pay for tickets, they don’t want to renew anymore!

    Reply
  13. Sammy V says

    January 29, 2020 at 4:26 am

    The ‘85 Bears won the Super Bowl 34 years ago in 1986. Next year is the 35th anniversary, but good article otherwise. As a season ticket holder, it’s sad to see greedy ownership without a consistent team on the field.

    Reply
    • Nicholas Moreano says

      January 29, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Hey Sammy,
      Thanks for pointing that out. I made the change.

      Reply
  14. Sam k says

    January 29, 2020 at 7:27 am

    If you want to see a franchise that doesn’t care about fans go look at the Bulls. Same two clowns in front office making terrible draft decisions (marquis teague over draymond green) terrible coaching hires, and are in year 3 of rebuild going NOWHERE. Yet garpax seems as safe as ever. At least the bears have switched a lot of pieces in some kind of effort, even if team owners are still there.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    January 29, 2020 at 8:53 am

    Agreed. Just to maximize returns off of fans. Sad.

    Reply
  16. Tyrone Leach says

    January 29, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    I was at the 1985 season home games.
    Every year starts with
    the same excitement
    Then around the 5th
    week reality sets in and talk begins about
    who’s going and who is staying just to get the excitement to begin
    again about next year.
    It’s very hard to be
    a Chicago Bears fan.

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      January 29, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      right on the money

      Reply
  17. Gary says

    January 30, 2020 at 8:17 am

    The history of the Bears organization being obsessed with squeezing out every penny is as old as the franchise itself as papa George set the foundation. That said, Virginia and her family took the approach to heights even papa George never envision. At least papa George had enough pride in ownership that he wanted to win championships. There are many reasons for McCaskey’s approach but probably biggest is unlike so many of the owners who made/make their living from other types of businesses and own NFL franchises for the fun/thrill, etc. The Chicago Bears are McCaskey’s sole income stream so they will always manage it like a cash cow, never really making the same financial commitment to the game like most every other owner. What’s even more disappointing is that unlike other completely family owned franchises (Rooney’s in Pittsburgh, Mar’s in New York) who clearly show a desire to win a title, the McCaskey’s always talk the talk but NEVER walk the walk, AND unlike the Blackhawks that found a renewed focus when William Wirtz died and his son Rocky took over the team’s leadership decision making, all Virginia’s sons have proven thus far to be completely clueless about what it takes to win as they are too busy counting their income values. Thus nothing will ever change unless the family sells the team and that is never going to happen.

    Reply

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