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Posted: Wednesday, 06 August 2008 6:54AM

Bears Put An End To Tailgating During Games

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CHICAGO (WBBM) - As part of a new league-wide crackdown, the Chicago Bears say fans will no longer be allowed to tailgate in the parking lot of Soldier Field during games.

The Bears organization sent an e-mail to season ticket holders on Tuesday saying the move is part of a crackdown on unruly behavior.

Once the game starts, fans will have to stop tailgating. The policy starts with the Bears first exhibition game Thursday.

The explanation at the Bears Web site carries the headline "Bears work to enhance fan experience at Soldier Field".

The campaign includes a new 10-person Event Services team that will go through the stands and parking lots searching for overly intoxicated fans.

There will also be hotlines for fans to call or text to anonymously report unruly behavior.

Under the new policy, fans who cause problems in the parking lots, and not just in the stands, can now lose their ticket privileges.

Here's the official Bears news release....

Bears work to enhance fan experience at Soldier Field

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears recognize the commitment and passion of their fans is unlike any other in the NFL. In order to make sure all fans have an enjoyable and comfortable gameday experience at home games, the Bears are taking several measures at Soldier Field this season through their “Help Stop UnBEARable Behavior” campaign.

Fans will be able to contact Gameday Security by calling 312-235-7999 or texting 312-909-HELP (4357) anonymously to report abusive or foul language, overly intoxicated guests, smoking, harassment or disruptive or unruly behavior. Fans may also contact a Monterrey Security Officer (red jackets), Fan Services Team Member (navy blue jackets) or visit the nearest Fan Services booth or Club Concierge desk to report violations of the Code of Conduct at any time. The Code of Conduct can be reviewed in its entirety within the 2008 Bears Fan Guide or online at the team’s official website www.ChicagoBears.com.

Newly developed Event Services teams will monitor entry gates, parking lots and seating areas to address any guests that appear to be intoxicated, while proactively addressing potential problems that may hinder the fan experience. Code of Conduct violations in the Soldier Field parking lots or surrounding parklands may result in revocation of parking and/or ticket privileges. Open containers of alcohol outside the parking lots or on shuttles will result in citations from the Chicago Police Department. Remaining in the parking lots to tailgate during the game will not be permitted.

Inside the stadium, fans cannot be in possession or purchase more than two alcoholic beverages at a time. In-seat vendors will continue to adhere to the one-beer per person limit. Guests that bring in alcohol cans or bottles will be immediately removed from the stadium and have their tickets confiscated. Repeated violations of this rule will result in revocation of ticket privileges.

In order to be compliant with the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, the “Smoking Violation Ticket” will once again be enforced. Reentry into the stadium is prohibited so there will be no designated smoking areas inside or outside of Soldier Field. First-time violators of the smoking policy will be asked to exchange their ticket for a “smoking violation ticket.” If a patron with a smoking ticket is then smoking in the stadium for a second time, he or she will be ejected. Repeated violations can result in the loss of a patron’s permanent seat license and forfeiture of season ticket privileges.

Extreme violations of the Code of Conduct will result in ejection and automatic loss of ticket privileges and Permanent Seat Licenses. Those offenses include but are not limited to entering or attempting to enter the playing field or assaulting any guest or staff member.

The Chicago Bears are committed to providing fans with the best gameday experience possible. A 2008 Bears Fan Guide is available online at www.ChicagoBears.com that contains information on policies, parking, tickets, directions, maps and other details to help fans at Soldier Field on gamedays.

08/06/2008 6:42AM

What do you think of the new tailgate and fan behavior policy?

Share your thoughts.

08/06/2008 7:58AM

Snitch!

So now we get to rat out other fans?

08/06/2008 8:48AM

Controlling the fun

Maybe they can tell us how to cheer NEXT!

08/06/2008 8:52AM

AngryintheChi

This is a slap in the face for true Bears fans (the ones that follow the rules, aren't unruly, the same ones that can't afford tickets to the game but still want to join in in the Soldier Field exeprience as well as to show our support and Chicago BearPride at tailgating! Banning Tailgating during the game is not the answer and will ruin a lifetime of tradition for many in the Chicagoland area!

08/06/2008 8:55AM

wow

It's the nature of our evolving country%u2026 evolving towards a fascist and socialistic society. You see it everywhere. Start voting against this crap. It is growing around us everywhere. The people behind the curtains running the lives of every American.

08/06/2008 8:56AM

R U KIDDIN ME !!

the BEARS need to hire John McDonough, he would NEVER let this happen!!

08/06/2008 9:08AM

The private lots

The private lots will be doing a booming business for sure!

08/06/2008 9:14AM

TattleTaleHotline

You really think that a tattletale hotline is going to be the answer to unruly fans? Come on this isn't 6th grade! If there is a concern then maybe do like the Cubs do and have a Non-alcohol section (or even a family section) for those who are offended easily by "unruly" fans.

08/06/2008 9:20AM

A step in the right direction!

HELLO!! If you've got tix to the game, what're ya doin' in the parking lot?? This only affects those who come without tix and clog up the parking lots. As a season tix holder, I'm SICK of battling for a parking spot when we don't win the lottery (which is a WHOLE 'nother gripe) for the South lot. So now we have to fight for a parking spot with people who have no tix & take up two & three spaces (because there's NO oversight on how anyone parks in the cash lots)?! Again, this shouldn't even be an issue for those who have tix, only those who don't.

08/06/2008 10:31AM

STEP IN WRONG DIRECTION

30 years season ticket holder, there have been many a game i have ate relaxed and listened to game on radio and then go in for 2nd half. some fans leave early and are mad cuz they r stuck in lot, sell your season tics and watch game at home!

08/06/2008 11:36AM

Good and Bad

Finally an attempt to control the fans. I've never had any problems relating to bears games. But I do work near Wrigley Field and have wishing for years that local sports venues would control the drunk fans.If you work in a bar, there are laws against "overserving" patrons. But if you've ever been near wrigley after a game. It's clear the law is either ignored by their vendors or doesn't apply to them. So, kudos to the Bears for trying to keep it under control. Plus, why would they let someone without a ticket get drunk in the lot before, during or afteer games? Find a Domanicks or Jewel lot, turn on the radio and BAM, you can act like a jerk all day. Last I checked, open alcohol in public is Illeagal in chicago anyway. So your lucky they haven't been writing tickets for years.

08/06/2008 12:33PM

Elitist destroying the Middle Class

This- 'no tailgating during games' seems to be a direct blow to the middle class. Tailgating is the affortable way for average folks to be able to enjoy the game, what person with a salary under $100,000 annually is able to get a hold of decent ticketsor become a 'season tix holder'. It isn't bad enough the economic situation in this country is in a decline now the elitists are going to take away affortable forms to be a fan. Is this country converting to a place of rich and poor?

08/06/2008 12:40PM

your kidding right

"Fans will be able to contact Gameday Security by calling 312-235-7999 or texting 312-909-HELP (4357) anonymously to report abusive or foul language...foul language at a football game??? Oh,..the humanity! Now your have the 1st ammendment cops and do gooders telling you how to bark at Rex Grossman. Maybe the league should pring out ettiquette lessons too. Note to league...you stop your players from brawling, killing people, and drinking and driving first...then worry about the fans!

08/06/2008 1:14PM

Insane BUT!!!!!

OK so here's what could happen..Lets say it's da Bears & Packers You wanna get rid of the Packer fan make a call...Infact everyone should place a call at the same time.. It's football not a ballet show..

08/06/2008 1:32PM

WAH WAH WAH

All you people go cry somewhere else. Just like anything else, if you're not guilty, then you don't have anything to whine about. For the most part, these "unruly" fans are very limited, and, exactly - find a Jewel or Dominick's and get drunk. Andto the so-called "fan" who goes in at the 2nd half, you should really sell your season tix to someone who really wants to be AT THE GAME.

08/06/2008 3:08PM

new rules ahead

Next thing you know there will be no swearing allowed at the Blackhawks games. Yeah...that'll really go over well!

08/06/2008 3:11PM

no title

But I just bought a new smokey Joe! Darn!

08/06/2008 5:43PM

who cares what the fan thinks

They need us we don't need them, however the bears is not the only sport team in town okay so if you must make rules for tailgating then why don't people take their hard earn money else where now what does the bears and the city police have to say about that hu

08/07/2008 8:57AM

What's next?

Are you kidding me? This is America, people are welcome to come and go as we please. How can you control people in a parking lot. If I want to enjoy my beer and brat as the game begins then I will!!

08/07/2008 2:40PM

Madman

Get seat location and name of someone you don't care for, have a party in lot and say you're with them.....Sounds as if they are trying to ban people from enjoying the parking lots they are paying the upkeep on....

08/07/2008 8:27PM

seriously??

Since when is enjoying the game mandated by rules?? No tailgating, no smoking section, what comes next??? This is getting out of hand, football, especially Bears football, has loud fans. It is part of the game. I think this is a pathetic attempt to civilize a game that was never meant to be civilized!

08/07/2008 8:37PM

thank you

Here I was thinking that auto emmisions and factories and trains etc. was polluting the air, and all along it was my ciggarette on Sundays at Soldier. And I guess that the gangs, rapists, murders etc. were making the city dangerous, when it was really tailgating Bears fans, always good to learn new things!

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