The Chicago Bears have been around for a long time. One hundred years, to be precise, and they’ve cultivated a century’s worth of history. But Bears ownership also has some money to show for it.
According to Forbes, the Bears ranks as the 13th most valuable sports team in the world, valued at $3.45 billion. That’s good enough for the sixth most valuable team in the NFL.
George Halas purchased the then-Decatur Staleys for $100, which obviously makes the Bears an absolute steal. Then again, without Halas, there wouldn’t be a National Football League. The Bears remain one of only two remaining franchises from the NFL’s founding in 1920. The other being the Arizona Cardinals, who were originally in Chicago. The Bears remain in the Halas family, as the team is now owned by Halas daughter Virginia McCaskey.
With the uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bears haven’t decided whether or not fans will be permitted at regular-season games. There won’t be season tickets this year, so the team has offered full refunds or offered to roll over the money to the 2021 season. If there are fans allowed at Soldier Field this season, only season ticket holders will be able to purchase individual game tickets with a smaller capacity allowed at the stadium.
According to Forbes, the Chicago Bears made $453 million in total revenue during the 2018 season. If NFL games were to be played without fans, the Bears would lose $166 million in stadium revenue, which is the 12th most in the league.
That would revenue from tickets, sponsors, parking, concessions and team stores.
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