Tag: COVID-19.

It sounds like Soldier Field will be at full capacity for Bears’ first preseason game

According to Judy Batista, the Bears are one of 30 teams to have approval for full capacity stadiums to begin the preseason.

Normally, Chicago Bears fans aren’t rushing to the ticket office to secure their seats for preseason games. But this year may be an exception now that it looks like Soldier Field will be open at full capacity later this summer.

According to NFL Network’s Judy Battista, the Bears are one of 30 teams to have approval for full capacity stadiums to begin the preseason.

Earlier this month, the Bears confirmed they would be welcoming fans back to Soldier Field for the first time since 2019, but had not issued any limits on capacity at that time. Single-game tickets then went on sale two weeks ago following the full schedule release.

Now, plans are being made to welcome back a full stadium when the Bears host the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, Aug. 14. The Bears and Soldier Field will continue to follow strict health and safety guidelines during the season.

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Bears season ticket prices will not increase for the 2021 season

Bears season ticket holders received a bit of good news from Ted Phillips as he announced ticket prices won’t increase for the 2021 season.

Chicago Bears season ticket holders received a bit of good news from team president and CEO Ted Phillips on Monday.

According to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, Phillips sent a letter addressed to all season ticket holders and confirmed the Bears will not raise prices for the 2021 season.

In a copy of the letter posted on Reddit, Phillips writes: “The 2021 season ticket information will be shared in the coming days. Season ticket prices will not be increased for the upcoming season. This decision will not change even if we were to host a ninth regular season game and only one preseason contest in 2021.”

Phillips also states that if Soldier Field is unable to be filled to capacity, or if they are unable to have any live fans in attendance, all season ticket holders will receive a refund or can credit their payments to the 2022 season.

In addition to the ticket information, Phillips detailed the team’s “robust stadium cleaning and disinfecting plan” as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new safety features include touchless payment options at concessions and retails locations, hand sanitizing stations, continued use of the mobile-only ticketing system, and new hygiene signage.

While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Bears from having fans in the stands, they did increase ticket prices by nearly four percent last year heading into the 2020 season. It was the second consecutive year where the team raised prices for season ticket holders.

More ticket information for the 2021 season is expected to be shared in the coming days and weeks.

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Bears season ticket prices will not increase for the 2021 season

Bears season ticket holders received a bit of good news from Ted Phillips as he announced ticket prices won’t increase for the 2021 season.

Chicago Bears season ticket holders received a bit of good news from team president and CEO Ted Phillips on Monday.

According to Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune, Phillips sent a letter addressed to all season ticket holders and confirmed the Bears will not raise prices for the 2021 season.

In a copy of the letter posted on Reddit, Phillips writes: “The 2021 season ticket information will be shared in the coming days. Season ticket prices will not be increased for the upcoming season. This decision will not change even if we were to host a ninth regular season game and only one preseason contest in 2021.”

Phillips also states that if Soldier Field is unable to be filled to capacity, or if they are unable to have any live fans in attendance, all season ticket holders will receive a refund or can credit their payments to the 2022 season.

In addition to the ticket information, Phillips detailed the team’s “robust stadium cleaning and disinfecting plan” as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new safety features include touchless payment options at concessions and retails locations, hand sanitizing stations, continued use of the mobile-only ticketing system, and new hygiene signage.

While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Bears from having fans in the stands, they did increase ticket prices by nearly four percent last year heading into the 2020 season. It was the second consecutive year where the team raised prices for season ticket holders.

More ticket information for the 2021 season is expected to be shared in the coming days and weeks.

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COVID-19 and the pandemic’s role in saving jobs at Halas Hall

When you peel back the curtain, COVID-19 likely had an impact on this year’s Bears team as they grinded through a unique season.

When Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey met the media on Wednesday morning in the team’s season-ending press conference, the first words out of his mouth were about the COVID-19 pandemic.

He spent time offering his support to those impacted by the virus, and saluted essential workers for their efforts over the past year. He then recognized the league and key members of the organization for their hard work to maintain a safe environment, most notably head athletic trainer Andre Tucker, for his role in keeping the facilities clean and ensuring the team was compliant in the league’s protocol.

The pandemic created a surreal football landscape at Soldier Field, one that was devoid of fan attendance, tailgates in the south parking lot, intimate media access and much more. While the football was the same, the atmosphere surrounding it was completely different. It’s probably a significant reason why general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy still have jobs today.

It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has been disastrous for many businesses and individuals over the last 10 months. It’s changed the way we all live and has presented numerous challenges no matter what line of work you’re in. It’s truly nothing to make light of, but when you peel back the curtain, it likely had an impact on this year’s Bears team as they grinded through a unique season.

Bears shut down Halas Hall after COVID-19 outbreak

The Chicago Bears have shut down Halas Hall after a fourth player tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Thursday: “This morning we were notified that we had a positive COVID-19 test. As a result, the club has elected to pause all …

The Chicago Bears have shut down Halas Hall after a fourth player tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Thursday:

“This morning we were notified that we had a positive COVID-19 test. As a result, the club has elected to pause all in-person football activities today and close Halas Hall. Instead, all meetings will be conducted virtually.”

The latest player to test positive for the novel coronavirus has yet to be named. Inside linebacker Manti Te’o, defensive lineman LaCale London and receiver Thomas Ives all tested positive earlier this week.

We’ll have more information on this developing situation as it becomes available.

Bears activate RG Germain Ifedi from reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bears offensive line won’t be as decimated as previously thought as Germain Ifedi is cleared to play Sunday vs. Titans.

The Chicago Bears offensive line won’t be as decimated as previously thought. The team announced on Friday that guard Germain Ifedi has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Ifedi was placed on the list Tuesday following tackle Jason Spriggs’ positive test result. He was considered a close contact to Spriggs and needed to quarantine, despite testing negative for the virus. The veteran offensive lineman has started every game for the Bears this season at right guard after signing a one-year deal in the offseason.

With Ifedi returning to the team, the Bears will likely only be missing three of their five starters on the offensive line instead of four. Right tackle Bobby Massie was placed on injured reserve this week due to a knee injury and center Cody Whitehair will likely miss another game due to a calf injury and possibly COVID-19 as he reportedly tested positive on Thursday. Spriggs is also out due to his positive test.

The Bears travel to Nashville this weekend to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon.

Bears activate RG Germain Ifedi from reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bears offensive line won’t be as decimated as previously thought as Germain Ifedi is cleared to play Sunday vs. Titans.

The Chicago Bears offensive line won’t be as decimated as previously thought. The team announced on Friday that guard Germain Ifedi has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Ifedi was placed on the list Tuesday following tackle Jason Spriggs’ positive test result. He was considered a close contact to Spriggs and needed to quarantine, despite testing negative for the virus. The veteran offensive lineman has started every game for the Bears this season at right guard after signing a one-year deal in the offseason.

With Ifedi returning to the team, the Bears will likely only be missing three of their five starters on the offensive line instead of four. Right tackle Bobby Massie was placed on injured reserve this week due to a knee injury and center Cody Whitehair will likely miss another game due to a calf injury and possibly COVID-19 as he reportedly tested positive on Thursday. Spriggs is also out due to his positive test.

The Bears travel to Nashville this weekend to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon.

Bears vs. Colts will now be the late game on CBS in Week 4

In light of the recent events involving COVID-19, Bears vs. Colts has been moved to the late window on Sunday.

In light of the recent events involving COVID-19, the Chicago Bears will have their Week 4 contest against the Indianapolis Colts moved to the late window on Sunday.

The Bears and Colts will now kick off at 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS, where it will replace the New England Patriots vs. Kansas City Chiefs game, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer.

As the Tennessee Titans continue to deal with an outbreak of COVID-19 within the organization, Patriots quarterback Cam Newton was the latest NFL player to test positive for the virus.

As a result, the NFL has decided to move the Patriots-Chiefs game to Monday or Tuesday. They decided to fill the prime late spot with the Bears and Colts, which will feature to teams with winning records vying to extend their winning streaks.

The Bears had 9 players/staff with false positive COVID-19 tests

The Bears pushed back their Sunday practice following nine false positive COVID-19 tests on Saturday.

The Chicago Bears had quite the scare when they learned that nine players and staff had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. The teams have since confirmed that all nine of those tests were false positives.

Chicago cancelled this morning’s practice and moved it to later this afternoon as a precaution.

“[Sunday] morning we learned yesterday’s Covid-19 testing identified nine players/staff as positive,” the team said in a statement. “We followed additional NFL-NFLPA testing protocol and confirmed all nine results as false positives. Out of an abundance of caution, we postponed this morning’s practice to this afternoon at 1:30pm.”

The NFL pointed to the BioReference laboratory in New Jersey for irregular results. The Bears have said they use a similar lab in Minnesota.

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NFL training camp 2020 rules

Here are a look at the rules heading into Chicago Bears training camp this season.

The Chicago Bears are reporting to training camp today, although it’s sure to look a lot different than in the past given the COVID-19 pandemic. With a ton of uncertainty surrounding the 2020 NFL season, the NFL and NFLPA came to an agreement as far as safety protocols and regulations.

Here are a look at the rules heading into training camp this season:

  • The Bears must trim their roster to 80 players by Aug. 16, which is one day before they’re slated to begin padded practices. If teams decide to go the 90-man roster route, they can utilize a split squad format and use their practice facility and stadium.
  • Training camp will consist of a 20-day ramp period, which starts with four days of COVID-19 testing followed by two days of physicals. Days 7-14 will be allotted for strength and conditioning only. Teams can begin practices with helmets and shells but no pads on days 15-20.
  •  A maximum of 14 padded practices can be held, but they can begin no earlier than Aug. 17.
  • There will be one off day per every seven days of work.
  • There will be no preseason games in 2020.
  • Players have until seven days after the agreement is signed whether to opt out for the season.
  • For those NFL players who might be at high risk for contracting COVID-19, they can earn $350,000 and an accrued NFL season if they decide to opt out of this season. For those not at risk, they can earn $150,000.
  • Practice squads are expanding to 16 players.
  • The salary cap for the 2020 season will remain the same at $198.2 million for the Bears and the rest of the NFL. As for the 2021 season, the salary cap will be a minimum $175 million with the potential for being higher if revenue doesn’t take a significant hit.
  • If revenue does take a hit, that loss will be spread out through 2024.
  • If the NFL season is cancelled or no games played, players that make a team’s 53-man roster will get a stipend of $300,000. But if it were to be cancelled before team’s cut their roster down, players on a team in 2019 will get a stipend of $250,000.
  • There has been a fund established that aims to pay back benefits lost as a result of COVID-19 up to 2023 and will pay back lost guaranteed money.

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