Stadium Advisory - Chicago Bears

Stadium Advisory 12/30/07 Bears vs. Saints
Parking Lots open: 8:00 a.m. - close 5:00 p.m. or earlier at the discretion of stadium management.
Will Call open: 9:30 a.m.
Gates open: 10:00 a.m.
Kickoff: Noon

Quick Tips
Fan Guide
Public Transportation and Cash Parking Guide
Cadillac Club Guide
Soldier Field Gameday Security Hotline: (312) 235-7999
Bears Fan Services: 1-888-79-BEARS ext. 4
Bears Ticket Office at Soldier Field 312-235-7238 (Gameday Only)
fanservices@bears.nfl.net

Survey drawing winner announced
Pam Boehm took the time to fill out a fan survey at the Bears vs. Giants game on December 2 and is the winner of the drawing for an autographed Bernard Berrian jersey. Thanks for your feedback Pam!

Fan conduct reminders

Anyone throwing snowballs – or any object – in the stadium will be immediately ejected.
Anyone entering the playing field, or attempting to enter the playing field, will be ejected, arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Banners/flags/signs
Banners, flags and signs are permitted provided the item is not commercial or offensive. Banners must not include profane language, advertisements, or political slogans and must not be placed over any official stadium signage. Items must not be attached to a pole or the like which may cause harm to the guests seated around you. Items must not be used as projectiles. Banners or signs cannot obstruct the view of other guests. Stadium security reserves the right to remove these items from your possession if deemed appropriate for any and all reasons.

Counterfeit tickets warning/sales violations
The Chicago Police department has made several arrests outside of Soldier Field involving counterfeit tickets. We advise our fans to not buy tickets from people outside of the stadium. It is a violation of a Chicago Park District ordinance to sell ANY item at ANY price on Park District property without a permit issued by the Park District, and this includes game tickets.

Additional men's restrooms added
Two additional men’s restrooms will be added for the remainder of the season to the general stadium area. They will be located in the north Colonnade Level behind Sections 255/355 and the south Colonnade Level behind Sections 225/325.

Soldier Field is smoke free
In order to be compliant with the Smoke Free Illinois Act, smoking is prohibited inside Soldier Field at all Bears games. There are no designated smoking areas inside or outside of the stadium, and re-entry is prohibited. Ushers and security officers will be strictly enforcing the new Smoke-Free Policy. First-time violators of the smoking policy will be asked to exchange their ticket for a “Smoking Violation Card.” Any patron refusing to exchange his or her ticket will be ejected from the stadium. If a patron who has been given a “Smoking Violation Card” is caught smoking in the stadium a second time, he or she will be ejected. Repeated violations can result in the forfeiture of season ticket privileges. In consideration of the comfort of all ticket holders, we ask for your cooperation.

Parking
All parking lots open at 8:00 a.m. and will close at 5:00 p.m.

FANS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO NOT ARRIVE ON THE MUSUEM CAMPUS EARLIER THAN 8:00 A.M. CARS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LINE UP ON THE MUSEUM CAMPUS OR AREA ROADS PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF THE PARKING LOTS AT 8:00 A.M.

Fans without full season coupons on the museum campus are strongly encouraged to park at the Southwest Parking Facilities at Michael Reese Hospital or in the East Monroe / Millennium Park Garages and utilize the free shuttles to the stadium. Free shuttles begin running three hours prior to kickoff and continue to run for two hours after the game ends. Both parking locations will have spaces for patrons with disabilities with free accessible shuttle services to the stadium.

There is a $5 round-trip fee for patrons not parking in the East Monroe / Millennium Park Garage and taking the shuttle to Soldier Field.

Tailgating is permitted in the surface lots of the Southwest Facilities, but not permitted at the East Monroe / Millennium Park Garages.

For our patrons with disabilities that do not have pre-paid coupons for the Museum Campus lots, we suggest you park at the Southwest Facilities at Michael Reese Hospital or the Millennium Park Garage and take the free accessible shuttle directly to Gate 10, where you can get wheelchair assistance if necessary.

For more information and directions to the Southwest Facilities at Michael Reese Hospital, visit www.soldierfieldparking.com or call 312-583-9153.

For more information and directions to East Monroe / Millennium Park Garages, visit www.grantparkparking.com or call 312-443-1533.

Bears game parking is not permitted in residential areas bounded by Roosevelt Rd. on the north, Cermak Rd. on the south, LSD on the east and Clark St. on the west. Violators will be subject to ticketing and towing.

There is no cash parking at the East Museum Parking Lot, a full-season coupon is required.

Alcohol sales/restrictions
Alcohol sales will be discontinued at the end of the third quarter in the general seating area and at 4:00 p.m. in the Cadillac Club. The Club closes at 5:00 p.m. The alcohol sales may be discontinued earlier at the discretion of the Bears and the stadium management.

Alcohol will not be permitted outside of the parking lots. Chicago Police Officers will be strictly enforcing the policy prohibiting alcohol consumption on Chicago Park District property. Drinking alcohol on the public way and surrounding parklands of the Museum Campus is a violation of the law. Violators will be subject to citations and fines.

Security
To report unruly fan behavior and / or request security assistance, patrons can call the Soldier Field Security Hotline at 312-235-7999 discreetly from their seats, or contact the nearest Monterrey Security Officer (red jackets), S3 usher (yellow jackets) or Andy Frain Services usher in the Cadillac Club.

Pat-downs
All fans entering Soldier Field for Bears home games will be subject to physical searches. By tendering your ticket and entering the stadium, you consent to such searches and waive any related claims that you might have against the NFL, its Member Clubs, its affiliates, or its agents. If you elect not to consent to these searches, you will be denied entry into the stadium. Fans with seats in the West Grandstand are encouraged to enter the stadium using the west gates. All gates open at 10:00 a.m. for the 12:00 noon kickoff.

TO EXPEDITE ENTERING THE STADIUM, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL FANS TO NOT BRING ANY TYPE OF BAGS WITH THEM TO THE GAME.

Tailgating
Tailgating is permitted in all surface lots. Tailgating is not permitted in the lower level of the Waldron Deck or the North Garage. Tents, canopies, open fires and deep-fryers are also prohibited.

DUE TO SECURITY SCREENINGS AT ALL GATES, WE SUGGEST YOU LEAVE THE PARKING LOTS ONE HOUR PRIOR TO KICKOFF TO GET TO YOUR SEATS IN TIME FOR ALL THE ACTION.

Alcohol will not be permitted outside of the parking lots. Alcohol on Chicago Park District property is prohibited and violators will be subject to citations and fines.

Public transportation
Fans are encouraged to use public transportation. Due to heavy pre-game traffic in the Museum Campus Area, we strongly suggest leaving extra travel time when using public transportation to come to Soldier Field.

The Transportation Center, located northeast of the stadium (at the corner of McFetridge and Museum Campus Drive) is where the CTA and Metra shuttle will be available for fans drop-off and pick-up.

Chicago Transit Authority - Soldier Field can be reached on the #12 Roosevelt, #128 Soldier Field Express and #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express buses. Additional service is available from the Roosevelt Station between State and Wabash on the Red, Green and Orange Lines. From there, riders can transfer to #12 Roosevelt buses or walk east on Roosevelt through the Museum Campus to Soldier Field.
PACE Suburban Bus has discontinued their Bears shuttles on gamedays.

For schedule and route information for the CTA and Metra Commuter Rail, contact the Regional Transit Authority at: 836-7000 (any area code) or www.rtachicago.com.

Prohibited items
NO UMBRELLAS, LARGE BACKPACKS OR BAGS WILL BE PERMITTED INTO THE STADIUM. Any bags exceeding the size of a template box - 8 ½ inches by 11 inches by 12 inches - will not be permitted under any circumstances Any inspected bag, including backpacks that reasonably fit in the template box with its contents, and its contents are not prohibited items, shall be permitted. Diaper bags or bags containing medical or special needs components shall be permitted after inspection and tagging.

For a complete list of Prohibited Items, click here.

The Bears and SMG (stadium management) cannot safeguard items which are not permitted to be brought into the stadium. Patrons are encouraged to return prohibited items to their cars or discard them in trash receptacles prior to gate entry. There is no storage facility at the stadium.