The Bears are warning their fans about an increase in counterfeit tickets for home and road games.
"As we've been having some success on the field, some people have been trying to take advantage of our fans off the field," said Bears spokesman Scott Hagel. "We've seen an uptick in counterfeit tickets appearing at games. We had over 100 last week that we confiscated and there was one arrest of a person that they found selling counterfeit tickets."
Hagel said that Ticketmaster and NFL Ticket Exchange are the only 100 percent reliable sources outside of the team itself to purchase Bears tickets.
"You can't even go based on look anymore because unfortunately what happens is sometimes tickets are stolen and it's reported to us and those are cancelled but then they go back out on the street," Hagel said. "Everything looks OK until you get to the stadium and try to scan them and they're not scanned in."
Counterfeit tickets are also surfacing for Bears games on the road.
"We've already had word from a couple of the different markets that we're going to coming up, specifically Tennessee, that they're also seeing an uptick when they know that there are going to be a lot of Bears fans coming to their stadium. So be careful who you're buying your tickets from."
Save Da Planet
The Bears and Constellation, the official energy provider at Halas Hall and a leading competitive energy supplier in Illinois, are partnering for the second annual 'Save Da Planet' week leading up to Sunday's game against the Panthers.
"Save Da Planet" week runs from Oct. 23-28 with the goal of enacting sustainable business practices and raising awareness of conservation issues. The Bears organization encourages fans to engage in environmentally-friendly practices and adopt proactive ways to reuse, recycle and reduce their environmental footprint.
Bears fans are encouraged to enter the 'Save Da Planet' sweepstakes, where they can win tickets to the Dec. 16 home game against the Green Bay Packers. No purchase necessary. The sweepstakes runs through Monday.
On Sunday, the first 40,000 fans in attendance for the Bears-Panthers contest will receive eco-friendly tote bags from Constellation and the Bears. For the second year in a row, Constellation also will retire renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover the expected energy usage at Soldier Field for the game. Last year, the RECs helped the Bears and fans attending the game avoid approximately 42 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions - that's more than 1,700 propane grills commonly used at tailgates. Additionally, fans who are spotted recycling can receive a free 'Save Da Planet' button from members of Fan Services.
On Tuesday, Bears players and staff members will join Lake County high school students and Lake Forest Open Lands' land managers to clear evasive bush and collect native prairie seeds as part of a fall cleanup to allow for further restoration and preservation efforts. The volunteer project will take place at the North Grove of Middlefork Savanna Nature Preserve in Lake Forest from 3:30 - 5:00 pm. For more information about Lake Forest Open Lands, fans may visit www.LFOLA.org.
Football 101
Several Bears players are scheduled to be on hand when the Bears host Meijer Football 101 presented by Chase Monday night in the United Club at Soldier Field.
The annual event, which is geared toward the Bears' female fans, will feature an exclusive tour of the Bears locker room, an autograph session with current players, a special gift, shopping opportunities, a light dinner and a few surprises.
Bears players slated to attend are quarterback Jason Campbell, safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright, linebacker Blake Costanzo, cornerback Tim Jennings and the entire rookie class, including defensive end Shea McClellin and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
The event will be held from 5-9 p.m. Tickets cost $75 for reserved seating and $60 for general admission.
Bears gym to be unveiled
Bears defensive lineman Israel Idonije, President and CEO Ted Phillips, and Chairman George H. McCaskey will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the new Chicago Bears Gym at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago on Monday.
The new gym, which features Bears murals and team décor, will serve as a valuable resource for the hospital's young patients as they participate in physical and occupational therapy and work to build their strength and dexterity.
