When the Bears take on the Packers at Soldier Field on Thursday night, it won’t merely be the latest in a long line of intense games between rivals. It’s also the first NFL game of the 2019 regular season, a ringing in for the most-hyped Bears team in years and the kickoff of 100-year celebrations for the league and franchise.
So it’s fair to say there’s going to be a lot going on around the stadium.
Here’s a rundown of important information for the tens of thousands of fans who’ll be descending upon Soldier Field and Grant Park Thursday night:
Try to arrive early. Very early.
Given the combination of gameday action and rush hour traffic, the Bears are urging fans to arrive well before the 7:20 p.m. kickoff. An email from the team recommends arriving at least three hours before kickoff given how overwhelmed roadways and ride sharing services will be with fans trying to get to the area. The stadium will open its doors at 5:20 p.m.
Print tickets are dead. Download the Bears’ official app for your tickets
The Bears have gone all-in on digital tickets for the 2019 season, so you’ll need your smartphone on hand and charged to be able to enter Soldier Field. The easiest way to do this will be to download the official Chicago Bears app on iOS or Android — and if you already have it, make sure it’s up-to-date in order to access your tickets.
Alternatively, you can go to the Bears’ website via the web browser on your phone.
There is no other way to access your tickets for the game. The team says screenshots of tickets will not work, so remember to prepare to access your tickets beforehand.
There will be pregame activities — and free stuff
For those who are able to get to the area well before the start of the game, there will be a ton of things to do.
- From noon to 10:30 p.m., the NFL kickoff experience will be open at Grant Park with a variety of attractions and live artists including Meek Mill and Meghan Trainor. It’s free to the public and includes a nighttime watch party in the park for those who don’t have tickets but still want to enjoy the game with a crowd. The NFL says its the first time it has ever held a watch party in Grant Park.
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- At 4 p.m., the “Miller Lite Chicago Bears Ultimate Tailgate” will open on the Field Museum Terrace North of Soldier Field.
- At 4:45 p.m., the “Miller Lite Chicago Bears Fan Zone” will open on Soldier Field South Lawn
- At 5:20 p.m., Soldier Field will open its doors so fans can begin to enter. The first 20,000 fans will receive a Bears 100 commemorative bobblehead of Mike Ditka.
Where am I allowed to tailgate?
In addition to the official sponsored tailgate zones listed above, there are various parking lots where fans can congregate to party and enjoy themselves before games. According to the team, tailgating is allowed on all surface lots at the stadium campus as well as the upper level of the Waldron Deck and McCormick Place’s 31st Street Lots B, D, and E.
Tailgating is banned during games and following night games.
Check out the new statues
The Bears unveiled a pair of new statues devoted to franchise legends George Halas and Walter Payton this week. They both look fantastic and seem likely to become go-to spots for fans eyeing the ideal place to take a picture outside Soldier Field.
New concessions this year
You’ll still be able to eat all the hot dogs and burgers that you want at Soldier Field, but the new season brings some new options to the concession stands. There are a host of new chicken options, a plant-based burger for vegan fans and a spicy take on the sloppy joe. Here’s more complete information on where to find everything in the stadium from craft cocktails to churros.
