In the end, yes, I left at 4:25 on Wednesday, barely made 7:10 first pitchThat long drive is worth it for me.
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In the end, yes, I left at 4:25 on Wednesday, barely made 7:10 first pitchThat long drive is worth it for me.
But that is no different than most major sporting events of 50,000 plus spectatorsSit in a car for an hour going in and two hours coming home for those 8-10 games each year, for the last 37 years and then tell me how irrelevant it is.
Bears actually hibernate in the winter.Bear weather is a myth
Do you have tickets and go to the games?
Especially when they play the Pack.😂Bears actually hibernate in the winter.
Perhaps because most of those venues have a lot more seats??Soldier Field traffic isnt as bad as most major college football venues I have been to.
I agree 100%. Also please put down field turf. The grass at Soldier field is a liability. Embarrassing.Bear weather is a myth
Do you have tickets and go to the games?
When I hear or read "Bear football," that also seems like a myth as it relates to running the ball.Bear weather is a myth
As a long time Illinois season ticket holder, who also had tickets for the Bears in 2002 in Champaign, one key for parking is whether patrons know where they are going and if there are secondary routes which knowledgeable people can use to get to the stadium. There are no secondary routes to Soldier Field because of its location along the lake, east of LSD. Parking is never going to be easy for Soldier Field. But transit is a block away with a walkway right to the stadium.Perhaps because most of those venues have a lot more seats??
That’s exactly my point. Its not stopping anyone from going to the game. You Plan ahead and make it in time.Sit in a car for an hour going in and two hours coming home for those 8-10 games each year, for the last 37 years and then tell me how irrelevant it is.
Since the Super Bowl era the Bears are 2-5 at home in the playoffs against cold weather teams and 5-3 against warm weather teams. I counted Seattle and SF as warm weather teams because you will get rain out there but it doesn't get cold there like it does here in winter. I'd say the cold weather is a bit of an advantage against warm weather teams. And you should know that this needs to be separated between cold and warm weather cities.Since they won the Super Bowl they are 5-8 in home playoff games, so what is the advantage the cold offers? If you are going to put garbage on the field at least give the fans a good experience.
Of course I've gone to games. You measure the cold weather effect on warm weather teams, not cold weather teams. The Bears have won more playoff games at home against warm weather teams than they have lost since the beginning of the Super Bowl era. Their record is 5-3 so it isn't a myth. I'd like to know how the Bears have done at home against warm weather teams in regular season games played in December and January.Bear weather is a myth
Do you have tickets and go to the games?
What route do you have to take?In the end, yes, I left at 4:25 on Wednesday, barely made 7:10 first pitch
I've said this for years ever since Joe Montana and Jerry Rice came into Soldier Field for the NFC Championship game from mild San Francisco and absolutely TORCHED the Bears. Bear weather is a false narrative,Bear weather is a myth
typically it's 55 to 90/94, but it really doesn't matter, it's so unpredictable.What route do you have to take?
I went and looked. For games just in December and January...Of course I've gone to games. You measure the cold weather effect on warm weather teams, not cold weather teams. The Bears have won more playoff games at home against warm weather teams than they have lost since the beginning of the Super Bowl era. Their record is 5-3 so it isn't a myth. I'd like to know how the Bears have done at home against warm weather teams in regular season games played in December and January.
I went and looked. For games just in December and January...
From 1986 through 2009 the Bears were 16-5 against warm weather teams.
But from 2010-2020 they were 5-9 against the same group of teams.
So you’re saying when you put the better team on the field the weather doesn’t matter? Someone should tell the Bears front office this. If you are counting on help from the weather to win games your team has problems.
My point was that there’s going to be traffic. It’s unavoidable, so there’s no point in complaining about it.Sit in a car for an hour going in and two hours coming home for those 8-10 games each year, for the last 37 years and then tell me how irrelevant it is.
Cold weather teamsWarm weather, cold weather…without looking it up I’d guess a significant portion of the league is from the south and California.
I was going to make a list too. But, I don't think we can consider Detroit, Minnesota and Indianapolis cold weather teams anymore because they play in domes. It might get cold outside the dome but it sure as hell isn't cold inside and there isn't any wind. Softies.Cold weather teams
MN
Detroit
Indy
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Philly
NYG
NYJ
NE
Buffalo
Washington
Denver
KC
Chicago
I was at that game, your beer would freeze to the inside of the cup and it was so windy, one 1/2 of the stadium was almost empty. and standing on the other side so the wind was at your back. That's the game Urlacher picked on for a TD too. (Favre's last as a Packer at Soldier Field, I believe).100% agree. Line the teams up regardless of the weather the better team is going to win. I do like the retractable roof idea. I have been to plenty of Bears games in November-December and I can honestly say I would rather be inside out of the cold. One home game against the Packers in December. It was flat out cold and snowing, the wind was brutal. Farve through several picks and the Bears won the game. We had our feet standing on cardboard to keep them off the cement but I don’t think it helped as much as the brandy! 😂
There is no way in the world the Bears would look at that site and seriously consider a move there. There are far too many problems with putting any professional team there.Similar idea, different location...with NASCAR apparently having abandoned the Joliet track, I believe the Bears would be negligent if they failed to investigate the Joliet property if the site were put up for sale.
Come on man! Steel up!! I have been to cold Bears games too. I remember one against Tampa Bay and yes the beer did freeze on the sides of the cup. (Walter) So what, drink faster. LOL!100% agree. Line the teams up regardless of the weather the better team is going to win. I do like the retractable roof idea. I have been to plenty of Bears games in November-December and I can honestly say I would rather be inside out of the cold. One home game against the Packers in December. It was flat out cold and snowing, the wind was brutal. Farve through several picks and the Bears won the game. We had our feet standing on cardboard to keep them off the cement but I don’t think it helped as much as the brandy! 😂
This may sound crazy to you. But, I'd rather have it 15-20 degrees outside than 90 with a dew point of 70 or more. Sure, swimming in the pool helps. And quite honestly, when wifey and I are working in the yard, riding bikes or walking, high heat and dew point don't seem to bother me as much. I am sweaty anyway. It's when I am showered and clean that it becomes a problem because I sweat big time.100% agree. Line the teams up regardless of the weather the better team is going to win. I do like the retractable roof idea. I have been to plenty of Bears games in November-December and I can honestly say I would rather be inside out of the cold. One home game against the Packers in December. It was flat out cold and snowing, the wind was brutal. Farve through several picks and the Bears won the game. We had our feet standing on cardboard to keep them off the cement but I don’t think it helped as much as the brandy! 😂
There is no way in the world the Bears would look at that site and seriously consider a move there. There are far too many problems with putting any professional team there.
I don't know if you are familiar with that area or not. First, there are a TON of warehouses in that immediate area with more to be built. The semi traffic on 53 going to and coming from I-80 is horrendous. I avoid that area like the plague. All of the residents in that area have complained about this and the coming of more warehouses. But they aren't rich and the Joliet politicians don't live in that area, so they turn a deaf ear on the residents.
Oh, they say the trucks will be re-routed, but I don't believe them and I don't think the residents do either.
Rt 53 runs just west of the track. It is a four lane road and the only four lane road near the track. As far as infrastructure goes, you'd literally be starting at zero with a project like this. Even if you did entertain the idea, where would the visiting teams stay when the come? There is no hotel that a professional team would want to stay at anywhere near that land. Putting a hotel near the track was talked about. But, I don't know how full that hotel would be on open weekends and during the offseason. Probably quite empty.
Then, there is getting to and from the airport. You could take 53 north from the track merging into Rt 52 to I-80 east, to 355 north. I imagine the teams fly into and from O'Hare. Arlington Heights is a stone's throw from O'Hare compared to south Joliet.
Is it impossible? No, nothing is. But, it would literally take years to put all the infrastructure in at great cost. There are just too many things that would need to be overcome to make this a viable location, in my opinion.
I meant the players.Cold weather teams
MN
Detroit
Indy
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Philly
NYG
NYJ
NE
Buffalo
Washington
Denver
KC
Chicago
...to varying degrees depending on the team's availability and willingness to use indoor training facilities. I can imagine the Mike Brown Bengals still toughing it out in their Over The Rhine outdoor practice field while most have mini domes or covered facilities.I meant the players.
I think LTHS was referring to the Joliet Track location.Actually the location works out better than you believe.
I live in the area. There are many hotels, including a Marriot within a few miles, right by Woodfield. There is also the Renaissance Hotel, which is tied to the Schaumburg convention center. Plus, O'Hare is right down the road, which has about every hotel under the sun.
Warehouses? Where? This is a very small industrial park right across from the property on Rohlwing. It is partially vacant. Then West of 53 off of Hicks, there are some warehouses, but those don't come into play. Just North of the racetrack is the Palatine Post office, a few smaller business, a McDonalds, and a Dunkin Donuts right off of Northwest Hwy. South of the racetrack, across Euclid are homes and the courthouse and a small strip mall. East are homes and a very small strip mall.
Rt 53 is 3 lanes in each direction at the point of entrance off of Euclid. Within a half mile of entering on 53 at Euclid, heading South, it splits and goes to 5 lanes, with an express lane passing the exits to 90 and Woodfield. Those express lanes will make traffic for those heading South flow quickly. I would think that a flyover lane heading from 53 to 90 east would help as well, since right now it is a one-lane clover leaf. That plan for the flyover has been on the books for some time.
There are also entrances to 53 off of Northwest Highway and Palatine Road. I-90 East is also just about a a mile and half away. And don't forget the Metra, which stops right at the racetrack.
I can see them widening both Euclid and Northwest Hwy. It would sense and there is the land to do both. An exit and entrance at 90 right down Wilke Rd would also make total sense. And you are correct, it would take years for that infrastructure.
It will also take years to build a new stadium. Best estimates, if they began right now, would be 2026.
These are big plans. Which surprise the hell out of us because the Bears have never been a big plan team.
But if they want to compete in the new NFL, the timing is right for this change.
But sure, stay at 100-year old Soldier Field and it's 61,500 seating capacity. It's a perfect location for a stadium. Land locked in three directions and you need to have a boat to head East.
Quags, I was talking about the Joliet location not Arlington Heights. Joliet it out. But, I am in favor of Arlington Heights.Actually the location works out better than you believe.
I live in the area. There are many hotels, including a Marriot within a few miles, right by Woodfield. There is also the Renaissance Hotel, which is tied to the Schaumburg convention center. Plus, O'Hare is right down the road, which has about every hotel under the sun.
Warehouses? Where? This is a very small industrial park right across from the property on Rohlwing. It is partially vacant. Then West of 53 off of Hicks, there are some warehouses, but those don't come into play. Just North of the racetrack is the Palatine Post office, a few smaller business, a McDonalds, and a Dunkin Donuts right off of Northwest Hwy. South of the racetrack, across Euclid are homes and the courthouse and a small strip mall. East are homes and a very small strip mall.
Rt 53 is 3 lanes in each direction at the point of entrance off of Euclid. Within a half mile of entering on 53 at Euclid, heading South, it splits and goes to 5 lanes, with an express lane passing the exits to 90 and Woodfield. Those express lanes will make traffic for those heading South flow quickly. I would think that a flyover lane heading from 53 to 90 east would help as well, since right now it is a one-lane clover leaf. That plan for the flyover has been on the books for some time.
There are also entrances to 53 off of Northwest Highway and Palatine Road. I-90 East is also just about a a mile and half away. And don't forget the Metra, which stops right at the racetrack.
I can see them widening both Euclid and Northwest Hwy. It would sense and there is the land to do both. An exit and entrance at 90 right down Wilke Rd would also make total sense. And you are correct, it would take years for that infrastructure.
It will also take years to build a new stadium. Best estimates, if they began right now, would be 2026.
These are big plans. Which surprise the hell out of us because the Bears have never been a big plan team.
But if they want to compete in the new NFL, the timing is right for this change.
But sure, stay at 100-year old Soldier Field and it's 61,500 seating capacity. It's a perfect location for a stadium. Land locked in three directions and you need to have a boat to head East.
I regret my comment....to varying degrees depending on the team's availability and willingness to use indoor training facilities. I can imagine the Mike Brown Bengals still toughing it out in their Over The Rhine outdoor practice field while most have mini domes or covered facilities.
I am Ok with a stadium going up out there as long as the infrastructure will handle it. But NO ROOF, NO ROOF, NO EFFING ROOF you softies!! Baseball and football are meant to be played outside in the elements. If you want some basketball tournament build another stadium somewhere else.
The minute they put a roof on the place the Bears lose any edge cold weather gives. And don't start that Super Bowl crap. More of them are still played in warm weather cities anyway and we won't see New York get another.
Don't care about the other reason being talked about around town (hosting big 10 hoops, NCAA tourny, super bowl, etc....) Why does any of that matter other than "it sounds cool".
Any plan that involves getting rid of or reducing the influence of the McCaskeys is a winner for Bears' fans everywhere.The obvious question is who pays? I don’t think McCaskeys have this kinda money, and I don’t see them taking on on a Billion dollar loan, but if recent rumors are true, heres a fun thought: McCaskeys sell majority of team to Bezos and McCaskey family members that wana stay in keep the remaining shares. Bezos funds the project and gets ownership of one of nfls most storied franchises. He’ll pay some $$ but can write off the entire $3-4B project from his taxes.
There is no way in the world the Bears would look at that site and seriously consider a move there. There are far too many problems with putting any professional team there.
...
Is it impossible? No, nothing is. But, it would literally take years to put all the infrastructure in at great cost. There are just too many things that would need to be overcome to make this a viable location, in my opinion.