As the Bears faithful gathered before the team’s home opener on Sunday, the prospect of a possible move to Arlington Heights was like a storm cloud over Soldier Field.
The matchup with the San Francisco 49ers comes three days after a critical community meeting in the northwest suburbs, where Bears chairman George McCaskey promised the team would be “good neighbors” and acknowledged the massive development will depend in part on taxpayer money.
Hundreds of fans have been at Reggie’s Chicago, 2105 S. State St., before. Reggies owner Robbie Glick hopes the team stays.
“I’m a Chicagoan, I’m a Bears fan,” said current ticket holder Glick. “I don’t want you to move. I want the team to be in the city. I’d love to see the Bears stay on top of the Warriors.
But I say this selfishly. I want the business, and I don’t want to go all the way to Arlington Heights.
The Reggies were packed by 9:40, with over 400 people milling around the bar, a regular home game crowd. Fans who clamored for cocktails and a $15 all-you-can-eat buffet were finally given free rides to the stadium and old school buses.
Bears fans will be bussed out of the Regis Chicago for a free ride to Soldier Field on Sunday.
Glick said he understands why the Bears want to let him go, even if he falls short in the game-day trade. Other fans have made similar concessions, issuing a laundry list of complaints.
They complained that the stadium was one of the smallest in the league. There is no dome to protect fans from inclement weather; Lines and concessions for restrooms are very long; There is not enough parking; The train stops are far away.
Kevin Conley stopped by Regis with his brother before heading to Soldier Field. Weather aside, Conley was excited to head to the game, a first-time season ticket holder.
But he is also excited about the prospect of a new stadium with more seats, better amenities and easier access.
“I’m ready for all of this,” said Conley, who lives in the city. “Getting to the stadium now is a pain, it’s a bit old. Getting here will take as much time as getting to the new stadium.
Other fans were not so optimistic.
“I’m not very happy about it,” said South Loop resident Blake Neal. “If they start moving, it will be sad. We live here and are season ticket holders. And with Regis, we can hang out at the bar and go straight to the stadium bus.
It might be close to people in the suburbs, Neal says, but it won’t be close to people on the South Side.
Bears fans watched Sunday’s game at Kroll’s South Loop.
At Kroll’s South Loop, 1736 S. Michigan Ave., Bears fans are also a few blocks away.
Hyde Park resident Jeremy Balfe, who stopped by to watch the game, said it was all for a new field.
“Chicago deserves a bigger and better stadium,” Balfe said. “It is an outdated stadium for many reasons. There should be a dome for bad weather days like today. It would be nice if the military improved and stayed here, but I don’t think that’s possible.
Bar owner Nicole Steinmetz’s move from Soldier Field is a tough one for her business. Kroll is reliably packed before and after Bears games, Steinmetz said, and the bar stays packed with people who come to watch.
“Home games make a big difference for us,” she said. “I understand why they want to leave, but it’s terrible for local businesses here.”
Chicago Bears fans braved heavy rain during the fourth quarter of the team’s 19-10 win over San Francisco on Sunday. Among the complaints some fans have made about Soldier Field? It has no roof.
