Training camp used to be a destination event for Chicago Bears fans. They’d pack up food and drinks before driving a few hours south to Bourbbonais. There were no seating caps because the campus was more than big enough to handle thousands. Sadly, that era ended when the team unveiled its new practice facility at Halas Hall. The Bears chose to end their relationship with Bourbonnais and moved camp to Lake Forest. While it was closer for most fans to attend, the seating was far smaller. Tickets became harder to come by.
As if that weren’t bad enough, the previous coaching staff seemed dead set on limiting fan engagement as much as possible. Only nine practices were open to the public last year. Matt Eberflus’s secrecy was outdated, annoying, and ultimately pointless. It appears Ben Johnson plans to change that. The Bears released their camp schedule on Wednesday, and it featured a few surprises. Chief among them was the fact that 12 practices will be open to the public—a sharp increase from years prior.
The Chicago Bears seem more open to entertainment this year.
Considering who their new head coach is, that shouldn’t be a surprise. Johnson is 38 years old. He’s of the younger generation who understands modern philosophies. The idea that closing off practices from fans somehow gives the team a competitive edge is stupid. Selling tickets and building the brand are priorities for every football team. You do that by winning games and making the experience fun for people. As an offensive-minded guy, Johnson loves to entertain. It comes naturally to him. He is secure enough in his ability as a coach to survive giving fans a little more access to their team during the summer.
The Chicago Bears will operate on a predictable schedule, too. Every open practice for the first two weeks will start at 8:30 a.m., with no deviations. Better still, their two joint practices with Miami and Buffalo will also be open. They’ll get to see their favorite pleasure go against some of the best in the AFC. Outside of the likely hot temperatures, it should be a fun end of summer for Bears faithful.
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