Bears ownership coughed up plenty of money to hire coach Ben Johnson, triggering the turnaround to a 12-7 season and their first playoff victory since the 2010 season.
It was a season with more thrills than they've enjoyed since 2018.
Fans will be asked, apparently, to foot some of the bill for that high cost and the thrill show because they'll raise ticket prices for next season by about an average of 13.5%, according to a letter team president Kevin Warren addressed to season ticket holders Tuesday.
“Our goals have not changed,” Warren wrote in the letter. “We are working to build a sustainable winning culture, a team that competes for championships, and to construct a world-class stadium for the Chicagoland area and our fans.
"There is plenty of work ahead of us, and we all understand and embrace the opportunities and challenges that will arise.”
Anybody that wants to know. This does not affect salary cap or ability to spend on players. The cap is off shared revenue. This is all about ownership greed
— vic (@themanvic) February 17, 2026
The increase of 13.5% means they've gone up almost 24% the last two years and almost 32% over three years. They had raised prices 6% for 2022, had no increase in 2023, then an 8% increase in 2024 and 10% increase last season.
Saying the team is working to build a sustainable winning culture is not necessarily something that should involve ticket prices.
The McCaskey family as they raise ticket prices consistently when the Bears continue to be terrible pic.twitter.com/34FOnSrjlV
— Jeremy Shipe (@JeremyOnTheMic) December 6, 2020
Teams have a salary cap for spending and it has gone up every year since the pandecmic for each team to a reported level near $305 million for next season, and meanwhile the league’s revenues from television is reaching astronomical amounts.
The Bears hired Johnson for a reported $13 million per year for 2025 and coaches' pay is not part of the salary cap. That must come from somewhere.
The Bears put together 1 winning season in 7 years and my tickets go up 13.5%… they can’t figure out how to build a stadium and they better keep the winning going. Would love to see how this price hike looks compared to others?
— Ben Stein (@BSbear61) February 18, 2026
It’s possible the new stadium expected in Arlington Heights or Hammond could result in even much higher prices in the future. After the construction begins the Bears probably won't be able to play in the new facility for three years.
Warren said “detailed analysis and market research” led the raised praics.
The Bears averaged 58,127 fans in Soldier Field this season. They're limited in the number of fans they can put into the NFL's smallest stadium.
The downside of a successful season: just got an email that my Bears season tickets went up in price by 15% 🫤
— Peggy G (@PeggyBball) February 18, 2026
They’ll have nine home dates this regular season, although it’s still possible one of those would be in Spain. Schedules come out in May.
It’s apparent Bears fans are going to need to get accustomed to the idea that with great achievement comes great cost, and that they’ll be the ones expected to bear the cost.
My Bears season ticket prices going up 13.5% next year! pic.twitter.com/lAdJCL8XQK
— Steve Scheuer (@Scheuer_Thing) February 17, 2026
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