The NFL season is finally back and through Week 1, the Chicago Bears are exactly who we thought they were — MID. No matter your thoughts on the Bears heading into the season there was one thing we all at least expected to see and that is improvement. We did not see that. Despite a stud WR addition that came as part of a historic trade, another year of Justin Fields within an offense designed to help him grow, and a ton of money spent on defense; the Bears looked the exact same. And watching that abomination in person likely cost you a ton of cash in the process.
According to a report from Play Ohio, the Chicago Bears ranked as the fifth-most expensive home ticket in the NFL this season, behind only the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, and New England Patriots. Rounding out the Top 10 is Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before I just absolutely unload on the absurdity of this, let me preface one thing. I am a Chicago Bears fan. I have been my entire life. I root for the Bears every Sunday. I am also incredibly critical of the organization as a whole and I am not afraid to put my name next to that. So before you accuse me of being a hater, take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror, breathe deeply, and stop being an apologist if you aren’t in agreement with me.
Of the teams that make up the 10 most expensive tickets in the league the Bears are the only team that has not made the playoff in the last two seasons. The Raiders, Packers, Patriots, and Steelers didn’t make it in 2022. The Packers, Patriots, and Steelers all have Super Bowl victories since the Bears last made a Super Bowl. And the Raiders play in Las Vegas, where they can make their ticket prices whatever they want because their target demo for fans are all tourists anyway.
The Bears also play in a stadium that’s A) old as dirt, B) super inconvenient despite being in the heart of downtown Chicago, and C) is the second-smallest stadium in the NFL by capacity. I know that ticket pricing is a science that many variables go into, but charging fans the 5th highest ticket in the league for an atrocious product that’s also in an atrocious venue is comical at the very least.
At least some of these other questionable Top 10 additions have new stadiums those prices are paying off. Or have players with contracts so absurd (and justified) that you need the in-game experience prices to help offset that. But the Bears? Nope. We’re going to charge you an arm and four legs to watch 18 check down play calls and a defensive line that gets less penetration than a virgin.
I’m mad. And you should be too. Because it’s one thing to be underwhelming on the field. But it’s another to continue accepting the under performances while consciously charging your fanbase a month’s rent to watch it in person.