CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As Chicago Bears fans wonder if they will be able to attend games in person at some point this season, they as celebrating a win at the season-opener in Detroit.
Around 100 fans gathered Sunday in the Gold Coast to watch the 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions on two large screens brought in by local bars. The screens were mounted on a box truck and parked on a street that has been closed for outdoor seating.
"And it feels good to be back outside, in the perfect sun and weather in Chicago, and feeling like normal," said one fan.
Many fans that came out to watch the game said they would like to see a small crowd inside Soldier Field.
"Yeah, absolutely," said one fan.
"All the teams are doing 25 percent, I don't know why they can't. I don't know what the reason is, but I think it's a good idea. They should," said another fan.
While other fans are still not entirely sure.
"I mean it's hard to know which way to go in these things - the health versus the economics, the political route..." one fan said.
Bears owner George McCaskey told the Daily Herald that the Bears have presented a plan to the city of Chicago about how they can have fans at games safely.
"We're very optimistic," McCaskey said. "We're talking to the city. We've presented a plan, we think it's a good plan."
No timetable has been provided for when fans might return to the stadium. The Chicago Bears host their first home game on Sunday, Sept. 20. McCaskey said the team will follow the guidelines set forth by the city.
The Chicago Bears are taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, including McCaskey himself, who said he's only been to Halas Hall twice since March. McCaskey said he hasn't even met Nick Foles, the quarterback the Chicago Bears traded for at the start of the offseason, because he hasn't been around the players as he normally would be.
The NFL does not have one specific guideline for hosting fans in the stands. The league has left it up to each individual team and each team's city ordinances. Some teams have set capacity limits and are allowing a limited number of fans to attend games, while others are playing in empty stadiums.
The Chicago Bears announced last month that Soldier Field will not host fans, for at least the start of the season. When and if fans are allowed to attend games this season, Bears season ticket holders will have first priority.
