Here is the latest from Standard Parking.  The email came this morning Looks like 31st lot is going to be controlled by Standard Parking this year!

Click and Park has been retained by Standard Parking, Soldier Field’s parking operator, to implement the 2009 Parking Program for Chicago Bears games.

 

You are receiving this invitation because as a Bears Season Ticket Holder, you are eligible to participate in this process.  We are making parking spaces for Bears games available for pre-sale through an internet-based selection process similar to last year.  

 

 

Internet-Based Selection Process

 

The Internet-Based Selection Process offers spaces in the South Lot , the Waldron Deck, the Adler Lot, and the North Garage.  Many other parking facilities, including the Southwest Facilities at McCormick Place (new for the 2009 season) and the Millennium/East Monroe underground parking garages, offer parking and shuttle service for Chicago Bears games at Soldier Field. For further information regarding other game day parking alternatives please visit www.chicagobears.com.  Tailgating is allowed in the South Lot, the top of the Waldron Deck, the Adler Lot, the East Museum Lot and the Southwest Facilities at McCormick Place ( 31^st Street and Moe Drive Facility only).

 

If you enter the Internet-Based Selection Process, it is not possible to accept requests for a specific parking facility.  Any entrant selected by the Internet-Based Selection Process will be notified via email of their assigned parking facility after the selection is conducted.

 

NOTE: You can bypass the Internet-Based Selection Process and purchase either a) pre-sold parking at the Southwest Facilities (subject to availability) or b) a Premium Parking space (subject to availability) at the East Museum Lot, Adler Lot, or South Lot . The cost of parking at the Southwest Facilities at McCormick Place for the ten (10) games is $250.00 plus a $15.00 administration fee. The cost for a Premium Parking space for the ten (10) games is $1,010.00 plus a $15.00 administration fee. Simply go to www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com and click on the “Southwest Facilities” or “Premium Parking” link for further information. 

 

Here’s how the Internet-Based Selection Process will work for the 2009 season:

 

1.      Beginning Thursday, June 11^th visit www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com and click on the “Internet-Based Selection Process” link.  The registration period for the Internet-Based Selection Process will end on Thursday, July 2^nd at 5:00 P.M.

 

1. Once you are at the website and selected the “Internet-Based Selection Process” link, you will be prompted to enter the Bears ID provided at the top of this letter.  The Bears ID may only be used once to register.

 

 

 

 

 

1. Follow the registration process to create a log in and complete your parking request.  A non-refundable $15.00 administration fee will be charged to your credit card at the time you register.

 

1. The cost of parking in the South Lot , Adler Lot, the Waldron Deck and the North Garage for ten (10) games (two (2) pre-season games and eight (8) regular season games) is $460.00.  If you are selected by the Internet-Based Selection Process, you are guaranteed a parking space at one of the facilities identified above.

 

1. The selection process will be held on Sunday, July 5^th.  You will be notified of the results of the selection process and your assigned parking facility via email by Tuesday, July 7^th.

 

1. If you have been assigned to park in the South Lot , the Waldron Deck, the Adler Lot, or the North Garage, the credit card that was used to charge the $15.00 program administration fee will be charged an additional $460.00 on Wednesday, July 9^th. 

 

1. If you entered the selection process and were not  assigned a space in the South Lot, Adler Lot, Waldron Deck, or North Garage you may elect to purchase a season parking pass at the Southwest Facilities at McCormick Place (subject to availability)  or at the Millennium/East Monroe underground parking garages. If you select the Southwest Facilities option by visiting www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com you will not be charged any additional administrative fees.  For information regarding purchasing parking at other area parking facilities, including programs offered by the Millennium/East Monroe underground parking garages, please visit www.chicagobears.com

 

1. Once the parking facility assignment and purchase process is complete, a total of twelve (12) parking passes for your assigned facility will be mailed to you.  The twelve (12) parking passes will include one (1) pass for each of two (2) pre-season games, one (1) pass for each of eight (8) regular season games, one (1) pass for a possible Conference Playoff game and one (1) pass for a possible Conference Championship game.  We anticipate passes will be in the mail by Tuesday, July 15^th.

 

Your season parking cost does NOT include the parking fees of any potential post-season games.  In the event the Bears host a post-season game, the parking pass for that specific game must be presented to the parking attendant on the day of the game along with the cash parking fee for that specific game. 

 

 

Additional 2009 Parking Program Details

 

• A limited number of Premium Parking spaces will be available this season.  Premium Parking is offered at the East Museum Lot, Adler Lot, and South Lot .  The cost of Premium Parking in 2009 for ten (10) games (eight (8) regular season and two (2) pre-season games) will be $1,010.00.  In addition to the $1,010.00 parking cost, you will also be charged a $15.00 administration fee.  If you are interested in this option please click the Premium Parking button when you visit www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com.

 

• Parking at the Michael Reese Hospital Campus is NOT available this year.  Instead Southwest Facilities parking will be made available at the McCormick Place 31^st and Moe Drive Lot and Lakeside Underground parking facilities.  Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for further information regarding these locations.

 

• Standard Parking reserves the right to revoke parking pass privileges in any case where a patron or a patron’s guests engage in rude, disorderly, or offensive behavior.

 

• Tailgating is not permitted in the North Garage, the lower level of the Waldron Deck or at the Southwest Facilities Lakeside Center Underground garage.

 

• The parking privileges of the program that are described in this letter are only being offered for the 2009 Bears season. 

 

• Accessible parking for the disabled is available.  Accessible parking spaces for persons with disabilities require a current disabled license plate or hang-tag issued to an occupant of the vehicle. If you are assigned to park at the Southwest Facilities, you may ride a free accessible shuttle bus to and from Soldier Field and the Southwest Facilities ( 31^st Street and Moe Drive facility only).

 

NOTE:  Accessible parking at all Parking Program facilities also requires the driver of the vehicle to present the correct parking pass for each specific facility to the parking facility attendant.  Patrons without the correct parking pass will not be permitted to enter that specific parking facility.  

 

The complimentary shuttle bus program at the Southwest Facilities will begin operating two (2) hours before kick-off and continue until two (2) hours after the end of the game. 

 

NOTE:  Please see the enclosed map of the Southwest Facilities for additional information and the location of the free shuttle pick-up area.

 

• Parking for campers and oversized vehicles is NOT available through the Internet-Based Selection Process.  Parking for these vehicles is only available in the Adler Planetarium Lot on game days for a fee of $121.00 (cash only) per game, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Please visit www.soldierfieldparking.com or contact the Soldier Field Parking Hotline at (312) 235-7724 for further details.

 

• If your parking pass booklet becomes lost or stolen, please call Click and Park at 1-866-330-PARK (7275).  Click and Park will deactivate the lost or stolen parking passes, charge your credit card a non-refundable replacement fee of up to $30.00 and mail you out replacements immediately.  If an individual parking pass is lost or stolen, please contact Click and Park as soon as possible.  They will make every effort to assist you.

 

NOTE: Anyone presenting lost, counterfeit or stolen parking passes at a game is subject to criminal prosecution.

 

We have enclosed maps of the various parking areas described in this letter, as well as our responses to frequently asked questions about the program to assist you in reviewing this season’s parking program options.

 

If you have any additional questions regarding this program, please call the Click and Park Customer Service Hotline at 1-866-330-PARK (7275).  For parking specific questions, call the Soldier Field Parking Hotline at (312) 235-7724.

 

i wonder if that means it only opens 4 hours prior to the game now?  If thats true this ridiculously sucks!!

This is the first year I got the letter since I was a 1st year STH last year.  Wow - what a ripoff!  Unless you tailgate or don't want a little bit of a walk, is there any reason to want this?  A friend told me to get into the lottery no matter what - I could always sell the spots.  But is there really any big market value for these to make sense?  What if you get stuck in the North garage?  Admittedly I have never had the privelege of parking in any of these lots so I shouldn't make judgements.  Just curious.

Price is fine,
hours of operation --- OK,

..... but what really sucks is that the damned PARKING NAZI$ are at the helm.

DAMMIT!!!!

There is a market for the spots. I will guess that it may be down a bit this season with times being on the tough side. I know that people were able to double their money in past years.

It would be nice to know how many people are coming off the STH list so they can proceed and sign up for this.

is there any reason to want this?  A friend told me to get into the lottery no matter what - I could always sell the spots.  But is there really any big market value for these to make sense?  What if you get stuck in the North garage?  Admittedly I have never had the privelege of parking in any of these lots so I shouldn't make judgements.  Just curious.

There is always debate on the different parking options.  I like the South Lot,  having used the lot for most of the 20 years we've been ST holders (used to be a partial $10.00 cash lot years ago) we've gotten to know quite a few people.   It's less than a 5 minute walk into the game too.

There has always been a demand for the lots close to the field...The very few times I have sold our passes I have always made something on them...even on premium parking @ $100.00 a game! 

I know times are tough but I consider parking passes as part of the cost of season tickets.  It's pretty nice to be able to park in the same spot almost every game too,  all of our friends know where to find us (and usually do for free drinks!). 

There is somewhat of a demand for North Garage tickets.  It's nice to be able to park and walk into the stadium without being out in the weather sometimes.

I would definately suggest you enter the lottery.  Even if you have to sell a few games I think it is well worth it!

 

 

Is this the first year the Adler lot has been part of the regular lottery?

Pros and cons of that lot, anyone who has used it?

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GO BEARZZZZZ!

Winning the lottery will be tougher this year because so many seats were converted from single-game to STH last year.  Since new STH's have to wait a year to enter the parking lottery, this will be the first year for those that were added last year.

So I am glad Adler was added to the mix.  It helps increase the slim odds a little.

This Southwest facility is it the entire 31st parking lot? I cant see that entire lot turning into Chicago Bears coupon parking. Were does that leave the indiviual ticket peps from parking? Has anybody called to confirm that the entire 31st is turning in coupn parking. If so could they post any helpful information.

LOOP:

Is this the first year the Adler lot has been part of the regular lottery?

Pros and cons of that lot, anyone who has used it?

Adler had been Motor Homes only, but cash for cars first come, first served in recent years. They must have a handle on how much room they need for motor homes.

I tailgated at Adler and/or Solidarity Drive for years, until they closed down Meigs and moved the Drive to the other side of the Campus. For my money, there was no better tailgate location anywhere--you had a lot full of Bears fans with the lake and the postcard shot of the skyline as your backdrop. Plenty of room to spread out, grass for touch football games, access to running water and bathrooms, power for cooking/blenders (if you knew where to look). Get there early enough and you could get a spot for 3 bucks in quarters. Those were the days.

I've only been back a couple of times since since. Pros are real bathrooms at 12th St Beach (until they close for the season), relatively easy exit (if they let you use McFetridge), an easy walk to SF and a picturesque view. There are some paved areas that are unparkable, you could set up there if you need more room, though like not at 31st St.

Cons are relatively slow exit if they make you go south on Museum Campus to 18th St., especially with all the Motor Homes--you'll be fighting with the South Lot/Waldron folks to get to the Drive--and I've been routed both ways before.

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Thanks Bison. I guess it will depend on how the city routes traffic on gameday.

Also it looks like a pretty small lot to begin with, plus they sell premium spaces there,  so it's probably a very small percentage of total lottery spaces.

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GO BEARZZZZZ!

What is the Bears ID number you need to register for the lottery.

1 How do I get the Non Premium seats , I can only spend the 400 and change price, do we have choice to click on once we go thru the process? Thanks

Avellini:

What is the Bears ID number you need to register for the lottery.

The ID number is on the email you get from the Bears.

LosOsos:

1 How do I get the Non Premium seats , I can only spend the 400 and change price, do we have choice to click on once we go thru the process? Thanks

You have to choose the premium parking. Just don't do it. Sign up for the lottery and that's it.

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My buddy just got e-mail confirmation from the Bears -- all of the McCormick 31st street lot will be subject to the same tailgating rules as the other lots -- 3 hours before and 1 hour after game time, no canopies/fires/etc. Absolute garbage, this is the death of tailgating as far as I'm concerned.

My buddy just got e-mail confirmation from the Bears -- all of the McCormick 31st street lot will be subject to the same tailgating rules as the other lots -- 3 hours before and 1 hour after game time, no canopies/fires/etc. Absolute garbage, this is the death of tailgating as far as I'm concerned.

The lots open 4 hours before kickoff and close two hours after.  Here is the official version:

Hours of Operation and Access

All Soldier Field and Museum Campus parking facilities will open four (4) hours prior to kickoff. All of these parking facilities will close two (2) hours after the conclusion of the game. These parking facilities may close earlier at the discretion of Stadium Management.

 

What is the average fan supposed to do now.  31st street was the pinnacle of tailgating where the real tailgators went to have a grand time.  Where do we go?  Anyone have any suggestions or tips?  We should start a petition and get this crap revoked.

We might be reading this wrong I hope.  Parking is not available at Michael Reese anymore and the Bears have to put them somewhere since they enter a lottery to park there right?  I think the Bears just worked something out with McCormick place to have those people moved  to a part of the parking lot at 31st.  I don't see how the Bears can control the entire 31st lot of McCormick place and make it coupon parking.  Its not their property.  Half the time trailers fill the lot for whatever convention is at McCormick place.  I thinking there will be a small section reserved for people from Michael Reese at 31st.

 31st trailgating will be alive and well Bears fans, dont worry about it!!!!

Ok...here's the e-mail I got to answer some of my questions...

Thank you for your questions regarding the SW Facilities this year in support of the 2009 Chicago Bears season.  Hopefully I can answer everything to your satisfaction.

·         SW Facilities lots will open no later than 3 hours prior to game time

·         The same tailgating guidelines apply to the SW Facilities lots as they do to all lots in support of the Bears.

·         Cash parking will be available if there is space available.  We do sell single game passes on our site as we get closer to the season to fill up any possible spaces.  If all the parking is not pre-sold, they will sell spaces for cash on the day of the game.

True...the lot should open 4 hours before the game.  HOWEVER, do you realize how many people have been set up in that lot by 5 a.m.  We always get there by 6 and there are usually about 10 - 15 tailgates already set up by then.  Also, "same tailgating guidlines" means no more things such as canopies.  How many people who have been tailgating in that lot for YEARS have purchased canopies?  And the ONLY REASON they have purchased them is for TAILGATING!!!!  So that's $$$ lost for something they'll never use again. 

True, tailgating will still take place in the 31st Street lot.  But now it will be run by the same Lot Nazi's that have been running the other lots!!!!  THEY HAVE RUINED TAILGATING FOR BEARS GAMES!!!!!  It is a very sad day when it is easier to tailgate at a Sox game (FOR A BASEBALL GAME) than it is for a Bears game!!!!!

The Bears started  right before the renovation by deciding to only open the Soldier Field lots 4 hours prior to the game.  But we all had the wonderful option of the 31st Street lot.  But now they've taken that away.  How long before they make the decision to end tailgating altogether?!?!?!?

I agree with the petition idea 1,000%.  Also, I will never again spend any $$$ inside that stadium.  I won't even buy a bottle of water. 

 Also, I will never again spend any $$$ inside that stadium.  I won't even buy a bottle of water. 

What is a bottle of water now $5.00

Beer is only 7.50

 

I'm down with the petition.  Who knows how to set one up and get that going?  We need to get this over turned ASAP. 

Wow, does this mean the price for 31st street goes up to $25 each game?

 

And that if you want to be sure to get in,  you have to bypass the lottery and buy it now for the whole season???

 

If so, that bites.

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GO BEARZZZZZ!

I tried the Standard Parking number in the letter and no one would call me back so I called the Click and Park number and they were really helpful. According to them, the "entire" 31st Street lot is now like the other Bears lots. The cost is $25 per game and there will only be cash parking if the lot doesn't sell out during the pre-sale. It's also subject to the rules of the other Bears lots now, which is the biggest downer in this whole thing. It'll only be open 4 hours before and a couple hours after. And, canopies won't be allowed.

The communication wasn't great on this change, so I really don't know for sure if the entire lot is Bears controlled now, but to be safe, I bought my pass this morning. Hopefully the Click and Park people are wrong, and maybe we'll show up and only a portion will be Bears controlled and the other will be McCormick, but I bought to be safe.