Bears Keep Ticket Prices Unchanged for '09

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 6, 2009 4:40PM

The bad economy is being felt throughout society these days, and it's even hurting pro sports. The Arena League suspended their entire 2009 season. Sox GM Kenny Williams explained how the reduction in sponsorship revenue impacts his team's payroll at last weekend's SoxFest. The Chicago Bears are likely to feel that same pinch, but they won't be recouping that lost revenue from their fans.

The Bears announced that they will keep ticket prices for the 2009 season the same as they were in '08. This will be the first time since 2001 that the team has not raised prices from one season to the next.

Team president Ted Phillips told the Tribune, "Could we have raised prices and probably gotten pretty good response? We probably could have. But this is the right thing to do, given the economy. We feel good about doing it." In fact, the team is even absorbing a 1% city of Chicago amusement tax increase and accepting credit card payments -- along with their 2.5% processing fee -- for the first time. Not that Bears tickets are cheap. Tickets start at $68 and climb up to $350.