Bears Raise Season Ticket Prices Again

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 7, 2013 3:30PM

The Chicago Bears announced Wednesday they’re raising season ticket prices. It’s the 10th time in the past 11 years the club has done so and a more reliable sign of winter in Chicago than the groundhog seeing his shadow and dibs. (OTAs are six weeks away, right?)

The Bears sent out invoices to season ticket holders already, with payment expected by April 5. Here’s how the latest gouging breaks down:

Price increases range from $3 to $10 for 90 percent of the seating bowl, with some United Club seats remaining flat. Lower-level mid-field seating price increases range from $15 to $30. The overall average increase for 2013 season tickets is 4.2 percent.

Non-club season ticket prices now range from $79 to $165 and account for approximately 85 percent of the seating at Soldier Field. United Club season tickets range from $265 to $540. Season ticket holders will continue to see a $25 per game savings for each regular season ticket as compared to the individual game price.

The Bears had the fourth-highest average ticket price in the NFL last season and will likely maintain a stranglehold on the spot. We can’t say we didn’t see this coming, given the Bears hired a new head coach and are still on the hook for the final year of Lovie Smith’s contract. For season ticket holders, the return on their investments in the form of a championship must really be chafing at them at this point.