Chicago Bears cancel practice geared to families at last minute

Citing bad turf, team calls off Soldier Field session

Thousands of Chicago Bears fans left Soldier Field disappointed Friday when the team pulled a no-show at its annual Family Fest because the stadium's turf hadn't been properly watered and was deemed unsafe for the planned team practice.
The annual event, held this year a week before the Bears' first home exhibition, features a practice session inside Soldier Field and family-friendly entertainment outside. The gates had opened by the time the announcement was made that the practice had been canceled.
"I'm smoking mad," said David Ohlson, of Grayslake, who brought his grandchildren to the practice to introduce them to Chicago football. "If you can't manage a field, how do you expect to manage a team? Give me a break."
Both the Bears and Soldier Field management nixed the practice portion after deeming the playing field unready, citing player safety concerns. An apology from the team was broadcast to the crowd via loudspeaker.
The evening had started with promise and excitement. Thousands of fans donned Bears jerseys, packed coolers, and braved rush-hour and Lollapalooza traffic downtown to make it to Soldier Field for the event. Many paid for parking and led kids to games that had been set up outside the stadium.
Others lined up to be the first inside. It was the first time at the stadium for many children. For some, it was a surprise treat long planned by their parents.
Then a rumor began to spread through the crowd that soon was confirmed: The Bears had headed back to Bourbonnais, home of their summer camp, and would not make an appearance.
After arriving at the stadium, Bears management determined that the playing surface was "compromised" over the past two weeks by extreme temperatures, according to a statement by Soldier Field officials.
The statement explained that the heat had caused the seams of the grass to separate, which could lead to injuries on the field.
Tim LeFevour, general manager of Soldier Field, took responsibility for the condition of the playing surface.
"Over the last few weeks, we've had some extreme heat conditions,'' LeFevour said. "It was a miscalculation on our ground crew's part. They did not get enough water on the field."
Tickets to the event cost $8 to $12; parking ranged from $16 to $19. The Chicago Park District refunded all on-site parking when visitors left the lot, according to spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner.
Fans were also offered complimentary food, nonalcoholic beverages and entertainment, including a planned fireworks show, she said. Ticket refund information will be available at http://www.chicagobears.com.
The Soldier Field grass has been a problem for several years. During the Bears' 2010 season, for instance, the field had to be re-sodded twice in an 11-week period.
Fans who left disappointed Friday said they understood the team's concerns about playing on bad turf but remained perplexed that it took so long for management to notify them.
Still, some were trying to make the most out of the inconvenience. While most people were flooding the parking lots after the announcement, Karen Vail was pushing a stroller carrying her 1-year-old daughter into the stadium.
Vail, who lives in Avondale with her husband, Norm, said she and her family planned to stay for the food and fireworks.
"We came for the atmosphere," Vail said. "We didn't just come for the practice."
But others said there was little the Bears could do to make up for the lost time and experience.
Maria Trevino, who had bought tickets to celebrate her son's 12th birthday, said she took off work early and then drove her children through rush hour on the Eisenhower Expressway to make the day special for him.
Instead, Trevino said, the day consisted of waiting in traffic and waiting outside the stadium.
"I was mad, I was really upset," said Trevino, whose son kept his eyes on the ground as they walked back to their car.
"The Bears are my favorite team," he said
For Shelly Lamphear of Burr Ridge, the practice could have been the only time for her to see her son in uniform at Soldier Field. Lamphear's son, Michael, was invited to training camp by the Bears, and it's not certain whether he'll be on the final roster.
"I almost started crying when he texted us" that the practice wasn't going to be held, Lamphear said.
Bears safety Chris Harris expressed sympathy for the fans who went home disappointed.
"I feel very bad for the fans who fought that Lollapalooza traffic to come out," Harris told the Tribune. "All we have to do is win the Super Bowl and we'll be even."