The Bears on Monday launched an interactive digital experience, presented by Dunkin', honoring the best fans in sports ahead of Thursday night's Fan Appreciation game against the Seahawks at Soldier Field.
"The launch of our digital experience echoes the sentiment felt throughout our entire organization – an appreciation for our fans," Bears President & CEO Kevin Warren said. "We extend a heartfelt thank you to all Chicago Bears fans for their unwavering passion and support.
"Being a Bears fan is more than just donning our iconic colors. It is a way of life. We are honored to be able to display our fans and their most treasured passion to the world. We have the greatest fans in the world, representing the greatest city in the world. This digital experience is a symbol of the connected and united culture that Chicago Bears fans represent and revere."
Bears fans will also be celebrated at this Thursday's matchup against the Seahawks, which marks the final home game of the 2024 season.
"This has been an incredibly frustrating year for Bears fans, and to see them keep coming out and cheering for their team is very gratifying," chairman George H. McCaskey said. "The challenge for us is to put a team out there that Bears fans can be proud of."
Centered around tailgates both at home and on the road during the 2024 season, the Thank You Fans experience honors Bears fans' loyalty, traditions and community.
"This is one of our favorite projects of the year – one where we get to celebrate our loyal, incredible die-hard fans," said Bears director of digital media Pooja Van Dyke. "To be a Bears fan means so much more than just following the team. It's a celebration of the game around the game – the different communities within the city of Chicago, family, the traditions and so much more. We wanted to honor our fans who came out all season long to cheer us on.
"My favorite part of walking up to Soldier Field on game day is seeing all the fans who are already there, the ones who have been thinking about and preparing their tailgates all week, the ones who have these incredible set-ups and menus all around the stadium. Those fans have stories that span generations, and we hope we honored them here."
From Week 1 through Week 15, ChicagoBears.com visited with more than 25 groups of fans across eight cities, including London, to learn about their tailgates, what makes their celebration of "the game around the game" special and the stories behind their Bears fandom.
Tailgates were captured at the Waldron Deck, South Lot and Burnham Harbor outside Soldier Field — including groups with Bears-themed vans, ambulances and school buses — and across the country in places like Phoenix, Indianapolis and San Francisco.
Each group that the Bears met throughout the 2024 season is reflected in the interactive experience through photos of the tailgates and background information on their fandom and tailgate specialties.
Below are two examples of the fan sentiments reflected in the experience.
"I think what makes our tailgate the best is our people. We have such a diverse group of folks that come together, and people are so grateful. They know much time we put in. They're just really grateful and I just love the vibe. It's a really mature Bears crowd. That's how we roll." - Crystal Fitch, a featured tailgater from the Sept. 29 matchup against the Rams at Soldier Field.
"We've been doing this for about eight years now. We all live in different places, and we meet up at an away game to keep the tradition going. They usually drive, I usually fly, and we do a tailgate." - Jose Garza, a featured tailgater from San Antonio, Texas, at the Oct. 27 Bears-Commanders game.
To view the Bears' 2024 Thank You Fans digital experience, visit https://thankyoufans.chicagobears.com/.
