LONDON – With the Chicago Bears Drumline entertaining outside on the sidewalk and Bears fans enthusiastically singing their team's famed fight song in unison inside, the Greenwood Sports Pub in central London felt like any sports bar in the heart of Chicago.
That was the scene Thursday night when the establishment—which has been dubbed the Chicago Bears Team Pub—held a trivia contest. Fans were randomly selected to participate in the contest, earning prizes for correct answers. Questions included naming the franchise's Hall of Famers and identifying its all-time scoring leader.
This week the pub has been transformed into a melting pot for Bears fans mostly from the UK and the Chicago area. On Thursday night, fans were dressed as actual Bears and donned jerseys from the past (Doug Plank's No. 46) to the present (Caleb Williams' No. 18).
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey was on hand to greet fans. Former Bears kicker Paul Edinger was also present to sign autographs, pose for photos and participate with Soldier Field public address announcer Tim Sinclair while his highlights played on televisions throughout the bar.
"The amount of Bears fans and the love from the local British folks, it's crazy," said Edinger, who kicked for the Bears from 2000-04. "There are just so many people here who love the Bears, it's awesome."
With the Bears set to play the Jaguars Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Greenwood Sports Pub is hosting exclusive fan activations throughout the week leading up to the game.
On Friday night, former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman and tight end Zach Miller will participate in Q-and-A sessions and mingle with fans. On Saturday night, former Bears defensive linemen Anthony "Spice" Adams and Israel Idonije will be on hand.
On Sunday, the Greenwood Sports Pub will host a brunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and then a viewing party from 1:30-6 p.m. The game is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. London time.
For more details on the Chicago Bears Team Pub, Presented by Choose Chicago and other Chicago Bears London events, download the Chicago Bears Official App, brought to you by Verizon, or visit the Chicago Bears International Team Pub page at ChicagoBears.com/International/Team-Pub.
