New tailgating rules quiet Bears parties

Burgers and brats remain the staples, of course. But for some, an authentic tailgating experience just isn't complete without the fried finger foods.

That's why Pete Sidorowicz of Crystal Lake is so annoyed. His deep fryer has been banned, just one of the changes the Bears brass implemented this year in an effort to minimize raucous behavior and potential safety hazards.

"It stinks," Sidorowicz said to a chorus of cheers. "We're paying $100 a game to park here and they're telling us what we can and can't eat."

The new rules have also effectively thinned out their party now that tailgating shuts down come kickoff in several parking lots surrounding Soldier Field. In the past, several ticketless fans joined the 20-year season ticketholder's crew, opting to watch the game from the lot. On Sunday, eight guys made the trip, setting up one of the more impressive spreads among a sea of hundreds.

Sidorowicz and his buddy Chris Clark tailgate out of a retired Richland County ambulance. The longtime friends paid $250 for the ride last year, and another $5,000 for an orange and blue makeover, flat screen TV with satellite dish, and yes, even a built-in urinal.

"We're being penalized for the drunken stupidity of a few," Sidorowicz said.

Similar protests - and makeshift Bears-mobiles - were widespread.

Kathy Sarber of Crete drives an orange Hummer with a vanity license plate that makes her allegiance clear. Her parties are known to draw up to 30 people each week, despite just six regulars with season tickets. She's been at it since 1990 and says she's never had an issue with fans who may have overindulged.

Her 7- and 9-year-old grandsons, Noah and Christian Clements of Downers Grove, enjoyed feasting on short ribs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers "suck"-ers. Their mother, Lori, thinks it's ironic the changes were made in part to promote a more family-friendly atmosphere, considering they'd have to leave before Orton took his first snap. In fact, the underage were few and far between on Sunday, with parents citing exorbitant ticket prices.

Farther down the aisle, Jim Rice of Elk Grove was busy making daiquiri concoctions with his industrial-sized blender. The frozen drinks are normally accompanied by a shrimp boil, but those are now prohibited.

"People aren't getting obnoxious, fall-down drunk," Rice said. "The season ticketholders, especially, aren't going to do anything that would jeopardize that."

The new restrictions, which are also in place at the Houston Texans' Reliant Stadium, are part of the "Help stop unbearable behavior" campaign. There's a phone number to anonymously report unruly fans and a 10-person roaming patrol team. Sure enough, three of the enforcers made their way to one of the lots before Griese's second pass was intercepted.

"We're taking a more proactive effort to nip things in the bud before anything should happen," said Soldier Field spokesman Luca Serra. "We don't want to be reacting."

Fans seem to be obeying. By noon, all that remained of Sunday's pre-game tailgate were heaps of garbage bags and fragrant smoke wafting from freshly extinguished charcoal grills.

But there's one tradition ambulance driver Pete Sidorowicz refuses to relinquish, even if officials deem it raucous noise pollution. With every Bears victory, he switches on the lights and sirens.

"That I will not change," he said. "We're keeping this a party atmosphere."

Here's hoping a win over the Eagles next Sunday provides the opportunity.

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