Bars, eateries around state brace for Bears game

Not just in Chicago are Illinois bars and restaurants gearing up for the historic playoff match between the Bears and the Green Bay Packers.

Mark Donahue is an owner of the Fieldhouse Bar & Grill in Peoria. He says the bar started planning for Sunday's battle "after that final buzzer of the last game."

The Fieldhouse plans to open at 9 a.m. to let people "settle in" before the 2 p.m. game.

In Pekin in central Illinois, McCritter's is planning a tailgate party.

Not that there will be any shortage of festivities in Chicago.

Several bars and restaurants are offering free shuttles to Soldier Field. Others have hired extra staff to handle the onslaught of fans or bought huge new TVs or projectors to broadcast the game in style.