Stash the sausage, beer: In-game tailgating banned at Soldier Field

Da Superfans would be livid. The real fans are expected to be, too.

Aiming to crack down on unruly parking lot behavior during Chicago Bears games, the Chicago Park District and Soldier Field have announced a blackout on tailgating in the parking lot while games are being played.

That means fans - like the beer drinking, sausage eating, Midwestern speaking fans portrayed on Saturday Night Live years ago - will have to actually enter the game or get out of the parking lot when the game begins.

The Bears organization sent season ticket holders an e-mail this week that said the rule will go into effect Thursday night during the Bears' first exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs at 7 p.m.

The rule is limited to the game time only and will not affect what happens before or after the game.

Luca Serra, spokesman for SMG - which manages Soldier Field - said the new rule is part of a leaguewide initiative to give fans a more enjoyable experience at football games. He said the rule grew out of a decision involving his company, the Chicago Bears, the NFL and the Chicago Park District to try to mitigate potential problems before they arise in parking areas.

"We are in no way saying that people are not allowed to tailgate before or after the game, because we still want fans to enjoy their game day experiences," he said. "But, people will be asked to leave the parking lots if they are in the parking areas after the game starts and do not have a ticket for the game."

He said resources and security personnel need to be stationed inside the stadium during the game, not relegated to walking parking lots to watch over unruly fans.

"We need to focus our efforts inside the stadium to ensure fans are having a great experience," he said. "Again, this isn't affecting a huge amount of people because most who come down for the game have tickets. Just, now, we are asking people who do not have tickets to go somewhere else during the game then come back afterward."

He said people who do not have tickets for the game will be let into the parking areas both before and after the game, but will be asked to leave if caught milling about after the opening kickoff and before the final gun sounds.

"Also, people who have RVs can go into them and watch the game on their televisions if they so choose," he said. "We just don't want people roaming the parking lots if they do not have tickets."

Bears spokesman Scott Hagel said that while the new rule has spawned harsh feelings from some fans, the Chicago Park District establishes rules for the parking lot and addresses any problems in parking locations surrounding the stadium.

"Tailgating is absolutely allowed in the parking lots before the games begin," he said. "As for the rest of it, people will have to contact the Chicago Park District because the parking lots are their jurisdiction."

Hagel said the Bears have created a security task force to help people anonymously deal with problems that may occur inside Soldier Field before, during or after game-time.

He said, under the new "Help Stop Unbearable Behavior" campaign, ticket holders can dial a phone number or send a text message to a newly created event services team to report abusive or foul language, overly intoxicated patrons, smoking, harassment or disruptive or unruly behavior. The event services team will get the location of the problem, then discreetly handle any situation that arises.

The number fans can dial is (312) 235-7999, or fans can text to 312-909-HELP (4357).

Hagel added that, as in years past, fans cannot be in possession of or purchase more than two alcoholic beverages at a time, while in-seat vendors will continue to adhere to the one-beer-per-person limit. Also, fans who bring in alcohol cans or bottles will be immediately removed from the stadium and have their tickets confiscated. Repeat violators could find their ticket privileges revoked.

He also added that, in order to comply with the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, the "Smoking Violation Ticket" again will be enforced. There will be no designated smoking areas inside or outside of Soldier Field, and re-entry is prohibited.

First-time violators of the smoking policy will be asked to exchange their ticket for a "Smoking Violation Ticket." If a patron with a smoking ticket is then smoking in the stadium for a second time, he or she will be ejected. Repeated violations can result in the loss of a patron's permanent seat license and forfeiture of season ticket privileges.

Extreme violations of the Code of Conduct will result in ejection and automatic loss of ticket privileges and Permanent Seat Licenses. Those offenses include but are not limited to entering or attempting to enter the playing field or assaulting any patron or staff member.