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Bears parking or mortgage? Top cost for 10 games: $1,025

Chicago Bears season ticket holders are learning this week what it could cost them just to park at this year's games, figures that may be familiar but are eye popping just the same.

According to a letter sent to ticket holders, one pass for premium parking at the Adler Planetarium, the East Museum or the South Lots on game days could cost as much as $1,010, plus a $15 administration fee - a total of $1,025 - for eight home games and two preseason games. That's about $102 per game to park.

Season parking at the new Family Friendly lot will be $460, while the Southwest facilities at McCormick Place will cost $250. Each venue also has an additional $15 administration fee, according to Standard Parking of Chicago.

Those are the expected prices for ticketholders who bypass an Internet raffle to obtain parking spots. The raffle prices are considerably lower, though still attention getting.

Ticketholders selected in the raffle and assigned to purchase season parking passes at the Adler, the North Garage, the South Lot or the Waldron Deck, will pay $460, plus a one-time $15 administration fee, for the season - a mere $47.50 per game average.

These parking prices reflect an additional $1 per game city tax included in the overall cost, or $10 per season, compared to last year. And the family lot, which prohibits alcohol, is new, said Standard Parking Vice President Patrick McCue.

The prices were outlined in an e-mailed letter from Standard Parking and sent to season ticket holders on Tuesday.

For those not wishing to purchase pre-raffle premium parking, beginning Friday, ticket holders can visit the Click and Park website at http://soldierfield.clickandpark.com/index.shtml to register. The process continues through July 2. If selected, season ticket holders will be charged on their credit card on July 8 for the parking pass.

When parking was increased from $40 to $60 at the Adler Planetarium, Northerly Island and Burnham Harbor in 2007 during the Bears' playoff games, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley ordered the Chicago Park District to rescind the $20 increase, according to reports.

Last season, individual ticket holders had the option to park at the Millennium/East Monroe underground parking garages, first-come first-served, for $25 and take a free shuttle to Soldier Field. Standard Parking doesn't operating these lots, so it was unclear if that price would remain for the upcoming season.