A weeks ago I watched the overachieving Chicago Cubs take a tough loss. That weekend I switched sports but still saw a loss as the Chicago Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers in their season opener.
As always, I arrived early. I love the serenity of an empty stadium followed by watching it come alive with the frenzy of a sporting event.
I meandered through the adjacent Children’s Garden. With earth, space and science themes, it is entertaining and educational for youngsters and adults. Even as 60,000 fans cheer wildly in Soldier Field, Children’s Garden is a calm bit of nature mere feet away.
Next, I visited statues of George Halas, founder of the Bears, and Hall of Fame player Walter Payton. I have seen both statues dozens of times, but I still enjoy a quick stop to remember what they did for the sport. These men account for much of the history of the Bears and the National Football League, too.
Unfortunately, the day went downhill from there. The hated Packers won 30–28 in a game not nearly as close as the score indicated. For a team full of hope, this was a crushing way to start the season. Even worse, the Bears are now 0-4 on the season.
As much as I love the Bears, I don’t like the stadium. It is outdated in almost every way. Parking is very limited. It’s not even much easier getting to Soldier Field on public transportation. The latest news has the Bears moving to a northwest suburb, and I am all for that, although that move would be several years away. A world-class city like Chicago deserves a top-notch stadium and a contending team. Disappointingly, Chicago has neither right now.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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