Chicago Bears fans will have nine opportunities to see rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of his team at training camp this summer.
With the team preparing for the 2024 season, the Bears have announced their practice schedule, with the first open practice session scheduled for July 26 at their Halas Hall headquarters in Lake Forest. The subsequent open practice dates will be July 27 and 30, and Aug. 4, 6, 7, 13 and 14. The final open session will be Aug. 15 in a joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Specific times will be announced later, according to a team spokesman, who cautioned the times and dates of individual sessions can be changed with little notice.
In 2023, attendance ranged between 1,300-1,700 people during every public training camp session, according to the team. However, while intense interest is expected this year due to the presence of Williams, the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft, capacity will remain limited to 1,700 people per session.
“We’re not increasing, as we want to provide a comfortable environment for fans to truly enjoy the experience,” the team spokesman wrote in an e-mail.
In a continuation of past procedures, parking will once again be available at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Visitors will have to present a mobile ticket at the parking lot and then board a shuttle bus which will bring them to Halas Hall.
Ride-sharing or guest drop-off will not be permitted at Halas Hall and tailgating will not be allowed at Hawthorn Mall, the team said.
Tickets are free and will be available through ticketmaster.com starting on July 9. Requests can be for up to four tickets. Mobile tickets are required for everyone except children 32 inches or less who will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Beyond watching practice, other scheduled events include children-friendly activities, virtual-reality opportunities and autograph sessions with former players.
Some current players will be available after practices to sign autographs for a limited time in sessions for both the general public and after children-only sessions.
The Bears moved training camp to Lake Forest ahead of the 2020 season. While the 2020 camp was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it has been open to the public since 2021.
Lake Forest Community Development Director Catherine Czerniak said the city is in constant communication with the team and the businesses in the Conway Park office complex about the operation and expects a similar approach to previous seasons.
“We are very pleased with how smooth, and how it has brought people into Conway Park and everyone seems to enjoy it,” Czerniak said. “We want to build on the success of the previous years.”
Training camp will have a new twist this year as for the first time, the Bears will be the focus of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” program.
