-
Originally Posted by
Butka 
I like going to cold weather games in harsh conditions because it's fun. The crowd is way rowdier because the simple fact is that everyone wants to be there. You don't have the guy bringing his half interested girlfriend who prefers to people watch. The business execs (who aren't in the cadillac club) aren't taking their clients to games to talk business and be seen. It's just an awesome atmosphere, even if the Bears are out of the playoffs. Without a doubt, I've had the most fun at the games with extreme conditions.
As for the main topic... I say put in field turf or take better care of the grass (and that means make it exclusive to the Bears).
Or is it that everyone is a little more loaded b/c it's so F'n cold they've had to load up on liquor to keep warm?
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
-
Originally Posted by
Henry Burris Even so, the play on the field destroys it over time, regardless of resodding. If we want a fast team, we should allow them to be fast. Hopefully we play in a dome in the playoffs...
It wouldn't do that if they installed this Grassmaster System. In late December the playing surface at Mile High looks just like it does in September. If a system like this exists and other teams are using it safely there's no excuse except sheer ignorance for not installing it.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
Riczaj01 Or is it that everyone is a little more loaded b/c it's so F'n cold they've had to load up on liquor to keep warm?
Naw, people here don't generally have to get shitfaced to put up with the cold. I don't think the rate of drunk people is any higher than a warmer game.
The football accumen at a cold game is way higher (again because it's when mostly die hards are present). People know what's going on... they know when to cheer and when to shutup. Go to the warm weather games at Soldier Field and you'll get more dumbasses who start cheering loudly when the offense is on the goal line, etc.
Last edited by Butka; 08-03-2011 at 09:48 AM.
-
High Fives / Like - 2 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Hey I'll take your word for it; I said before I'd never pay that kind of cash to go, let alone in bad weather. But that again is my point, the new "domes" have removable roofs, as long as it's not stupid bad weather it can stay off.
-
Bad timing McJagbagski:
Bears cancel Soldier Field practice
By Michael C. Wright
ESPNChicago.com
Archive
CHICAGO -- Citing safety concerns about the Soldier Field playing surface, the Chicago Bears cancelled Friday's practice, but conducted their annual Family Night festivities as scheduled. According to Soldier Field general manager Tim LeFevour, the stadium's grounds crew -- hoping to dry the field to make it firmer for Friday's practice -- "miscalculated", and didn't administer the proper amount of water to the surface, causing the rectangular seams of sod to come apart, thus creating gaps in the field that could potentially cause injury.
ESPNChicago.com Bears blog
Get the latest Bears news from ESPN Chicago.com's Jeff Dickerson and Michael Wright. Blog
• ESPNChicago.com
• ESPN.com: NFC North
"Unfortunately tonight [it] was determined that it wasn't safe for practice. So the players have all headed back to Bourbonnais to conduct practice back at Olivet Nazarene University," said Scott Hagel, Bears senior director of corporate communications. "We're terribly sorry. Obviously, this was an unforeseen circumstance. Any other further information that we're able to do as a make-good will be listed on our website ChicagoBears.com."
LeFevour explained the workers didn't properly account for the recent hot and dry conditions, but interestingly, said the field was playable just a day before the Bears were scheduled to practice on it.
Three hours before the scheduled start, Bears coach Lovie Smith, president Ted Phillips and general manager Jerry Angelo met in the middle of the field with officials from the Chicago Park District, which owns Soldier Field. The few players milling about on the field were told by Smith to leave and head back to the team buses.
Meanwhile, stadium workers walked the field carrying blue buckets full of sand to fill the gaps in between the rectangular pieces of sod. The sod comes in 3-foot wide rolls that measure 30-feet long and weigh 1 to 1 1/2 tons when laid out, and are pieced together somewhat like a puzzle.
LeFevour said that when subjected to hot and dry conditions, the seams between those rolls come apart. LeFevour dismissed the notion that the condition of the field was the result of recent events such as the U2 concert or July 23 Manchester United soccer match.
Stadium officials re-sodded the turf 3 1/2 weeks ago.
"It's not the condition from the U2 concert or the Manchester soccer game. Over the last few weeks we've had some extreme heat conditions," LeFevour said. "They did not get enough water on the field. Some of the seams opened up. It's not an issue or concern with next [week's preseason opener]. We know it can be corrected. But in the best interest of the team tonight, it was the right move to send them back to Bourbonnais to practice."
LeFevour first recognized a potential problem six hours before the scheduled start of practice, and relayed those concerns to team officials, who also examined the surface before the sides came to consensus about loading the players back onto the buses for the trip back to training camp.
Shortly after making the decision, the team decided to let frustrated fans into the stadium and announced it would give full refunds to all ticket holders, in addition to offering free food and non-alcoholic beverages. The team also announced it would continue on with its fireworks display, and refund money to patrons who parked in Soldier Field lots on their way out of the stadium. The team's practice in Bourbonnais, meanwhile, was closed to the public.
Carmen, Jurko and Harry Podcast
Bears chairman George McCaskey joined "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000 and discussed his new role and Soldier Field's turf.
More Podcasts »
Although Soldier Field has been heavily criticized for years around the league, and by Bears players, team chairman George McCaskey said the club won't switch to a synthetic surface because of player safety concerns.
"It's not a money issue on the turf," McCaskey said Tuesday on "The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show" on ESPN 1000. "At this point, primarily, it's a safety issue. The studies aren't conclusive, but the studies that we have looked at have shown higher incidence of lower-leg injuries among players on artificial turf. We want to prolong careers. We want our players to be safe. We want our investment in the players to be protected and the state of artificial turf or an infield surface is such now that we think the safest surface for our players in natural grass."
LeFevour said he'll continue to honor the club's wishes, despite the headaches caused by dealing with the natural-grass field, which typically becomes virtually unplayable in the winter.
Placed numerous times into the center of the grass-versus-turf debate, LeFevour said the latest issue with the surface at Soldier Field isn't a major problem at this time. "There's always that debate. Is it the infield surface or is it the grass? Right now, the Bears have determined they want to continue to play on grass in the Northern climate in Chicago," LeFevour said. "If that's the surface they want to play on, we're gonna continue to commit ourselves to them, to giving them the best playing surface. It's unfortunate what happened tonight. It was a miscalculation on our part and the seams opened up."
Michael C. Wright covers the Bears for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000.
-
How embarassing would this have been if it was a national game?!?!?!
-
You beat me to it Ric. I just read this and was gonna post it. It's not even football season yet and the field is unplayable because the grounds crew hasn't enough expertise to deal with it? Maybe if they hasn't used it for the U2 concert and the Manchester U soccer game it wouldn't have needed resodding.
I can't believe the Bears won't even listen to there own players on this. There is no way on earth a combo grass and synthetic field like they use here in Denver could more dangerous than that crap they play on in Soldier Field late in the year. We just had a U2 concert at Mile High a month ago and tomorrow the Broncos scrimmage goes off there without a hitch. George McCaskey is being a fool if he's listening to people who are telling him that the situation can't be improved with a hybrid field.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
It really is becoming laughable. and the Mc's/the city, do look like cheap jag's for not doing anything about this. This is the kind of crap that happened w/that cheap fake turf in Philly before they replaced it...and that was FAKE! Natural turf should not fold up and fall apart like this!!!
-
Originally Posted by
Riczaj01 It really is becoming laughable. and the Mc's/the city, do look like cheap jag's for not doing anything about this. This is the kind of crap that happened w/that cheap fake turf in Philly before they replaced it...and that was FAKE! Natural turf should not fold up and fall apart like this!!!
Fresh sod will if it's not watered enough while the seams are sealing themselves and the sod is taking root. It actually rolls up just like the ends of a carpet that isn't tacked down which come to think of it is all sod really is. A carpet made of grass. Obviously the boneheads on the grounds crew screwed up and that's what they'll blame it on. Nobody is gonna take the time to say that maybe it wouldn't have happened at all if they has a system like the one Green Bay and Denver use.
It is laughable especially coming on the heals of George McCaskey's defense of the natural grass field. Are they all idiots and do they think we are too?
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
They just think we are.
Most the owners in Chicago think the majority of fans have a Cubs fan mentality, that the product doesn't matter. It's a damn shame.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Henry Burris say BEAR DOWN!
Reply With Quote