Packers fan sues Bears over dress code

[Tugg Speedman]

You think Bears ownership understands how pathetic their organisation has become?

Maybe back in the day, the Bears were a "Storied Franchise," now they are Jacksonville with crappy weather.


Packers fan sues Bears over dress code
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170619/BLOGS04/170619887/packers-fan-sues-bears-over-dress-code#utm_medium=email&utm_source=ccb-breakingnews&utm_campaign=ccb-breakingnews-20170619

Packers fan and Bears season-ticket holder Russell Beckman, right, poses for a photo at a Packers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game with his daughter. This photo is included in his lawsuit against the Bears.

Packers fan and Bears season-ticket holder Russell Beckman, right, poses for a photo at a Packers-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game with his daughter. This photo is included in his lawsuit against the Bears.

A Green Bay Packers fan is taking the Chicago Bears to court over his right to wear Packers apparel on the field during a pregame warmup session he had access to through the team's rewards system.

Wisconsin resident and Bears season-ticket holder Russell Beckman sued in federal court, seeking an order that the Bears let him don rival gear on game day. (You can read the suit at the end of this story.)

At issue is the team's policy for a season-ticket holder rewards program it launched in 2014. That "STH Experiences" system offers rewards points to longtime season-ticket holders that can be redeemed for a series of game-day experiences at Soldier Field.

Beckman, a Bears personal seat license and season-ticket holder since 2003, according to the suit, says in the complaint that he spent his rewards points in 2014 and 2015 on an offer to stand on the edge of the field during pregame warmups and wore Packers gear without any issue.

[TallTitan34]

I agree the Bears should probably have just let it slide but it clearly stated that other team's apparel was not allowed for the event so I'm not sure what his lawsuit is for.

The bigger question is why is a Packer fan wasting money on Bears season tickets?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

If the Bears were really the Jaguars, they'd be moving to London in 5 years instead of Jacksonville.

[Tugg Speedman]

If the Bears were really the Jaguars, they'd be moving to London in 5 years instead of Jacksonville.

When Virginia McCaskey, now 94, dies ...

[dgies9156]

The bigger question is why is a Packer fan wasting money on Bears season tickets?

I too am a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan with Bears season tickets.

I hold my Bears Tickets because:

1) I like semi-pro football.
2) Waiting for seats at Lambeau is an investment for my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandchildren.
3) I get two seats at the 45 yard line for the Packers game every year (boy that was a winner last December).
4) I believe in family owned businesses, even if the family is collectively, idiots.
5) I enjoy giving my money to the City of Chicago for an absurdly priced parking spot.
6) There is nothing finer than to fight Sunday afternoon traffic home from the most poorly located stadium in America.
7) Someday the Bears will be good again and I can sell the tickets I don't use for an absurd premium.
8) The Bears are loveable losers.

[MerrittsMustache]

I agree the Bears should probably have just let it slide but it clearly stated that other team's apparel was not allowed for the event so I'm not sure what his lawsuit is for.

The bigger question is why is a Packer fan wasting money on Bears season tickets?

Then last season, he used his rewards points again for the pregame warm-up offer for the Bears-Packers game in December. A few days before, he got an email from the team with details for the experience that said "no opposing team gear would be allowed."

After trading emails with Bears ticket employees who reiterated the policy as written in the terms and conditions of the offer, Beckman showed up anyway and was denied access to the field, the suit alleges.


Case closed.

Granted, he argues that it's a public venue so he should be able to wear whatever he wants. Nothing more than a money-grab lawsuit.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

When Virginia McCaskey, now 94, dies ...

Virginia still runs the team? Need to me.

I am not saying the Bears are a well run organisation at the moment, hell I dont expect a sniff of a  playoff birth for at least 3 more seasons but they aint the Jags.

[Tugg Speedman]

Virginia still runs the team? Need to me.

I am not saying the Bears are a well-run organisation at the moment, hell I dont expect a sniff of a  playoff birth for at least 3 more seasons but they aint the Jags.

No, her sons George and Michael are running the team (into the ground).

Word is the majority of the McCaskey Clan wants to sell for the reported $1.5 to $2 billion-ish the team can fetch.  But, for now, the ownership of the team is in Virginia's hands and she is not interested in selling.

Once she passes on, the ownership of the team transfers to several family members and getting a majority to sell is a realistic possibility.

At that point, call Tom Ricketts (Cubs owner) as he is interested.

[real chili 83]

I too am a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan with Bears season tickets.

I hold my Bears Tickets because:

1) I like semi-pro football.
2) Waiting for seats at Lambeau is an investment for my Great-Great-Great-Great Grandchildren.
3) I get two seats at the 45 yard line for the Packers game every year (boy that was a winner last December).
4) I believe in family owned businesses, even if the family is collectively, idiots.
5) I enjoy giving my money to the City of Chicago for an absurdly priced parking spot.
6) There is nothing finer than to fight Sunday afternoon traffic home from the most poorly located stadium in America.
7) Someday the Bears will be good again and I can sell the tickets I don't use for an absurd premium.
8) The Bears are loveable losers.

9) The Bears still stink.

[warriorchick]

First sign that this is a dumb article.

No one calls himself a "Packers fan".  It's "Packer fan". 

It's a Wisconsin rule, just like going to the Brewer game or wearing a Badger t-shirt.

[GooooMarquette]

9) The Bears still stink suck.

FIFY

[MerrittsMustache]

No, her sons George and Michael are running the team (into the ground).

Word is the majority of the McCaskey Clan wants to sell for the reported $1.5 to $2 billion-ish the team can fetch.  But, for now, the ownership of the team is in Virginia's hands and she is not interested in selling.

Once she passes on, the ownership of the team transfers to several family members and getting a majority to sell is a realistic possibility.

At that point, call Tom Ricketts (Cubs owner) as he is interested.

Unless Ricketts sells the Cubs or he and his siblings have another trust, he's not buying the Bears.

[Tugg Speedman]

Unless Ricketts sells the Cubs or he and his siblings have another trust, he's not buying the Bears.

He can raise the money in five minutes.

[DegenerateDish]

I can say with almost 100% accuracy, there is a 0.0% chance of the Ricketts family buying the Bears.

[dgies9156]

I can say with almost 100% accuracy, there is a 0.0% chance of the Ricketts family buying the Bears.

Correct. I believe the rules of the National Football League do not allow for this.

Here's the bigger question: Would Mark Cuban buy the Chicago Bears. THAT would be fun!

[Tugg Speedman]

I can say with almost 100% accuracy, there is a 0.0% chance of the Ricketts family buying the Bears.

The NFL has a rule banning MLB owners from buying a NFL teams?

And before you rule out Ricketts, answer this ... name the English Football (soccer) team did they own (yes they did)?

[Tugg Speedman]

Correct. I believe the rules of the National Football League do not allow for this.

Here's the bigger question: Would Mark Cuban buy the Chicago Bears. THAT would be fun!

Cuban is the catch-all answer when one cannot name anyone else that would be interested.

9 NFL teams have changed hands since he first expressed an interest in the Cubs (and never followed-through) and his name has never even remotely came up.  He's never going to buy an NFL team.

[DegenerateDish]

The NFL has a rule banning MLB owners from buying a NFL teams?

And before you rule out Ricketts, answer this ... name the English Football (soccer) team did they own (yes they did)?

Has nothing to do with NFL/MLB rules. After Virginia passes, the McCaskey's may have little say in who owns the team. Patrick Ryan will end up as the principal owner, and work out some equity deal with the family in my opinion.

Any sale now wouldn't benefit an outside owner looking for any ROI, not with the awful lease the Bears have. I'd expect the Ryan family to own the team through 2030, and then sell.

[Tugg Speedman]

Has nothing to do with NFL/MLB rules. After Virginia passes, the McCaskey's may have little say in who owns the team. Patrick Ryan will end up as the principal owner, and work out some equity deal with the family in my opinion.

Any sale now wouldn't benefit an outside owner looking for any ROI, not with the awful lease the Bears have. I'd expect the Ryan family to own the team through 2030, and then sell.

All correct except Pat is 80 years old himself.  So we are waiting for the 94 year old to pass so the 80 year old can take over.

What happens when both are gone?

And no one that buys an NFL cares about ROI.  It's all about asset value.

[DegenerateDish]

All correct except Pat is 80 years old himself.  So we are waiting for the 94 year old to pass so the 80 year old can take over.

What happens when both are gone?

And no one that buys an NFL cares about ROI.  It's all about asset value.

Pat Ryan isn't worth a couple billion for nothing, I'm sure his estate will figure out bequeathing ownership to his kids upon his passing. He's set up to do that, the McCaskeys are not.

I don't know what else to say on the ROI. If you don't understand the business side of the horrendous lease the Bears have, and the politics of Chicago, I don't want to take the time to explain it here. What magical revenue streams are going to be injected to increase the asset value of the Bears between now and 2033, after someone pays between $1.2 - $1.5 billion?

[Dr. Blackheart]

Pat Ryan isn't worth a couple billion for nothing, I'm sure his estate will figure out bequeathing ownership to his kids upon his passing. He's set up to do that, the McCaskeys are not.

I don't know what else to say on the ROI. If you don't understand the business side of the horrendous lease the Bears have, and the politics of Chicago, I don't want to take the time to explain it here. What magical revenue streams are going to be injected to increase the asset value of the Bears between now and 2033, after someone pays between $1.2 - $1.5 billion?

I am not sure Pat has a lot of ownership to bequeath within his legacy wishes, which is why he gives it all away. Very strong supporter of special needs. High character Catholic couple. He lives his faith.

[Tugg Speedman]

Pat Ryan isn't worth a couple billion for nothing, I'm sure his estate will figure out bequeathing ownership to his kids upon his passing. He's set up to do that, the McCaskeys are not.

I don't know what else to say on the ROI. If you don't understand the business side of the horrendous lease the Bears have, and the politics of Chicago, I don't want to take the time to explain it here. What magical revenue streams are going to be injected to increase the asset value of the Bears between now and 2033, after someone pays between $1.2 - $1.5 billion?

First as Blackheart noted, Ryan is a minority owner, the Halas/MaCaskeys are the majority owner.  When Pat and Virginia pass, the ownership of the bears will be spread among many squabbling Halas/MaCaskey and Ryan family members, many who don't like each other.  Without a strong family member emerging to run the team (see Tom Ricketts) we will look back at the last few years of the bears as the period of stability. 

Again Virginia is 94 and Pat is 80 and they are still running the team.  That tells us no family member is emerging to take over otherwise they would have by now.

So when they both pass, the league will give the family a few years to come up with a plan or force them to sell.

Regarding ROI - Sports franchise are like high-end art sold at Sothebys.  They are all made up numbers.  So the Bears have a crappy lease, that will not affect the sale price of the team at all.  The MaCaskey/Ryans will get the same (made up) price if they had a good lease or a bad lease.

Most sports teams don't make money.  You buy them at some nose-bleed level (see Ricketts paying $725 million for the Cubs in 2009) only to see their value go up (Forbes now says the Cubs are worth $1.5 to $2.0 billion).  So if your asset increase by $1 billion in less than 10 years, why are you wasting your time worrying about leases and ROI.  It's about ROA.

[GGGG]

First as Blackheart noted, Ryan is a minority owner, the Halas/MaCaskeys are the majority owner.  When Pat and Virginia pass, the ownership of the bears will be spread among many squabbling Halas/MaCaskey and Ryan family members, many who don't like each other.  Without a strong family member emerging to run the team (see Tom Ricketts) we will look back at the last few years of the bears as the period of stability. 

Again Virginia is 94 and Pat is 80 and they are still running the team.  That tells us no family member is emerging to take over otherwise they would have by now.

So when they both pass, the league will give the family a few years to come up with a plan or force them to sell.

Regarding ROI - Sports franchise are like high-end art sold at Sothebys.  They are all made up numbers.  So the Bears have a crappy lease, that will not affect the sale price of the team at all.  The MaCaskey/Ryans will get the same (made up) price if they had a good lease or a bad lease.

Most sports teams don't make money.  You buy them at some nose-bleed level (see Ricketts paying $725 million for the Cubs in 2009) only to see their value go up (Forbes now says the Cubs are worth $1.5 to $2.0 billion).  So if your asset increase by $1 billion in less than 10 years, why are you wasting your time worrying about leases and ROI.  It's about ROA.

Most NFL teams are profitable.  And the Bears make much less than they should.  Mostly due to the poor stadium deal that Dish references.

[DegenerateDish]

First as Blackheart noted, Ryan is a minority owner, the Halas/MaCaskeys are the majority owner.  When Pat and Virginia pass, the ownership of the bears will be spread among many squabbling Halas/MaCaskey and Ryan family members, many who don't like each other.  Without a strong family member emerging to run the team (see Tom Ricketts) we will look back at the last few years of the bears as the period of stability. 

Again Virginia is 94 and Pat is 80 and they are still running the team.  That tells us no family member is emerging to take over otherwise they would have by now.

So when they both pass, the league will give the family a few years to come up with a plan or force them to sell.

Regarding ROI - Sports franchise are like high-end art sold at Sothebys.  They are all made up numbers.  So the Bears have a crappy lease, that will not affect the sale price of the team at all.  The MaCaskey/Ryans will get the same (made up) price if they had a good lease or a bad lease.

Most sports teams don't make money.  You buy them at some nose-bleed level (see Ricketts paying $725 million for the Cubs in 2009) only to see their value go up (Forbes now says the Cubs are worth $1.5 to $2.0 billion).  So if your asset increase by $1 billion in less than 10 years, why are you wasting your time worrying about leases and ROI.  It's about ROA.

I'm sure the value of the Cubs going up had nothing to do with stadium renovations (corporate signage, significant increases in premium seating), local media rights deals expiring, purchasing property around the stadium and turning it into significant revenue streams. I'm sure any new Bears owner will have zero trouble negotiating those changes to Soldier Field before 2033, city of Chicago typically caters to that kind of stuff. Heck, the Ricketts family had a cakewalk of a time negotiating with the city for Wrigley.

[Tugg Speedman]

I'm sure the value of the Cubs going up had nothing to do with stadium renovations (corporate signage, significant increases in premium seating), local media rights deals expiring, purchasing property around the stadium and turning it into significant revenue streams. I'm sure any new Bears owner will have zero trouble negotiating those changes to Soldier Field before 2033, city of Chicago typically caters to that kind of stuff. Heck, the Ricketts family had a cakewalk of a time negotiating with the city for Wrigley.

What is your point?

Yes, the Ricketts have MANAGED their asset (the team) properly and its value has gone up, both on the field and off the field.  This is the basic function of an owner.

The Bears lack such strong leadership which is why they are stuck with a crappy lease, in a crappy stadium (in my opinion), with a crappy product on the field.  Virginia is too old and not engaged.  George and Michael spend too much time arguing to get anything done.  So the Bears will remain rudderless wandering around until someone buys them for $2 billion ... and turns them into a $4 billion team in a decade as they will see and exploit business opportunities all over the place.