Bears’ season ticket pricing comes with a catch

One year after posting the NFL’s worst record, the Bears will charge the same total for season tickets in 2023 as they did in 2022. One problem, though: It will be for one fewer regular-season game — and one more preseason contest — than last year.

The Bears sent a letter to season-ticket holders Tuesday morning saying that the price for seats this season will remain flat. The price per regular-season ticket has gone up, though, because the Bears will host eight regular-season games in 2023 instead of nine in 2022.

The NFL’s 17-game schedule, which began in 2021, has left teams to toggle between eight and nine regular-season home games every other year. Teams that have only eight home games play two of their three preseason games at home. The Bears’ season-ticket package includes preseason tickets.

The Bears will play regular-season home games against the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders and Cardinals in addition to their NFC North opponents. They’ll travel to play the Chiefs, Chargers, Saints, Buccaneers, Commanders, Browns and their three divisional foes. Their preseason schedule won’t be announced until the spring.

All AFC teams will play nine regular-season home games this season.

The Bears averaged 59,823 tickets sold per game this season, which is 97.3% of Soldier Field’s capacity. The 2022 team saw far fewer fans walk through the turnstiles, though.