While several teams have decided to hold training camp at their own training facilities in the wake of the lockout, there are several reasons why the Bears prefer to travel to Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais.
The McCaskey family likes their privacy, for one. Opening practices at Halas Hall to fans would greatly increase traffic around team headquarters. There is also little room for public parking in the area and sideline space for bleachers is limited.
“We’re excited to be getting back to Bourbonnais,” chairman George McCaskey said. “Especially in this situation because we think it will help regroup the team because we haven’t had OTAs, we haven’t had voluntary workouts. So in terms of building camaraderie, it’s better than our facilities [from that] standpoint, and we think actually with the shortened time frame, we think going to Bourbonnais is a better situation.”
According to kicker Robbie Gould, there’s another advantage to holding training camp in Bourbonnais: “To be honest, there’s nothing to do in Bourbonnais other than be in your playbook,” he said
