Olivet Nazarene University Hosts Chicago Bears Summer Training Camp
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Every fall‚ the defending NFC champion Chicago Bears call famed Soldier Field home.
Bourbonnais‚ though‚ is their summer place.
For the last six years‚ the Monsters of the Midway have conducted summer training camp on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University‚ an arrangement that has worked well for the team‚ the community and thousands of Bears fans in Chicagoland.
Until 2001‚ the Bears held training camp in Wisconsin. But‚ at the insistence of the state legislature‚ the club started looking inside the state’s borders when Soldier Field was being renovated.
The organization studied more than a dozen sites before narrowing its final choice to three. Olivet Nazarene was the last school standing to become the Bears’ home for the 3 1/2-week training camp.
While some upgrades were needed‚ including construction of four practice fields and a larger training room‚ Olivet Nazarene already had many selling points in place. The university’s tight campus‚ with the training rooms‚ practice fields‚ locker rooms and dormitories all within easy walking distance‚ are a hit with the players.
The team also liked its easy access to major highways and interstates‚ allow ing quick getaways for preseason games or other activities.
Finally‚ the fact that Bourbonnais is an easy drive for most of the team’s fans is a huge advantage.
“It allows us to be close to Chicago but host our fans at training camp‚” says Brian McCaskey‚ senior director of business development for the Chicago Bears.
The Bears have quickly made themselves comfortable in the com munity‚ hosting family nights‚ fireworks displays and other events to thank the team’s fans. During camp‚ the coaches travel the campus on bicycles and then give those bikes away to youth agencies when the session concludes.
Though the club and university are just finishing up a second three-year contract‚ McCaskey fully expects the Bears to be back for years to come.
“I think both sides benefit from it‚” says McCaskey.
Olivet Nazarene officials certainly aren’t complaining.
The arrival of the Bears each summer also brings previously unrealized atten tion to the university‚ both from new visitors and media outlets.
“It gives you instant name recognition‚” says Gary Griffin‚ director of university relations.
But the real beneficiaries of the Bears-ONU relationship‚ he’s quick to note‚ are Bourbonnais and the surrounding areas.
“This was a gift from Olivet Nazarene to the Kankakee River Valley‚” Griffin says.
The economic impact is undeniable. With more than 100‚000 fans attending training camp from late July through the middle of August‚ the visitors keep local shops‚ restaurants and hotels busy. But even more important‚ Griffin says‚ is the chance to sell the area as more than just a place to visit.
“In the long run‚ the real benefit is with people moving their families here‚” Griffin says.
Story by Dan Markham
Photo by Bill Smith
