Chicago Bears nearly sell out preseason opener, thanks to Justin Fields

Trading up in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft to pick no. 11 could only mean one thing. The Chicago Bears were about to land their franchise quarterback.

This was a moment long overdue for Bears fans, who had been suffering in quarterback purgatory for far too long.

This was Justin Fields’ time. It was his spotlight to behold.

Since coming to Chicago, Fields has been the main topic of discussion amongst Bears fans, and Saturday, it was to see him make his professional debut against the Miami Dolphins.

The Chicago Bears sold an absurd amount of tickets to their preseason opener, and have Justin Fields to thank.

If this was any other season, you’d probably see a good amount of fans at the Bears’ first preseason game. But, due to the nationwide pandemic, there would likely be less than average, especially if the Bears’ quarterback situation was still less than ideal.

But, Fields is making his first real, live appearance in a game for Chicago. That’s what makes this day special. In a world still greatly impacted by COVID-19, the fact that the Bears sold 60,000 tickets to a preseason game is remarkable.

That is nearly a complete sellout for Soldier Field — again, in a preseason game.

You know, the kind of game that even some diehard fans think doesn’t matter? Let’s be honest: in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. The Bears’ win or loss today means nothing. The score, at the end of the day, means nothing.

But, for a city and their fan base to witness a historically-talented rookie quarterback take the field in navy and orange? That means everything.

Fields’ presence alone is worthy of a ticket to this game. Getting to see the beginning of a (hopefully) long, prosperous career for a Bears quarterback? That means everything.

Whether or not this is preseason is irrelevant. Whether or not there is still a nationwide health crisis is apparently also irrelevant. Bears fans want to see their prized rookie quarterback take the field, and made it known by nearly selling out Soldier Field today.

This is a big day. It is a big moment for a kid with a lot of pressure on his back, but as he has told us many times, Fields was built for this. The spotlight is nothing new, and he is living, breathing and thriving in it. Cheers to the dawn of a new day in Chicago Bears football.