The Bears will be a designated club for a regular-season game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the 2024 season, the NFL and the Bears announced on Thursday. When the 2024 regular season schedule is announced in the spring, more information about the date, opponent, and kickoff time will be verified.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, officially inaugurated in 2019, will host the match. The English Premier League soccer team Tottenham Hotspur plays their home games at this stadium. The stadium can accommodate 62,062, which is nearly the same as Soldier Field’s 61,500 capacity. The inaugural NFL game in the London stadium took place in 2019 between the Bears and Raiders.
Chicago Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey observed, “Every game the Chicago Bears play is rich in tradition, culture, and passion.” “And we look forward to welcoming fans to experience that richness year after year, game after game. This year, we’re returning to London with our legendary franchise and tradition to share with the world what our local supporters go through at every game. We can’t wait to play a game in London during our 2024 season, joining the many NFL teams that are growing their worldwide reach.”
The Bears are headed to London for the fourth time; they have also visited the city in 1986 for a preseason game against the Cowboys and in 2011 and 2019 for regular season games against the Buccaneers and Raiders.
According to Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, “the Chicago Bears are a special team and a storied franchise.” “I was focused on creating a championship team on the field and in the community when I joined the Chicago Bears family in April 2023. I also wanted to create a top-notch stadium for our amazing supporters. I’m appreciative of the chance to strengthen the Chicago Bears’ legacy, quality, and winning mentality on a global scale while advancing American football in the United Kingdom, as well as the NFL and the Halas-McCaskey family.”
The Bears’ London game is an extension of their involvement in the NFL Global Markets Program (GMP), which since 2021 has allowed the team to play in the UK and Spain. The Bears are permitted to interact directly with fans and provide marketing possibilities in both markets through this league initiative.
“Chicago is a top global destination where businesses, entertainment, tourism, and sports thrive,” stated Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago. “As the mayor of the city of Chicago, I take great pride in and am passionate about the essence of our city, and I love showing locals, tourists, and visitors the best of Chicago every year. This year, as the Chicago Bears travel overseas in 2024 for what promises to be an incredible NFL football season, I’m thrilled to showcase our world-class city on a global platform. The Bears serve as an excellent symbol of our community and its citizens. This will definitely inspire future opportunities for collaboration between our cities and bring our two communities closer together. I am honored to be able to follow our illustrious Bears squad through their entire journey, and I’m excited for an amazing game.”
The Bears have been involved with and presented activities and events in the United Kingdom since 2021. The Bears gave fans a chance to enjoy the game, Bears entertainment, and a little bit of Soldier Field excitement with watch parties in London in 2022 and Manchester in 2023.
In 2021, the Bears embarked on their inaugural Mini Monster Clinic tour around various towns in the United Kingdom and Scotland. Thousands of kids were impacted by these 90-minute programs, which included non-contact football activities intended to educate young people the foundations of the sport while highlighting the value of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. Another Mini Monsters tour happened last summer due to popular demand.
The Bears and the New York Jets collaborated to establish the first NFL Girls Flag league in the United Kingdom at the beginning of 2023. This ground-breaking program breaks down barriers to sports participation and increases access to the sport for young girls. It is the first all-girls competition of its sort in the United Kingdom. These are but a handful of the several programs the Bears have started in the UK.
The Bears have also started an Instagram account dedicated to the UK, @UKChicagoBears. Through a number of efforts, the social content will continue to reinforce the Bears’ commitment to the United Kingdom while also capitalizing on the excitement surrounding the game. The launch of this specialized social media platform is a component of a bigger strategy to interact with UK audiences now and in the future.