The Bears this offseason raised ticket prices following a 3-13 season, something team Chair George McCaskey said sometimes "becomes necessary," according to Patrick Finley of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. McCaskey yesterday said, "I don’t know that there’s ever a good time to raise ticket prices, but that’s partly a function of our small capacity. We’re one of the smallest, if not the smallest, stadiums in the NFL. We try to keep the expense down as much as possible, as witnessed by two years in which we didn’t raise prices." Meanwhile, McCaskey said his family has "every intention of continuing to own the Bears." The NFL recently approved the sale of Bears shares from one of George Halas Jr.'s children "back to the family." McCaskey: "The big thing is that the majority ownership is going to remain in the family. This was a small transaction." The Bears are also one of eight teams this year that could be subject to mandatory inclusion in HBO's "Hard Knocks," though McCaskey does not wish to be profiled by the show. McCaskey: “We’re looking forward to seeing which team other than us is profiled this year.” Meanwhile, Finley notes the Bears support a change in Illinois' worker's compensation law, which is also "opposed by the NFLPA." McCaskey said, "That is part of a larger reform of worker’s comp in Illinois. ... It’s really meant to address what we feel is an anomaly in the law. No other worker in that situation would be entitled to those types of benefits" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/30).
DETERMINING SUCCESS: In Chicago, Rich Campbell writes McCaskey "exuded patience as he discussed the pivotal season ahead." He said, "That's what we need to keep doing -- keep building through the draft." McCaskey "did offer a strong vote of confidence" in GM Ryan Pace. McCaskey: "I've been very impressed with him as a leader, as an evaluator of talent" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/30). McCaskey "wouldn’t set a firm definition, record or otherwise on what he will use as a standard" for team success. McCaskey: "We want to continue to see progress, continue to see the building blocks. But there isn’t any particular threshold" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/30).
BACK TO SCHOOL: Finley reports McCaskey, who received his Arizona State law degree in '81, returned to his alma mater yesterday to "speak to law students." McCaskey "never did use his degree but said he’s thankful that he got one." He said, "It improves your critical thinking, your analytical thinking" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/30).
