Bears Send Fans Home From Training Camp After Lightning Warning

A late move indoors forced the cancellation of the open session and exposed Halas Hall's limited ability to host spectators before the team's first padded practice on Monday.

Overview

Saturday the Bears moved the first six periods of practice indoors at the Walter Payton Center because of lightning and rain, then resumed outdoor team drills once conditions allowed.
The team canceled the public portion of the session after many fans had already traveled to Halas Hall, boarded buses and lined up at the gates, leaving attendees turned away and upset.
The Walter Payton Center cannot accommodate spectators indoors, so the Bears offered affected fans a merchandise discount as compensation for the cancelled open viewing.
Coaches used the wet conditions as a practice opportunity to work on ball security, special teams reps and kicking, while the club prepares to add pads when camp resumes on Monday.
The incident highlights recurring tensions since camp moved to Halas Hall: a smaller footprint, limited free-ticket availability through Ticketmaster and frequent weather disruptions that reduce public access.