Football

Bears open application process for Small Business All-Pros Gameday Eats

July 22, 2023

By Joseph Phillips

With the desire to help small businesses succeed, the Chicago Bears announced that applications for the 2023 Small Business All-Pros Gameday Eats edition, presented by Visa, are now open.

According to the Chicago Bears, the application process is now open as the initiative aims to support local restaurants, food trucks and other food service businesses within the Chicago area.

In a recent press release, the organization said four establishments will be selected to receive four separate, four-week Bears marketing partnerships with the team.

These partnerships give local small businesses access to millions of Bears’ fans through prominent features in the stadium on game days, across the team’s official social media channels, on ChicagoBears.com and more. The winners of the Small Business All-Pros Gameday Eats edition will be announced the first week of September.

To apply for this program, interested restaurants or food service businesses can submit applications online at ChicagoBears.com/SmallBusinessAllPros. The application period is open through Sunday, July 23, and should take less than 15 minutes to complete. The idea is to provide additional resources for small businesses without the burden of a lengthy application process that can be challenging for owners.

This is the fourth year for the Chicago Bears Small Business All-Pros initiative. Selected businesses will have the opportunity to significantly boost their brand visibility, reaching not only the local community but also a wider audience.

Since its inception, the initiative has promoted and recognized a total of 18 small businesses, including Tacotlán (Mexican restaurant), Riley’s Ribz (BBQ sauces & seasonings brand), and Bitoy’s Sweet Treats (a dessert and snack bar) from the 2022 season.

Notably, several of these businesses have become long-term vendors. Peppo’s Subs (2021) has provided lunch for the Bears’ Salute to Service community event; Cleo’s Southern Cuisine (2021) has been included in the Bears’ gameday United Club concession service at Soldier Field; Tacotlán and Bitoy’s Sweet Treats (2022) have provided catering to Bears’ professional development events.

These examples illustrate the tangible benefits and long-term connections that can grow from being part of the Small Business All-Pros Gameday Eats initiative.

About the author

Sports Editor at Chicago Crusader Newspaper

Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.