By Maya Liquigan and Araceli Ramirez

February 10, 2025

On Sunday, Feb. 9, Soldier Field was packed with fans from around the Midwest for the first ever Verizon Super Bowl LIX FanFest, a nationwide event featuring local food and beverages, live music, NFL player meet-and-greets and a live game viewing in 30 stadiums around the country. 

Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze and running back D’Andre Swift made guest appearances to greet and take photos with fans. 

Odunze said he was excited for an opportunity to connect with fans at this first-of-its-kind event, and watch the game with them. 

“I like to go out there and entertain them when we play football, but being at things like this they see me without the helmet, it’s a great opportunity just to get back to the city and the fanbase,” he said. “That’s what I like.”

Fans entered the stadium at 3 p.m. and DJ JayFunk, the official Chicago Bears DJ, energized the crowd as families and friends enjoyed pregame festivities. Many fans were excited for the on-field access and the opportunity to watch the Super Bowl on a big screen. 

Kyle Ragonese, senior director of communications at Verizon, said the fans were the core of preparing the Fan Fest events. 

“We wanted to take the Super Bowl to the fans,” Ragonese said. “It’s all about granting people access where they might not have it. So in all 30 NFL markets, we’re hosting parties for the fans.” 

According to Ragonese, 100,000 tickets have already “completely sold out.” 

“It’s really just an effort to connect the fans with Verizon and give them access to work with the NFL and the Super Bowl,” Ragonese said. 

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze speaks to the media during the Verizon Super Bowl FanFest at Soldier Field on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025.

Prior to this event, MacKenzie Roy from De Motte, Indiana, had never stepped foot inside a stadium. Wearing a Chicago Bears hat, she and her friends were rooting for the Eagles. 

“Being able to see the Super Bowl on a big screen is honestly surreal,” Roy said. “We’ve never done it before, usually [we watch] just at home. I want everybody to be able to experience something like this since it’s once in a lifetime.”

A few people behind, Camille Boston and Rachel Washington waited in line together with their children. 

Boston said she was beyond excited for the opportunity to come to the Fan Fest, especially as a football fan. 

“It’s exciting especially as a Chicagoan being here for almost anything is a big deal for us,” Boston said. “Soldier Field is a very important landmark.” 

Washington shared similar sentiments, as she was looking forward to the pregame activities.

“I was here for the draft when Chicago hosted the draft and I’m looking forward to the true fan experience,” Washington said. “I wanna kick a field goal, win some money, play with the kiddos, get some swag.”

The upper levels of the stadium hosted games and activities before the Super Bowl started, including a photo booth, face painting and a caricature booth. Families played the various game stations throughout the floors, some trying their hand at the quarterback toss game or playing competitive rounds of ping-pong.

As the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans at the Caesars Superdome, Kendrick Lamar will perform at halftime, adding to the excitement surrounding this nationwide celebration.

The crowd was filled with football fans of all levels and from various teams, some watching the Super Bowl for the first time. 

Connie Sherbondy and her wife, Leah Sherbondy, came from Highland, Indiana to watch the game. They said they typically host Super Bowl games at their house, but were excited to be in a big crowd for the game in a more exciting environment. 

“With this you get out, you see the city, you mingle with all the people, all these free events that they have here,” Connie Sherbondy said. “Just being able to be in here without the mash of the crowd.”

Leah Sherbondy said she is a 49ers fan, but is rooting for the Eagles to win the Super Bowl this year. 

“Nobody wants to see Patrick Mahomes win again,” she said. 

Although many attendees were not hardcore Chiefs or Eagles fans, many enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday with other football fans. 

Abhineet Menon and Brasad Vichare, from India, came to Soldier Field for the first time to attend FanFest. Although neither of them are fans of the competing teams, they were excited about the opportunity for this “one of a kind experience,” Menon said. 

“Even if it’s not the Bears, it’s still the Super Bowl,” Vichare said.