Soldier Field Welcomes Newcomers Levy and Boka For 2024 Chicago Bears Season (2024)

Shortly after the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the team’s culinary staff began brainstorming how to incorporate the star college quarterback’s “Bear Claw” hand gesture.

Levy Executive Chef Ryan Craig who already created a viral stadium hit earlier this year with the Chicago White Sox, perhaps providing the South Siders with the highlight of their woeful season with his invention, the Campfire Milkshake, and his team recognized that Williams had provided them with an opportunity. During a media food preview on Wednesday, August 28 at Solider Field, the Levy team unfurled a trio of Bear Claw items. There was a giant pretzel with beer cheese dip and cinnamon-cream cheese icing on the claw (available at the United Club South Market and in the suites); a collaboration with Do-Rite Donuts with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, toffee piece, orange and blue M&Ms, and whipped cream (United Club Bistro, Miller Lite Midway; and suite ticketholders can order a giant cookie with orange and blue icing from Sugar Bliss, a bakery located inside the Palmer House Hilton.

Craig and his staff are trying to match the fan enthusiasm with high expectations as Williams has the potential to give the Bears the perennial All-Pro quarterback the franchise has lacked. Sports food is more fun when the team is actually competitive. Not that Chicago fans know about that.

This doughnut-cookie hybrid is also shaped like a bear claw.

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It’s also an opportunity for Levy, which earlier in the year outbid incumbent Delaware North to take over food operations at Soldier Field. The Chicago company already provides services to Guaranteed Rate Field, Wrigley Field, and the United Center. Levy took over this summer right after the Rolling Stone concert on June 30, and there’s been a transition period as Levy rebrands all of Soldier Field’s concession stands. The process will continue over the next 10 days. The goal was to complete the transformation by the September 8 home opener versus the Tenessee Titans. New names include “Burnham Bar,” “606 Sausage Co.,” and “Shoreline BBQ.” Connie’s Pizza remains at the stadium, but the name’s been changed on the facade to Pizza Soldato (Sections 119, 132, 152, 231, 322, 351, 435, and 443).

Shoreline (Section 134) is where fans will find a hot dog inspired by rookie wide received Rome Odunze, the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft. The Odunze Dog is a jalapeño-cheddar dog surrounded by Italian beef and topped with spicy giardiniera, cheddar crumbles, and secret sauce. It’s a salty take on an Italian beef combo.

The smash burgers are created by Boka chef Chris Pandel.

Levy’s presence provides an opportunity for one of Chicago’s most decorated restaurant groups. For the first time, food from James Beard Award-winning Boka Restaurant Group will be available inside a stadium. (Stephanie Izard’s taco stand inside the United Center is an independent venture unaffiliated with Boka, her regular restaurant partner). They’ll serve hand-breaded chicken fingers from GG’s Chicken Shop, with all the fancy dipping sauces. GG’s (Sections 125 and 150) is a fast-causal spot with food from Boka Executive Chef Lee Wolen, a noted Cleveland Browns fan. Next door, at the new Tavern Burger (Section 126), they’ll also serve smash burgers created by Boka Group chef Chris Pandel (, Cira). In October 2022, Levy acquired a minority stake in Boka which opened the door to collaborations. They’ve already collaborated on food at the Art Institute of Chicago. Will Boka also feed Blackhawk and Bulls fans at the United Center and Chicago’s North and South side baseball fans? The company’s lips are sealed… for now.

For years, AI and analytics have promised to revolutionize the way professional sports teams are assembled. Fans are now seeing the impact on the stadium food experience. New for 2024 is more than 60 self-checkout kiosks with AI-powered cameras that recognize cans of beer, slices of pizza, boxes of popcorn, and other concession items. Made by a company called Mashgin, these kiosks are installed for faster checkout with a claim that they can increase sales.

While Craig didn’t create a sequel to the Campfire Shake for the Bears — he says he needed to let the White Sox have that and that winter might be too cold for ice cream — there are two notable new beverages. Former Bears special teams star Patrick ​​Mannelly has collaborated with suburban Mundelein’s Tighthead Brewery on a beer, Longsnapper IPA. There’s also a new co*cktail with a nod to forgotten history. The Bears are one of a handful of teams without cheerleaders, disbanding the squad, called the Honey Bears, after the 1985 season. For 2024, the team has unveiled a drink with lemonade, simple syrup, and honey called Honey Bear. Add vodka for an upgrade. Levy’s senior director of operations for Soldier Field, Kara Jacobs, suggested the name as she was reminded of when the Honey Bears made visit when she was part of a pom pom team growing up in suburban Libertyville