Illinois
Inducted: December 7, 2008
Captain: Tim Shanley
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Tim Shanley
Tim Shanley is the driving force behind the Chicago Bears Tailgating Club, a legendary gathering that captures the heart, humor, and hardiness of Midwestern football culture. More than just a tailgate host, Tim is a master of connection—uniting diehard fans and first-time visitors alike through warmth, generosity, and a fierce love for the Monsters of the Midway.
With every home game, Tim turns the shadow of Soldier Field into a sea of navy and orange celebration. His natural charisma and tireless dedication have built more than just a tailgate—they've created a community. From meticulously planned menus to perfectly timed toasts, from welcoming wide-eyed newcomers to rallying the regulars with game-day energy, Tim ensures every detail reflects pride, tradition, and Bear Down loyalty.
Known for his infectious enthusiasm and rock-solid leadership, Tim has helped the Chicago Bears Tailgating Club become a staple of the fan experience. Under his guidance, it’s not just about the food or the football—it’s about making lifelong memories in the lot. For many, Tim’s tailgate is the highlight of the season, and his presence is a big reason why.
For more information on tailgating with the CBTC, contact Tim Shanley at:
Learn More About Our Tailgate
The Chicago Bears Tailgating Club (CBTC) exists to preserve one of football's great traditions. Gathering outside Soldier Field, the club has become a home for Bears fans who believe the gameday experience begins long before kickoff. Built around friendship, hospitality, and an unwavering commitment to Chicago football, the CBTC welcomes lifelong season ticket holders, first-time visitors, and traveling fans into a community where every Sunday reflects the pride and traditions of Bears football. Their gathering has become one of the signature destinations surrounding Soldier Field and a worthy member of the Tailgating Hall of Fame.
The club emerged during a period of significant change for tailgating in Chicago. Restrictions placed on parking lots surrounding Soldier Field forced many longtime tailgates to scale back or disappear altogether, threatening traditions that had been built over generations of Bears football. Rather than accept that loss, a dedicated group of fans came together to create an organized tailgating community that would preserve the spirit of Chicago gameday. Under the leadership of Tim Shanley and an experienced team of volunteers, the CBTC established a welcoming home where the traditions of Bears tailgating could continue to grow despite the changing landscape around them.
Visitors quickly discover that the CBTC operates on a remarkable scale. Hundreds of fans gather throughout the morning around Da Bus, the club's well-known gathering place, sharing stories, reconnecting with friends, and introducing newcomers to the traditions that define Bears Sundays. While Da Bus has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Soldier Field parking lots, it serves a larger purpose by giving the community a place to gather. Families return season after season, friendships span generations, and visitors from around the world often make the CBTC one of the first stops on their football pilgrimage to Chicago.
Preparing food has become one of the club's most recognizable traditions. Large-scale cooks provide an opportunity for members to serve hundreds of guests throughout the day, reflecting Chicago's longstanding belief that good football deserves good food. The centerpiece is a custom-built full-cow rotisserie that has become one of the most distinctive sights in NFL tailgating, accompanied by an ever-changing menu of Chicago favorites prepared by an experienced cooking crew. Yet the food represents more than abundance. Through the club's Tailgating for Hunger initiative, hundreds of pounds of freshly prepared beef are donated to organizations serving those in need throughout the Chicago area, allowing every home game to strengthen the surrounding community as well as the tailgate itself.
The CBTC has earned national recognition for both its hospitality and its commitment to preserving Chicago's tailgating culture. Fans from across the United States and around the world have visited the club, finding the same welcoming atmosphere regardless of the team they support. Rival fans are invited to share a meal, talk football, and experience Bears gameday from the perspective of the people who have made Soldier Field one of the league's most respected football destinations. That openness has helped the club build friendships throughout the NFL while introducing countless visitors to the traditions that define football in Chicago.
The CBTC represents the resilience of Bears fans and the enduring importance of community in professional football. By preserving traditions that many feared would disappear, welcoming generations of fans into a shared gathering place, and using every home game as an opportunity to serve others, the club has demonstrated that great tailgates are measured by far more than the size of their setup. Their contribution to Chicago football extends beyond the parking lot, ensuring that one of the NFL's great tailgating traditions remains an essential part of every Bears season. That commitment has earned the CBTC its place in the Tailgating Hall of Fame.