Chicago Bears & UniDays Host Epic Watch Party in Lancaster
By Simon Carroll
Two weeks ago, the NFL broke further ground American Sports, drawing roughly 16.3 million viewers on Black Friday as the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles – A 21% increase on the year before and the largest audience tracked on that date from 1991.
3,000 miles away in Lancaster, UK, a group of Bears fans were contributing the numbers, with one of the biggest watch parties this side of the pond:
Midwest-themed snacks. Giveaways. American-style games and activities; Lancaster University was transformed on Black Friday as iconic NFL franchise the Chicago Bears teamed up with UNiDays to host an incredible watch party.
As part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, the UK continues to be a priority market for the Chicago Bears. Lancaster was identified as one of UK’s strongest Chicago Bear fan hubs, and the event welcomed student fans and NFL novices alike to come together and embrace the American football’s tailgate traditions. The night was a collaboration with UniDAYS, the leading student rewards platform in the UK, helping young people not only save money, but connect on a more personal level with brands and organisations.
Lancaster is the latest example of how the Chicago Bears are bringing meaningful experiences directly to the fans who are shaping our growth internationally.
Centred around the Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles prime-time game, attendees first arrived into the Tailgate Zone, where they competed in Bears-branded ‘drink’ pong and flip cup, tested their skills with a retro goal wall and played on custom arcade games.
A custom curated menu included distinct Chicago flair and flavour. Also, on offer were some of America’s most iconic snacks, including sweets and cookies.
In the final countdown to kickoff, special guest MC and seasoned Chicago Bears reporter, Lauren Screeden, brought the hype and spirit of Soldier Fields a Chicago Bears game to Lancaster University, hosting the first raffle of the night and previewing the game.
Students were then fully immersed in kickoff, enjoying a first half of both game play and on-field entertainment. At halftime, Lauren treated students to another raffle, before everyone once again came together to see the last moments of the game play out, with the end result a thrilling win for the Chicago Bears.
Following the final whistle, lucky winners of the raffles were announced, heading home with either a signed jersey, signed mini helmets or branded caps.
Speaking on this night of celebration, Lauren Screeden said: “We are so happy to be in Lancaster and host the first ever NFL team watch party here.
“We already knew there were a lot of Bears fans based in Lancaster, but the energy and atmosphere on the night was beyond what we’d imagined or hoped. To be able to get even more students engaged in the sport has been great to see, and it truly shows how American football can bring people together whether in Chicago or on the other side of the globe. Lancaster really brought the Bears spirit and I’m honoured to have been a part of it.”
D'Andre Swift & Kyle Monangai
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) November 28, 2025
Black Friday Game Balls🏈 pic.twitter.com/GVd96q35Qm
Sarah Smith, Vice President of Fan Development and Brand Marketing for the Chicago Bears, said:
“At the heart of all our work here in the UK, we want to connect with audiences in exciting but and authentic ways. We saw in Lancaster so many synergies with Chicago, from the strong student base and sense of community here, to the passion that the city has when it comes to sport.- even if the NFL is new to some of them! We wanted this event to engage both existing fans and those who may be unfamiliar with the Chicago Bears, and to show our commitment to bringing unique experiences and opportunities to all parts of the country.’ Collaborating with UNiDAYS is a great example of how we can connect with students in authentic ways while also further expanding Chicago Bears fandom in the UK. the business ecosystem around our brand.”
Black Friday is the latest market the NFL have successfully exploited; the night before saw a three game slate on Thanksgiving that shattered league records, with the Chiefs-Cowboys game averaging 57.2m viewers – the biggest watched game of the season to date, and more than 15 million viewers than last year.
With the league bringing more holiday games to TV screens than ever before, expect a jam-packed slate over the Christmas period as the 2025 season heads towards the playoffs.
As for the game itself, Lancaster Bears fans will have revelled in their team’s dominance on the gridiron, with running backs Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift combining for 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Chicago defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-15. A shock result on the road has left the Bears in a strong position in the NFC North.
Follow Lauren Screeden on Instagram and TikTok @lscreeden, the Bears’ international channels, @uk_chicagobears on Instagram and the team’s international hub on ChicagoBears.com for more on the watch party.
SIMON CARROLL
Lead Writer, Head of Content
PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST, COVERS COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR DAZN AND THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION.