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Some Lucky Bears Fans Are Off To Miami

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Some Lucky Bears Fans Are Off To Miami

But Fans Show Team Spirit No Matter Where They Are

 SLIDESHOW: Watch Bears Fans of all Shapes and Sizes

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by Mai Martinez
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Super Bowl XLI is only two days away, and Chicagoans are getting wild with anticipation.

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, Miami is already full of football fans, but another wave is about to hit South Beach, and many of them are wearing orange and blue.

O'Hare International Airport was overrun on Friday morning with Bears fans catching flights to Miami for Super Bowl XLI.

"I've been a Bear fan for over 50 years, and I'm looking forward to an exciting game, and I'm going down with my son – I'm meeting him in Miami – and we were at the '86 (Super Bowl) and we're going to be for this one too," said Howard Lesak, "so we're very much looking forward to it."

"How can you not go and see the Bears win the Super Bowl? It's going to be great; South Beach," said John Durso. "It happened 20 years ago. We're going to win again Sunday; it's going to be just a great game."

A third fan, Mark Bodnar, added: "It's going to be crazy down there. Everybody will be wearing jerseys. Everybody will be cheering – Colts fans, Bears fans. It will be a great time."

There were several flights from O'Hare to Miami, among the earliest an American Airlines flight leaving at 6:30 a.m.

Later Friday morning a charter plane left with a tour group of 200 people, who purchased an all-inclusive Super Bowl package from the company Razor Gator that includes Super Bowl parties, a special tailgate party, and of course, the Super Bowl itself.

This all may have been too early for some, but others could not contain their excitement. Scott Yurks even broke into a chorus of "Bear Down, Chicago Bears," and being one of the lucky fans on the charter flight, he had plenty to sing about.

The Razor Gator charter flights and Super Bowl packages cost $3,000 to $6,000 per person. But die-hard fans say the once-in-a-lifetime experience is worth every penny of it.

"I want to see a good game, and a Bear victory," said Tom Kolovos.

"The new boat went on the back burner for two or three years," said Gene Kudron, referring to the cost of the package, "but like I said, this is going to be a priceless experience.

Some of the Bears fans said an added bonus is that they are getting out just in time to escape the subzero temperatures that are soon to settle in this weekend.

"It's supposed to be 85 degrees down there, so I'm looking forward to that," said Sharon Rossmark.

But of course, many more are looking forward to the big showdown at Dolphin Stadium.

"We're going to go down to Miami have some fun for a day or two, and then go up and watch the Bears win," said Jack Bone.

As to the projected score, "Definitely Bears, by 50, possible 60, big win, big win," added Jacklyn Bone.

As of Friday morning, Super Bowl tickets were going for $2,000 to $8,000 apiece. Flights to Miami leaving Saturday and returning Monday were available for $473, and hotels were $200 per night for two nights.

As for those who are staying in Chicago for the Super Bowl, Chicago Police will be on guard Sunday to make sure fans don't get out of hand – win or lose – and police will also be on the prowl for drunken drivers. More about the police safety plan.

Parking on some Chicago streets will also be banned.

Security will also be tight in Miami, where more than 70,000 fans have Super Bowl tickets. The airspace over Dolphin Stadium is closed, with fighter jets on standby.

Tailgating is forbidden in the parking lot, and everyone entering the stadium must go through metal detectors like the ones at airports or courthouses.

"We are looking for any kind of security breaches, and it is part of our fight against terrorism in our mission of national security to make sure this is a safe event," said Miami Chief Customs and Border Protection Officer Jennifer Connors.

A task force of more than 50 federal, state and local agencies has been planning for the event.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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