Hustle Chicago® Stair Climb at Soldier Field FAQ

Please note: Our health and safety policies below have changed based on improvements in COVID-19 positivity rates, increased vaccination rates, and decreases in hospitalizations. We prioritize the safety of all participants and will continue to monitor and follow guidance from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). This includes any restrictions on the size of in-person gatherings.

• Outdoor event: Hosting the climb in the open air, where COVID-19 spread is known to be less likely, means we can offer a safe experience. In addition, staff at Soldier Field will be onsite and following strict procedures for cleaning and sanitizing, including restroom areas.
• Masks: RHA will follow any local, state, federal, or venue protocols required at the time of the event. There is currently no mask requirement for outdoor events, and they will not be required at Soldier Field. Participants, volunteers, staff, and guests are encouraged to wear a mask in areas at the event where large numbers of people gather – such as the start line, after party, etc.
• Vaccinations: While the 2022 event will not require participants to provide proof of vaccination for entry, we strongly encourage all participants to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, we recommend all participants take a Covid test within 72 hours of the event and do not participate in case of a positive test.
• Social distancing: Social distancing guidelines will be encouraged throughout the stadium. Each staging area of the climb will have six-foot markers to keep climbers spaced apart, and climbers will only be allowed to start their climb once the individual in front of them reaches a pre-identified marker. Additionally, Soldier Field’s wide common spaces and walkways allow for social distancing – which will also include designed crowd flow patterns to assist in keeping people at an appropriate distance from each another. Restroom areas at Soldier Field will be open throughout the 400 level of the stadium with limited capacity at any given time.
• Event participants, sponsors, vendors, guests, and volunteers who may be experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, or who have recently been in contact with a person experiencing symptoms, are asked not to attend the event.

RHA will follow any local, state, federal, or venue protocols required at the time of the event. There is currently no mask requirement for outdoor events, and they will not be required at Soldier Field. Participants, volunteers, staff, and guests are encouraged to wear a mask in areas at the event where large numbers of people gather – such as the start line, after party, etc.

Participants will climb in one of eight assigned sections of the stadium’s upper deck (400 level), in waves that include ten climbers. Climbers will go in loops, taking the stairs of their designated section up and down as many times as they can during a 20-minute period. Each stair section will be designated for one-way foot traffic and climber start times will be spaced out to follow social distancing guidelines.

• Climbers moving at a faster pace cannot pass people in front of them. For your safety and the safety of others, we will ask you always keep a six-feet distance from other climbers.
• Due to the need for social distancing, we will not be tracking individual climb times. Climbers are welcome to bring their own fitness trackers or timing devices with them if they wish to record their progress.
• Event staff will time and release climbers to begin their 20-minute time slot individually.

Note: Climbing 7-8 full loops (up and down) is most like the 1,632 stairs at our traditional 875 N. Michigan Ave. climb (formerly known as John Hancock Center).

If you need to take a break while climbing, the seating area in each section will be open. We will ask climbers to step at least six feet into an empty row to take a break and then re-enter at a time they can keep enough distance from another climber. If climbers are unable to finish, they can notify a volunteer and exit their designated loop.

Bottled water will be available at the staging area before you start your climb and right after. There will also be bananas and oranges available once you complete your climb. We will also feature an after party with music, food, drinks, and giveaways – all under the iconic Soldier Field outdoor colonnades!

We will host the event rain or shine. Soldier Field personnel can prepare the stadium under reasonable weather conditions. In the event of any extreme inclement weather, Soldier Field will notify Respiratory Health Association and Hustle Chicago of any decisions within 24 hours of the event. Event organizers will then notify participants via email of any last-minute changes, cancellations, rescheduling, etc.

Each section of Soldier Field has between 104-110 steps to the top and 104-110 steps down. The number of steps each climber takes will depend on how many loops they make.

Packet Pick Up will be available on Friday, May 13 from 10 AM - 6 PM and Saturday, May 14 from 10 AM - 4 PM at Respiratory Health Association’s office in the West Loop. If you would prefer to have your packet mailed to you before the event, please sign up for the packet mailing and we will mail your packet to the address provided during registration. If you are on a team, your packet will be mailed to your team captain. Packets will include a moisture-wicking event shirt and bib that will include your climb time.

Climbers should enter Soldier Field through Gate 45 across from the Field Museum (on McFetridge Drive) and proceed up the Plaza walkway. To ensure everyone’s safety and limit contact with climbers, you should have received your registration packet prior to event day either at Packet Pick Up or by mail. Please remember to bring the bib included in your registration packet as this is required for entry into the stadium.

We encourage you to “pack light” and only bring what you can carry as we will not offer gear check this year. You may bring a small backpack, but you must always keep it with you while inside Soldier Field.

Yes, guest passes can be purchased here. Guests will receive exclusive access to the stadium, view the climb from the 300 level seating section, attend the after party under the iconic colonnades, and cheer on their favorite team or climbers.

Only Lung Health Champions (people who register at our highest fundraising commitment) can request a start time. These times are not guaranteed, but we do our best to accommodate requests as a thank you for their outstanding fundraising commitment. We list all climb times on event bibs. You will receive this on your bib with your other registration materials prior to event day. Climb times begin between 7 AM - 3:30 PM.

If you are driving to the event, parking is available in the North Garage on Museum Campus Drive. Parking is available for a $25 fee for four hours. Soldier Field security and management will be onsite throughout the event. Bag checks are at the discretion of Soldier Field security personnel and may be required (and will follow venue regulations).

Yes! We encourage people to consider our Hustle Chicago virtual experience – a fun, interactive fitness journey you can take (virtually) with other lung health heroes. Registration for the virtual climb is $25 and includes a t-shirt and finisher medal. We also welcome virtual participants to fundraise in support of Respiratory Health Association, but it is not required.

Registrations are final. While we are not able to offer credit, transfers, or refunds for last-minute illnesses, work-related conflicts, personal emergencies, or events beyond our control, you are always welcome to substitute someone in your place, as we understand that these things happen. If we are unable to host the event on May 15 due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will work with Soldier Field to reschedule the in-person climb (if possible). If we are unable to continue with a Soldier Field climb in 2022, participants will be contacted with further information. All fundraising efforts for Respiratory Health Association as part of the 2022 climb are non-refundable.

Every climber will pay $155 upfront to register for the in-person event. This includes a $55 registration fee, which covers event costs and provides each participant with event materials, a specially designed t-shirt, and finisher medal. It also includes a $100 donation minimum, which will be applied toward a participant’s fundraising goal. All donations directly support Respiratory Health Association’s community lung health work.

Every climber’s $55 registration fee includes:

• Exclusive access to designated areas of Solider Field on event day
• Name recognition on the iconic stadium LED ribbon
• Souvenir short sleeve event shirt
• A color finisher medal
• An event bib with personal number and climb time
• Access to on after party inside the Soldier Field colonnades
• A personalized fundraising platform and leaderboard
• A fundraising coach to help reach your individual pledge amount
• Bottled water and post-climb banana or orange to re-fuel
• Designated areas in the stadium to take photos
• The ultimate fitness challenge and memories to last a lifetime!

Additional incentives are available for each fundraising level. Lung Health Champions:

• Your name on Soldier Field jumbotron
• Special LHC event shirt
• Hustle Chicago® Incentive Prize TBD
• Ribbon recognition on race bib
• Opportunity to choose your climb time

Your $100 minimum pledge to participate in this year’s climb at Soldier Field will support Respiratory Health Association’s important lung health work. Event participants like you share and support RHA’s vision of healthy lungs and clean air for all. Your donation makes it possible to raise lung disease awareness, provide programs to help people living with lung disease, fund research into finding new treatments for lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, and to advocate clean air policies to help everyone breathe easier.

Spots in the 2022 climb are limited. Unless sold out prior, team registration closes April 15 and individual registration closes April 29.

Yes, you can register additional participants when registering yourself.

Friday, June 3. If you signed up for the in-person event at the Lung Health Champion level and have not met your fundraising goal by this date, we will charge the outstanding balance to the card you used while registering.

Yes, and we love your enthusiasm! While you are not required to fundraise as a virtual climber, we welcome your additional support of healthy lungs and clean air for all.

Consider creating a team to make sure you climb in the same wave as someone else. Teams only require a two-person minimum. If you are not creating a team and would like to climb together, please email us at [email protected] as soon as you and your climb partner register to request the same time. However, we cannot guarantee you will be placed together unless you create a team due to limited waves and our safety protocols. We will do our best to accommodate these requests.

No, not for this year’s climb. To adhere to social distancing requirements, this event will not be timed. We still welcome both Elite and Firefighter athletes to join us!

Yes, you must be 5 years or older to climb. Climbers are not allowed to carry a child with them.

Yes, you can have someone substitute in your place if you no longer wish to take part in the event. The payment should be handled between the original participant and the participant substituting. Contact us at [email protected] to obtain a substitution form.

Yes, volunteer registration is open! Spots are limited, so click here to register now to secure your spot. Volunteers are a key part of a successful event, and we appreciate your support. Have questions? Reach out to Jamie Blair at [email protected].

No, teams must include either all in-person (at Soldier Field) climbers OR all virtual climbers. Any teams mixed between the two options will be altered to reflect this.

If registering a virtual-only climb team, we ask that you add ‘Virtual’ to the beginning of your team name (i.e., Virtual Stair Steppers).

Yes, there is a $125 team fee. This fee guarantees you will climb together, provides digital professional photos, and includes shipping of everyone’s packets to the team captain approximately two weeks before the event. All teams will be entered into a drawing for a $300 Revolution Brewing gift card or a $250 Visa gift card. Have more than 10 people? Skip the additional team fee(s) by emailing us at [email protected] to get a code and waive the fee. Please add ‘2’ or ‘3’ to the end of your team name (i.e., Stair Steppers – 2).

This year we are limiting team sizes to between 2 and 10 people. No spots will be held for climbers on your team; spots are available first come, first served. Teams must be made up of either only climbers participating in-person at Soldier Field OR only virtual climbers. Have more than 10 people? Skip the additional team fee(s) by emailing us at [email protected] to get a code and waive the fee. Please add ‘2’ or ‘3’ to the end of your team name (i.e., Stair Steppers – 2).

Registration packets for all team members will be mailed to the team captain. Team captains are responsible for distributing event materials to team members.

Yes, teams will have a team photo taken on site at the event this year. Make sure to round everyone up for a photo to remember your climb at iconic Soldier Field!

Yes! We are again encouraging workplace teams to join us at the 2022 climb. The same team restrictions will apply to Corporate Climb teams. If you’d like more information or want to join us this year as a Corporate Climb team, find more information here. Have questions? Reach out to Alyssa Trybus at [email protected].