Fans mourn loss at Arcada

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By KATE THAYER kthayer@kcchronicle.com

ST. CHARLES -- Larry and Maureen Gabriel were the only happy people at the Arcada Theatre's showing of the Chicago Bears playoff game Sunday night.

They're Green Bay Packers fans.

The remaining 40 guests sulked as they left the theater in their orange and blue T-shirts and hats. The St. Charles theater showed the Bears vs. Carolina Panthers game on a 40-foot screen.

Throughout the game, Bears fans cheered when their team still had hope. However, Larry Gabriel's voice was the only positive noise heard during plays favorable to the Panthers.

"I typically don't like the Bears," he said. "They're overrated."

The Batavia couple sat in back and made a quick getaway during the final minutes of the game.

Steve Melville of North Aurora and Linda Croschere of Aurora said they still had fun watching the game at the theater.

"It's more stadium-like here," Croschere said.

Linda Stuart of St. Charles admits she's a fair-weather fan, but wanted to support the theater, so she attended with her friend, Janet Wilson.

Wilson, also of St. Charles, demonstrated her loyalty to the Bears by clapping and cheering them on until the last seconds of the game.

"They didn't play very well," she said. "I still had fun. It's whatever is meant to be."

Greg Marston of South Elgin was not so light-hearted about the loss.

He said a Bears loss tends to induce depression.

Marston's friend -- an Indianapolis fan -- had to leave the theater early because of the mood the Colts' loss earlier in the afternoon caused.

Despite an unfortunate outcome, the Arcada crowd cheered on their team, sharing in the excitement of the possibility of a Super Bowl.

"Everybody's up on their feet," Stuart said.