Chicago Mayor and Sports Teams Release ‘We Are Not Playing’ Campaign to Stop the Coronavirus Spread

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces the "We Are Not Playing" campaign at Soldier Field with Chicago athletes on the video board over her shoulder. | Credit: Chicago Tribune by Zbigniew Bzdak

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is enlisting the help of Chicago’s sports teams to urge residents to stay home as the city works to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Lightfoot walked onto Soldier Field with a backdrop of empty seats behind her Monday morning to launch an ad campaign called “We Are Not Playing” in conjunction with the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, Fire, Red Stars, Sky and White Sox.

The campaign will start with digital ads and public billboards and include social media messages and videos from players encouraging people to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order. It comes on top of Lightfoot’s humorous “Stay Home, Save Lives” public service announcements last week.