Chicago White Sox game
Apr 1st, 2007, 02:23 PM
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Chicago White Sox game
Hello everyone,
My partner and I are going to be on a baseball driving tour in late summer and we plan to catch a White Sox game. Does anyone have advice on where to get a hotel and also how to get to US Cellular? I am thinking parking may not be a good idea. Can we get a cab there and back? Someone once told me cabs don't like to go there, but I know these things change. The game will be on a Friday night. Thanks for any tips.
My partner and I are going to be on a baseball driving tour in late summer and we plan to catch a White Sox game. Does anyone have advice on where to get a hotel and also how to get to US Cellular? I am thinking parking may not be a good idea. Can we get a cab there and back? Someone once told me cabs don't like to go there, but I know these things change. The game will be on a Friday night. Thanks for any tips.
Apr 1st, 2007, 07:00 PM
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If you are planning on spending time in Chicago as well as going to the game then get a hotel downtown (either in the LOOP or a bit north on the river) and take the train (the L) to Sox Park, it goes right there and that is your best bet (a better idea than taking a taxi or driving). Keep in mind that hotels downtown charge for parking though.
Now, if you want to take taxi to US Cellular, then if you hail one, they'll drive you down there and I can't imagine they'll give you an problems, but it would be less of a hassle to just take the train.
Now, if you want to take taxi to US Cellular, then if you hail one, they'll drive you down there and I can't imagine they'll give you an problems, but it would be less of a hassle to just take the train.
Apr 1st, 2007, 07:05 PM
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The easiest way to get to Sox Park is to take the red line CTA to the Sox/35th St. stop. Lots of people use it to get to the game so it is safe and probably the quickest way with game day traffic and the mess on the Dan Ryan. I would not drive if I didn't have to.
Where you stay I suppose has a lot to do with how long you are staying, are you looking to drive out that night to head to the next city or stay in town?
Where you stay I suppose has a lot to do with how long you are staying, are you looking to drive out that night to head to the next city or stay in town?
Apr 1st, 2007, 08:28 PM
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We drive to the Sox game and park at U.S. Cellular about 6 to 8 times a year, maybe more. The parking is easy and there are lots and police/traffic cops giving direction to those lots everywhere. In fact coming off the expressway you often get stuck in a line that ends up giving you just a few choices to which lots. The parking was raised to $18 last year. There have been times that our parking cost more than our entrance. LOL!
Monday night home games are usually 1/2 price. Thursday nights are Dollar Dog nights. Hot dogs cost $1.
Red line AND the Dan Ryan are both under somewhat of a misery because of construction. The entire news tonight on TV was how the Brown line and Red lines are going to be limited in number and affected. That does NOT mean you should have trouble, because you are probably not going to be within rush hour. Just wanted you to know in case you start to hear dire predictions.
We have always parked near U.S. Cellular Field for literally 30 years, and there have been very bad times and not so bad times. This is a better than not so bad time. In other words, do not worry about whatever you do. Depending upon who they are playing in late summer, just be sure you can get a ticket. It doesn't happen often and most times you could still buy them outside the park from somebody if the myriad gates were sold out, but I would get them ahead in case it is Yankees, or some team that is in a Pennant race with the Sox.
Yoohoo, it FINALLY starts tomorrow. My two sons will be there, and my grandkids are going on Tuesday. Looks like Wednesday there may be snow flurries now too! Play ball!
Monday night home games are usually 1/2 price. Thursday nights are Dollar Dog nights. Hot dogs cost $1.
Red line AND the Dan Ryan are both under somewhat of a misery because of construction. The entire news tonight on TV was how the Brown line and Red lines are going to be limited in number and affected. That does NOT mean you should have trouble, because you are probably not going to be within rush hour. Just wanted you to know in case you start to hear dire predictions.
We have always parked near U.S. Cellular Field for literally 30 years, and there have been very bad times and not so bad times. This is a better than not so bad time. In other words, do not worry about whatever you do. Depending upon who they are playing in late summer, just be sure you can get a ticket. It doesn't happen often and most times you could still buy them outside the park from somebody if the myriad gates were sold out, but I would get them ahead in case it is Yankees, or some team that is in a Pennant race with the Sox.
Yoohoo, it FINALLY starts tomorrow. My two sons will be there, and my grandkids are going on Tuesday. Looks like Wednesday there may be snow flurries now too! Play ball!
Apr 1st, 2007, 08:33 PM
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Oh, I should also have said, that a goodly 3/4ths of Chicagoland area Sox fans drive to the game. Because the red line, els, buses etc. do not come anywhere near where the immense fan base lives: Chicago South, Chicago SouthWest, Chicago West, Indiana etc.
The Red line only has a station that runs from the North/downtown area to Southeast areas not an iota as far as many fans live. We could take the Metra and still not have a stop to get off at U.S. Cellular and that IS supposed to change by 2009. I should live that long!
And since you said it WOULD be a Friday night, then you would probably be less stressed by taking the el Red line and staying downtown. Why? Because Friday night games usually start at 6:05pm and you ARE going to be somewhat overlapped with rush hour.
It may also be fireworks afterwards, some Fridays are. Regardless car, cab or el- if you stay downtown, it is SO close that it won't matter. If you are staying far West or anywhere else,- do drive.
If you had your own car and don't mind parking twice, which can be more trouble but doable, and you had time- you might want to go to Chinatown for dinner and then go to the game. We have done that and parked the car twice. If you take the el- just eat downtown or at the game.
The Red line only has a station that runs from the North/downtown area to Southeast areas not an iota as far as many fans live. We could take the Metra and still not have a stop to get off at U.S. Cellular and that IS supposed to change by 2009. I should live that long!
And since you said it WOULD be a Friday night, then you would probably be less stressed by taking the el Red line and staying downtown. Why? Because Friday night games usually start at 6:05pm and you ARE going to be somewhat overlapped with rush hour.
It may also be fireworks afterwards, some Fridays are. Regardless car, cab or el- if you stay downtown, it is SO close that it won't matter. If you are staying far West or anywhere else,- do drive.
If you had your own car and don't mind parking twice, which can be more trouble but doable, and you had time- you might want to go to Chinatown for dinner and then go to the game. We have done that and parked the car twice. If you take the el- just eat downtown or at the game.
Apr 2nd, 2007, 04:30 AM
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I strongly urge anyone thinking about using the Red, Brown and/or Evanston Express/Purple El lines to read the articles in the local papers (Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, etc.) starting today. The Chicago Tribune, for example, will have a blog of real-life adventures of the locals.
With all due respect to the previous poster, the service cuts on these lines will definitely affect any riders on them. And these service cuts are around for a long time (at least three years). By the way, rush hour is now indicated as starting at 3 pm. And by past experience, I would say the end time is about 7-7:30 p.m. now.
With all due respect to the previous poster, the service cuts on these lines will definitely affect any riders on them. And these service cuts are around for a long time (at least three years). By the way, rush hour is now indicated as starting at 3 pm. And by past experience, I would say the end time is about 7-7:30 p.m. now.
Apr 2nd, 2007, 06:03 AM
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Yes, I agree with you exiled princess, els are going to be chancey, but I feel that the line going SOUTH from the Loop will be crowded but not anything like the line going NORTH from the Loop. And between now and late summer there are going to be all kinds of reports about how it really works out.
My experience is that the el line running South is actually never as crowded for commutes etc. as the line running North from the Loop, so until I hear that it is as dire as predicted, I wouldn't dis that particular part of the line. It is also a VERY short ride to U.S. Cellular from Loop locations. At game times, if the els were closed as overfilled etc.- they would have alternate buses or even shuttles from the Loop. The CTA/PACE system even has 6 different suburban area shuttles to U.S. Cellular Field now.
If you are real worried about transport to the game, scorrell, you could stay in Palos or one of those locations and take the shuttle. The shuttle leaves 30 minutes after the last out of the game. I hate shuttles because if the game is 5 hours long or weather revolts- you are stuck in a bus or in long rain delays.
I am actually not apt to believe news reports as I find that the entire Dan Ryan fiasco reports are grossly exaggerated in fact. My younger son uses it constantly for work and for play, and will today, in fact- as he is going to opening day.
My experience has been that the North side has many, many more people that use els to commute to Loop than the Southside does- by number. We shall see- but for that short of a distance, I still believe it doable if the op does not want to drive. Driving there is not difficult- far, far easier than the expressways to IN and MI, IMHO, in the last 4 or 5 years with constant construction as well. There 3 or 4 mile total stop, back-ups were not ununsual in both directions.
Closer to the time, if you consider the el choice, check with CTA to see if the el from Loop to 3500 South has experienced station closure or refusals due to insufficient train capacities. They will always be crowded on game nights regardless, but closures or refusals are another thing.
This is just not as hard as it sounds. I myself have driven from downtown to the game, and from my Dad's to the game- which is throughout the entire South side down Western Ave. or Kedzie Ave and then east on Pershing Rd (3900th St.) and it is an easier drive than in my densely populated Suburban I-80 corridor.
My experience is that the el line running South is actually never as crowded for commutes etc. as the line running North from the Loop, so until I hear that it is as dire as predicted, I wouldn't dis that particular part of the line. It is also a VERY short ride to U.S. Cellular from Loop locations. At game times, if the els were closed as overfilled etc.- they would have alternate buses or even shuttles from the Loop. The CTA/PACE system even has 6 different suburban area shuttles to U.S. Cellular Field now.
If you are real worried about transport to the game, scorrell, you could stay in Palos or one of those locations and take the shuttle. The shuttle leaves 30 minutes after the last out of the game. I hate shuttles because if the game is 5 hours long or weather revolts- you are stuck in a bus or in long rain delays.
I am actually not apt to believe news reports as I find that the entire Dan Ryan fiasco reports are grossly exaggerated in fact. My younger son uses it constantly for work and for play, and will today, in fact- as he is going to opening day.
My experience has been that the North side has many, many more people that use els to commute to Loop than the Southside does- by number. We shall see- but for that short of a distance, I still believe it doable if the op does not want to drive. Driving there is not difficult- far, far easier than the expressways to IN and MI, IMHO, in the last 4 or 5 years with constant construction as well. There 3 or 4 mile total stop, back-ups were not ununsual in both directions.
Closer to the time, if you consider the el choice, check with CTA to see if the el from Loop to 3500 South has experienced station closure or refusals due to insufficient train capacities. They will always be crowded on game nights regardless, but closures or refusals are another thing.
This is just not as hard as it sounds. I myself have driven from downtown to the game, and from my Dad's to the game- which is throughout the entire South side down Western Ave. or Kedzie Ave and then east on Pershing Rd (3900th St.) and it is an easier drive than in my densely populated Suburban I-80 corridor.
Apr 2nd, 2007, 06:32 AM
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OP: There is a Best Western in River North that includes parking--it's NOT the Ritz, but if you can afford the Ritz you probably won't balk at paying $35 a night for parking.
Don't forget you can also take the green line elevated train from the Loop to Sox Park. The stop is a couple of blocks east of the Red line by IIT, but it's much less crowded.
So, JJ5, yes there IS a way for fans from the West side to get to Sox Park via CTA.
Have fun, and GO SOX (trying to be optimistic...)
Racy
Don't forget you can also take the green line elevated train from the Loop to Sox Park. The stop is a couple of blocks east of the Red line by IIT, but it's much less crowded.
So, JJ5, yes there IS a way for fans from the West side to get to Sox Park via CTA.
Have fun, and GO SOX (trying to be optimistic...)
Racy
Apr 2nd, 2007, 06:40 AM
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Could someone please advise me about the upper deck seats at the Cell? I have been scared to sit up there because I get sick if the pitch is too steep--for instance, I can't sit in the upper balcony at Orchestra Hall, and when I had behind-the-plate but WAY up at the top seats at Yankee Stadium, I was actually unable to leave the seat during the game: had to concentrate to leave at the end.
So, how steep is it REALLY in the Cell's upper deck? Seats seem very scarce this year, despite the predicted 4th-place finish.
So, how steep is it REALLY in the Cell's upper deck? Seats seem very scarce this year, despite the predicted 4th-place finish.
Apr 2nd, 2007, 07:31 AM
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They are steep, but not as steep as some other ball parks that I never hear a blip about concerning the same issue.
If this bothers you to that extent I would definitely NOT take the highest 25 rows at any park, nor especially here. If you take the lower rowed seats on the upper deck or reserved upper deck, either of them- you should be ok. And if they are gone, my second bit of advice would be NOT to take the ones that turn the corners in the outfield. Also the bleacher sections at U.S. Cellular are primo (much better than most other MLB parks)in position, but not as good support seatwise, unless they changed those too. Every seat is new and blue this year, except for the seat where the ball landed for Paul Konerko's grand slam in the Series- it's still green in the middle of a row. Those high ones out there on the curves and near the flagpole, IMHO, are really the only ones that give many the queasies. They are also right in the path of boomer (firework/home run boomer etc.) smoke and after-do.
U.S. Cellular is NOT like many other ballparks in that you may be kept to your own level, yet I have found, that compared to other in MLB, you can move physically around far, far more. Even at density capacity the aisles and corridors are super wide too. In other words, you can wander and end up sitting below your ticket or in the Patio section eating etc. etc. by chance, and design without ire 90% of the time. There are many corporate ticket holders etc. that don't show during the weekday games, IMHO, and/or on many bad weather or other nights so if something made you queasy- you could always move down. People will adjust and gladly, which is totally unlike other rigid ball parks. This leniency I have seen may be diminishing- but is far, far from dead. You can also generally go get drinks, move around etc. without too much regulation. Some of the closest rows behind on top, and lower decks all around they won't let you return to your seat when the batter is up. You will also find that being female is not a deterent here because it has the best bathrooms anywhere. Also food is in the top 5. The former has no waits- is that a miracle or what! Like anything nowadays and any museum etc. they will make you open your purse for a look/see upon entry- don't carry any glass bottle etc. and open liquor is not allowed walking around outside the park. This is not always the case in other cities.
There are SO many cops and parking lot attendants that when you leave the game you may not get to go directly to an expressway but they have a phenomenal system that "sends you off"-maybe NOT in the right direction if you are driving. But do NOT worry as the area is totally over-rated in the fear factor. As someone said IIT is just to the East, (and if you took the green line you will have many people to move with, I'm sure and to take the short walk across the expressway bridge- you will NOT get lost) North is toward downtown, West is toward difficult myriad of streets if you stay on locals, and South may be the same. Watch for 1 one streets if you need to turn around.
There are actually bars/restaurants in the area too now. And Racy, you CAN get there from the West all kinds of ways. LOL! My other son always got there from Downers and now is getting there today too from Homer Township. LOL! I think he takes I-55, Stevenson.
I foretold the 2005 win here 9 months ahead of time. It is in print and provable. Remember, Ryan. This year I am predicting Wild Card. The 4th place estimate is not universal. I actually do not feel as positive as some, although I have lived it once. Our pitching diminished.
My Father who is never wrong, 88, and extremely stroke ridden, still has his baseball smarts. He SAW the Cubs in their last World Series stint 1945 and is a Cubs fan. But he says Sox will be Wild Card for sure, that really surprised us. We are absolutely in the best division in baseball this year again- either league. KC, Detroit, Twins will be killers. If the White Sox were in any other division we would probably be picked one or two.
I still miss Aaron Rowand. I think Pods getting his wheels at top health will make some difference.
Have fun and watch the Score board too- love, love it the BEST of anyones. Pizza race, I take the sausage to win.
Go Sox!
If this bothers you to that extent I would definitely NOT take the highest 25 rows at any park, nor especially here. If you take the lower rowed seats on the upper deck or reserved upper deck, either of them- you should be ok. And if they are gone, my second bit of advice would be NOT to take the ones that turn the corners in the outfield. Also the bleacher sections at U.S. Cellular are primo (much better than most other MLB parks)in position, but not as good support seatwise, unless they changed those too. Every seat is new and blue this year, except for the seat where the ball landed for Paul Konerko's grand slam in the Series- it's still green in the middle of a row. Those high ones out there on the curves and near the flagpole, IMHO, are really the only ones that give many the queasies. They are also right in the path of boomer (firework/home run boomer etc.) smoke and after-do.
U.S. Cellular is NOT like many other ballparks in that you may be kept to your own level, yet I have found, that compared to other in MLB, you can move physically around far, far more. Even at density capacity the aisles and corridors are super wide too. In other words, you can wander and end up sitting below your ticket or in the Patio section eating etc. etc. by chance, and design without ire 90% of the time. There are many corporate ticket holders etc. that don't show during the weekday games, IMHO, and/or on many bad weather or other nights so if something made you queasy- you could always move down. People will adjust and gladly, which is totally unlike other rigid ball parks. This leniency I have seen may be diminishing- but is far, far from dead. You can also generally go get drinks, move around etc. without too much regulation. Some of the closest rows behind on top, and lower decks all around they won't let you return to your seat when the batter is up. You will also find that being female is not a deterent here because it has the best bathrooms anywhere. Also food is in the top 5. The former has no waits- is that a miracle or what! Like anything nowadays and any museum etc. they will make you open your purse for a look/see upon entry- don't carry any glass bottle etc. and open liquor is not allowed walking around outside the park. This is not always the case in other cities.
There are SO many cops and parking lot attendants that when you leave the game you may not get to go directly to an expressway but they have a phenomenal system that "sends you off"-maybe NOT in the right direction if you are driving. But do NOT worry as the area is totally over-rated in the fear factor. As someone said IIT is just to the East, (and if you took the green line you will have many people to move with, I'm sure and to take the short walk across the expressway bridge- you will NOT get lost) North is toward downtown, West is toward difficult myriad of streets if you stay on locals, and South may be the same. Watch for 1 one streets if you need to turn around.
There are actually bars/restaurants in the area too now. And Racy, you CAN get there from the West all kinds of ways. LOL! My other son always got there from Downers and now is getting there today too from Homer Township. LOL! I think he takes I-55, Stevenson.
I foretold the 2005 win here 9 months ahead of time. It is in print and provable. Remember, Ryan. This year I am predicting Wild Card. The 4th place estimate is not universal. I actually do not feel as positive as some, although I have lived it once. Our pitching diminished.
My Father who is never wrong, 88, and extremely stroke ridden, still has his baseball smarts. He SAW the Cubs in their last World Series stint 1945 and is a Cubs fan. But he says Sox will be Wild Card for sure, that really surprised us. We are absolutely in the best division in baseball this year again- either league. KC, Detroit, Twins will be killers. If the White Sox were in any other division we would probably be picked one or two.
I still miss Aaron Rowand. I think Pods getting his wheels at top health will make some difference.
Have fun and watch the Score board too- love, love it the BEST of anyones. Pizza race, I take the sausage to win.
Go Sox!
Apr 2nd, 2007, 03:47 PM
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Thanks everyone for all of these good tips. We will only be in Chicago one night --an early Sept Friday night -- and we are only driving thru to see the ChiSox. We would like to stay somewhere nice, although it does not have to be luxurious (but it could be). However, the most important thing is that we can get to the Fri night game as easily as possible. Given this, any recommendations on where to stay?
This is an anniversary trip and we are driving for 2 weeks and seeing 10 games. Should be fun!
This is an anniversary trip and we are driving for 2 weeks and seeing 10 games. Should be fun!
