Ball Game in Chicago - tickets?
 

Hi<BR><BR>Will be coming over to Chicago (from the UK) in April 2003. My son has expressed a desire to go to a baseball game!<BR><BR>How do we go about this? <BR><BR>Many thanks.<BR>D

Check out www.mlb.com - Major League Baseball's website. You can link to each team in both leagues (American and National). Chicago has two teams - the White Sox and the Cubs. The Cubs play at Wrigley Field - one of the icons of American baseball. The season is just about over except for the World Series. Tickets for games in April won't go one sale until Jan or Feb but you'll be able to purchase tickets on line.

Debbie: Make sure it is a Cub game - not the White Sox. The difference is atmosphere at these two parks is dramatic. Nothing can beat a baseball game at Wrigley Field (Cubs). Log onto www.chicagocubs.com. The Cubs will start their 2003 season at home on Monday, April 7 (off April 8 - my birthday!), but play from the 9th to the 17th. Hopefully, you will be here that week.

Hi Bennie and Pat<BR><BR>Many thanks for your help - I really appreciate it.<BR><BR>We will be arriving on 12th for 5 nights, so it should tie in well.<BR><BR>How far is the Cubs Wrigley Field ground from the centre of Chicago?<BR><BR>How long do games last and how much should we expect to pay for tickets in the family zone?<BR><BR>Many thanks.<BR>D

Debbie: Don't go to the game on April 14th - this is a night game - and it is too cold at that time of year. As it is, it WILL be cold during the day at the ballpark. Wrigley Field is on Chicago's north side - if you are staying either downtown or near Michigan Avenue, this will be either a 20 minute cab ride OR, for fun, take the el - which has a stop right next to the ballpark. Don't buy your tickets in the "bleacher" section - too rowdy for families. Games usually last about 3 hours. (No set time - they play nine innings) Also be prepared to stand up during the seventh inning (seventh inning stretch) and sing the following song: "Take me out to the ballpark, take me out to the game. Buy me some peanuts and crackerjack, I don't care if I ever get back. So it's root, root, root for the Cubbies, if they don't win it's a shame...for it's one...two...three strikes you're out at the old ballgame."

Good advice. If you are going to go to a baseball game make sure it is a Cubs game AND during the day in April. Again NOT the White Sox. Diregard any future postings from White Sox fans.<BR><BR>

There won't be any postings from White Sox fans, they don't know how to use a computer:).

I'm from California but have been to both parks....have to agree, there's nothing quite like Wrigley Field to see a Cubs game.

You gentlemen are absolutely right - I was born & raised on the south side, but wouldn't step foot in Comiskey - ugly, ugly, ugly!

Another thing, Cubs games sell out so find out EXACTLY when tickets are going on sale and get them right away. Otherwise, you can buy from a scalper down at the ballpark. Save some time to cruise the area before the game and see all the makeshift rooftop bleacher sections. Wrigley is awesome and the quintisential American baseball experience. There are only a handful of baseball facilities which even come close. As for cost, if you buy them online, I would expect about $30 each when you count service charges and stuff.

Debbie, I believe Mike is being a bit alarmist. Yes, Cubs games can sell out ahead of time, but this is MUCH more common during Chicago's peak tourism months, July and August.<BR><BR>In April, you probably have to worry more about snow than a sold-out game.<BR><BR>The Cubs Website can be reached through www.cubs.com, and you can link through the schedule to Ticketmaster to buy tickets when they become available. My guess is they'd hold them at the Will Call box for you.<BR><BR>Try to find seats that are covered, in case of rain. <BR><BR>April at Wrigley (or Sox Park, but for the "baseball experience," Wrigley is better) is COLD! Mr. Racy is a die-hard baseball fan (although he prefers the Sox) and can't sit through a whole game that early in the year!<BR><BR>HTH,<BR>Racy

Although I am not a true baseball fan, this Cubs/Sox thing is a very personal issue for most people. Personally, I have run into more drunk, obnoxious people at the Cubs games (although it was usually the bleacher section) than the Sox games. Also, I really enjoyed the fireworks after the Sox games!

Debbie: Chicago baseball in April can be awfully cold and not as much fun as in the summertime. But as this board clearly shows you will find nicer people and a much more "family friendly" crowd at Comiskey. I would only go to day games at that time of year. <BR><BR>I didn't know that the authentic baseball experience featured lurching drunks falling down the stairs or masses of young adults being rude as those posting above, until I went to Wrigley. One time during inter-league play two years ago, I was mortified to see a young woman squat and urinate in full sight. I've never seen that in any other place in the U.States in all of my 54 years. I had a 22 year old son standing next to me and we were both speechless. <BR><BR>People on the South side are as computer literate as any urban group. We are also the greater number of Chicagoans and sick of being stereotyped. Neither team is playing top baseball, but the team on the Southside and the park itself are about baseball, not about posturing.

Wrigley field is one of the most charming baseball stadiums in the country, and the area aound it is great fun. Comiskey park has no character and its neighborhood is a dump.<BR>

Appalled wrote of a Wrigley experience;<BR><BR> "One time during inter-league play two years ago, I was mortified to see a young woman squat and urinate in full sight."<BR><BR>Since it was inter-league play my guess would be that it was a Sox fan. Also, after the incident a few weeks ago, White Sox fans probably shouldn't be berating fans of other teams for at least 10 or 15 years.<BR><BR>See what we're saying about Sox fans?<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Wasn't it drunken Cub fans who started a brawl with the Dodger's pitching staff a couple of years ago at Wrigley?<BR><BR>I don't see where Cub fans can point fingers.

Hey Huh,<BR><BR>That isn't exactly what happened at Wrigley - a Cubs fan took one of the Dodgers' players hats while he was sitting in the bullpen and the Dodgers players rushed into the stands and started the brawl. While 3 fans were arrested, nineteen players and coaches were suspended for their conduct. At Comiskey, a father and son lept onto the field and attacked first base coach Tom Gamboa (former 3rd base coach for the Cubs which some believe prompted the attacks) while he was on the field. The father had a knife. Either way, it is not appropriate to judge a ballpark or its fans based on the actions of a few bad seeds. A good time can be had at either park.

Now, now! You're going to have this woman believe she will either be peed on or beaten up, neither of which is likely to happen (especially at a day game in April!).<BR><BR>Yes, Sox park has its benefits (like a goodly number of women's restrooms, which is a GOOD THING), but it also has those horrible upper deck nosebleed seats, where it's faaaaarrr from the field and absolutely freezing cold and windy. <BR><BR>The size of Wrigley, the age and the historic nature add to the ambience. I didn't get from the OP that her son had any team allegiance. <BR><BR>So Debbie, bring gloves (you'll likely need them in Chicago at that time anyway) and realize you're more likely to have hot chocolate than cold beer at an April game.<BR><BR>HTH,<BR>Racy

There are a few good promotions at Comiskey Park during the season. A favorite is GED night when the first 20,000 fans get a free GED diploma. There is also Victory Auto Wreckers night when all fans receive a free pickup for their 1970's cars. Another favorite is Blue Water night, when Sox fans get free blue water for their mobile home toilets. However, after last months disaster, the Sox are discontinuing Crack Cocaine Night.<BR><BR>

To A, and especially to "say what" - <BR><BR>Just so it's clear, there WAS an assault of the pitcher at Wrigley in 1995, very much like the one that just took place at Comiskey.<BR><BR>John Murray, a stock trader, rushed the mound at Wrigley Field and assaulted the pitcher. If you don't believe it, look it up. He's ordinarily a very nice guy (I grew up with him) - had a few too many that afternoon and something snapped. To those of you making class comments (you know who you are), he is a college educated guy from an upper middle class western suburb who behaved as badly as a south side Sox fan who did the same thing.<BR><BR>As someone who lives a few blocks from Wrigley Field, I can attest to the problems with "classy Cub fans" leaving their beer bottles around and peeing on lawns and in alleys after night games. A lot of the suburbanites and tourists love the neighborhood surrounding the park - but have absolutely no respect for it. If Cub fans (myself included) are somehow "better" than Sox fans, I certainly don't see it. I also think "Appalled" went to far in his/her criticism - one group is no better than the other.