One of the great perks for people living in or near the Chicago area is the chance to see professional sports teams in action.
Although many fans lately have wondered if pro teams, in general, have forgotten about them, a little digging reveals that local teams are doing some things to make going to a game as convenient and inexpensive as possible.
Here’s a play-by-play of what Chicago’s five major league teams have to offer a family of sports fans.
– White Sox. Rob Gallas, senior vice president for marketing and broadcasting, says the Sox are one of the American League’s most aggressive discounters when it comes to offering great deals for fans.
“We offer a half-price ticket night every Monday,” Gallas said.
The breakdown of prices on Monday nights becomes $4 for upper deck; $6 for bleachers; $7.50 for lower deck reserved; and $10 for a box seat.
“From Tuesday through Thursday, all upper-deck reserved seats are only $4,” he said. “And we offer family value packs so a family of four can afford to eat at the ballpark.” For $3.50, a fan can get a hot dog, chips and a soft drink; for $5, a hamburger, fries and a soft drink.
Sox fans should seek out the concession stands that offer these meal deals, and also check out the ticket sales department for Family Sox Packs available on the weekends: $16 per person gets you an upper terrace seat, the same food as a meal deal, plus a souvenir and a scorecard. Call 312-831-1SOX for ticket information.
– Cubs. Director of ticket operations Frank Maloney says the best offer is to use the club’s Value Days, when prices are reduced about $4 per seat on weekdays during September (the deal was also good for April and May).
“Value Days means the top box seat in the house goes for just $15, and upper-deck terrace reserved is just $4,” he said.
Every Wednesday is Senior Citizens’ Day, when upper terrace seats are again offered for just $4.
“Fans are allowed to bring in any food they wish; it isn’t necessary to eat at the ballpark,” Maloney said. “As long as they bring beverages in soft carton containers or plastic bottles, they can bring whatever they want.”
If you’d like to eat at the park and save money, try to get there early: For the first hour after the park opens, all concessions except beer are sold at a 25 percent discount.
Call 312-831-CUBS for more information.
– Bears. With only eight regular-season games at home each season, Bears fans might be a little stretched to find the bargains major league baseball provides. But don’t lose heart.
“One thing many people don’t realize is that they can get tickets for Bears games without going through brokers,” said George McCaskey, Bears’ ticket manager and a relative of a famous owner. “We often have some of our regular $33 seats still available, so fans won’t have to pay inflated prices.”
Call the Bears’ ticket office at 847-615-2327 before going to alternative sources.
Amy Baranko, assistant ticket manager, says tickets are sold through the mail beginning June 1 every year.
All sections of Soldier Field are considered as “family sections” and for extra family comfort two sections in the north end zone prohibit alcohol.
“We also offer five fan assistant booths throughout the stadium,” Baranko said. “Kids are given free ID bracelets with players’ pictures on them, plus their seat number, section of the park, parents’ names, etc.”
McCaskey says food is allowed in the stadium, though it must be carried in soft containers such as paper bags or nylon coolers.
“Fans can ride a free shuttle from Grant Park parking if they wish,” McCaskey said. “And we want to tell fans no umbrellas are allowed in Soldier Field, for reasons of safety and obstructing other fans’ view.”
– Bulls. Here’s an important news bulletin: Bulls tickets go on sale Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster, either by phone (312-559-1212) or at any Ticketmaster location, or in person at the United Center box office.
“We’ve had 437 consecutive sellouts, dating to 1987,” said Keith Brown, director of sales. “We’ve put a ceiling on season-ticket holders at 15,000, so that the other remaining seats (6,711) can go to the general public. We limit six tickets per customer, so we can get tickets into the hands of the most number of fans.”
Brown says tickets bought through scalpers are risky business and can be a waste of money if a fan holding a bogus ticket gets ejected from the stadium.
“All lost tickets are reported to our ticket office or Ticketmaster,” said Brown. “We often find people going to seats that are already taken.”
No food or beverages from the outside are allowed at the United Center, but Brown assures fans there is a wide range of food there at an equally wide range of prices.
Brown also mentioned the United Center’s Guest Services Department, which offers everything from paging parents to call their baby-sitters to helping with the handicapped.
– Blackhawks. Hockey can be seen by 20,500 fans at the United Center, and unlike the Bulls tickets are sold at various intervals during the season.
Barbara Davidson, community and public relations director, says if fans have a schedule and count back six home games in advance of a play date, that’s when tickets can be purchased for that game.
“On Sept. 20, our first three home games go on sale,” Davidson said.
Tickets range from $75 on the floor to $15 in the so-called 300 section of the center.
A few special promotions are planned this year, including a couple of nights when special discount cards that can be used at locations throughout the city will be given away. Other promotions and giveaways are offered at least once a week.
Call Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 for more information.
