Last fall and winter, Chicago sports fans watched as the Bulls claimed their sixth NBA title and the Wolves won the Turner Cup in hockey. Die-hard Bears and Blackhawks fans are hoping their teams can build on last year’s experiences.
For fans wanting to see these Chicago professional teams in action, here’s how to get in the game:
– The Bulls. With six NBA titles in the last eight years, the Bulls continue to be the hottest ticket in town, despite the league lockout and the number of questions about who will play and coach. Keith Brown, senior director of ticket sales, says “it’s business as usual” when it comes to preseason ticket sales.
Tickets for all Bulls games go on sale at 8 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the United Center box office and all Chicagoland Ticketmaster outlets, Brown said. “We have 15,500 seats already sold to season-ticket holders, leaving 1,500 seats per game available to the general public.”
Prices for those seats are $22 and $28. The United Center has seats ranging in price from $38 to $85 per game as well, but Brown says they’re all taken by season-ticket holders.
“We had a 99 percent renewal of our season-ticket sales, in spite of the questions about the team this year,” he said, adding that the best bet for tickets is through Ticketmaster (312-559-1212).
If you do make a game, parking is $10, and once inside, you can expect to see a number of promotions. Jeff Wohlschlaeger, manager of game operations says the ring ceremony will again precede the season-opening game.
“Each game, we offer some kind of promotion, whether it’s a hat, squeeze bottle, or whatever,” Wohlschlaeger said. “We’re planning some new things this year and we’ll have the best halftime shows in the business.”
– The Bears. Ticket manager George McCaskey says the Monsters of the Midway have returned with ticket prices unchanged for the third year in a row–$52, $47, $40 and $33.
McCaskey says about 900 season-ticket accounts weren’t renewed this year, which means there will be from 400 to 500 more seats available each game this year.
“I’m hesitant to call any game a sellout because there is always the possibility of tickets being returned by the visiting team before a game,” he said. “The hardest games to get tickets for right now would be Sept. 27 (vs. the Vikings), Oct. 4 and 18 (Lions and Cowboys, respectively) and Dec. 27 versus the Packers.”
Call Ticketmaster (312-559-1212) or the box office in Lake Forest (847-615-BEAR). “We discourage going through brokers because some of those tickets are stolen and fans in possession of them could be escorted from the park,” McCaskey said.
Ken Valdiserri, director of marketing and broadcasting, says two Beanie Babies days are scheduled: one on Dec. 20 vs. Baltimore, at which the first 10,000 kids 13 and under will receive “Curly.” The second date, to be announced, will feature “Blackie.” “We haven’t firmed up the other date as yet, but we’re seriously looking at Nov. 8,” Valdiserri said.
Your own choice of food and soft drinks is welcome at Soldier Field, as long as soft pack containers and cartons are used–no bottles, cans, coolers or ice chests.
McCaskey advises fans to avoid parking at Soldier Field and to use the Grant Park underground facility and the free shuttle service instead.
– The Blackhawks. Public relations director Jim DeMaria says ticket prices for Blackhawks games will remain the same as last year.
The United Center seats 20,500 for hockey: 100 level seats are $75 each; 200 level seats cost $60 each for the “club level center” and $50 for the “club circle” located behind the nets; 300 level seats are $40 for the first seven rows, $25 for rows 8-12 and $15 for rows 13-17. About 7,500 seats remain for each game.
Senior sales representative Danny Lucier says a Junior Hawks program begun last season will continue. “Teams belonging to the Illinois Amateur Hockey Association that purchase 100 or more $15, $25 or $40 tickets will be allowed to have their team play a game on the ice,” Lucier said.
The Blackhawks are again offering cash back on ticket sales of 100 or more of their $15 and $25 seats for organizations with tax-exempt status: Your organization gets a refund of $5 for every $15 seat you bought, or $8 for every $25 seat. Call the group sales number at 312-943-7000.
Sept. 19 is the first of four preseason games; tickets for the first six games, including the preseason contests, will go on sale Sept. 8. “There’s always a block of six-game tickets available,” Lucier says. “Pick any game you want and count back six games from there on the schedule. Then you’ll know the day tickets for that game you want will be available.”
Besides Ticketmaster, you can visit the United Center box office, open each day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Promotions to watch for include Dec. 11, Feb. 12 and 26, plus March 17 and 21, which are cap nights, and Oct. 24, which is a Beanie Baby night vs. Nashville.
– The Wolves. The Turner Cup Champions of the International Hockey League will return to play 41 games at the Rosemont Horizon, which seats more than 17,500 fans.
Adam Fox, executive vice president of business operations, says ticket prices will remain the same as last year, making a Wolves’ game one of the best professional sports deals in town. There are seven different ticket prices, ranging from $26 down to $9. Call Ticketmaster outlets at 312-559-1212 or visit the Rosemont box office in person.
Fox says some new packages are being offered this year, including a “Pick Your Own Plan” that replaces a half-season package sold last year: Choose any 21 games you wish in the price range of your choice.
There’s also a 10-game Wolves’ Flex Pack that Fox says works like a voucher. “Fans can buy ticket books of 10 and use them any way they wish–all at once, five pairs or one at a time,” Fox said. “You’re guaranteed the best seat available at the price range you’ve bought, or you can take the voucher to a ticket window and upgrade it if you wish.”
Jewel, Jiffy Lube and 7-Eleven have signed on as sponsors, so look for deals at these stores or through their fliers.
Fox said all ticket packages include attending the Oct. 10 opening game, when the championship banner will be raised and a ring ceremony will be conducted.
Special events, such as an actual “Wedding on Ice,” and promotions that include St. Patrick’s Day Green Ice, holiday hat giveaways and a special fifth-year anniversary set of playing cards with the Wolves’ logo are planned for this season. And the popular post-game skate will continue.
