Is there a better baseball town than Chicago? The odds are there’s a game to watch no matter where you live. The Cubs and Sox offer major league action in the city. Hit the suburbs, and the Schaumburg Flyers, Kane County Cougars and Cook County Cheetahs offer fan-friendly prices and lots of entertainment.
Regardless of which team you follow, here are some tips to guarantee you won’t strike out this season.
– Cubs. The Wrigley faithful are rejuvenated this year, hoping new manager Don Baylor and a handful of veteran players acquired in trades can lead the Cubs back into the playoffs.
Ticket prices, which were raised before the start of the 1999 season, have not increased this year On certain days, children 13 and under are admitted for as little as $4, while the best seat in the house (field box) will cost you $25.
See the Cubs early (before May 19) and you’ll save money. Field boxes are just $15 during afternoon games Monday through Thursday. During the same time period, terrace, upper-deck box and family-section seats are $11 each. The popular bleachers are just $6.
All seats except upper-deck reserved jump $9 to $10 in price after May 18. Field boxes are $25, terrace and upper-deck box and family section are $20, and the bleachers increase to $15. Tickets to Opening Day, weekend games (including Fridays) and night games are not discounted. Check the Cubs’ Web site at www.cubs.com for more information.
There are three season-ticket plans: a daily (80 games, ranging from $764 to $1,910), half-season (45 games, ranging from $450 to $900) and the double-play plan (24 games). The last allows fans to go twice a week during afternoon home games, including Wednesday and Friday matinees. Cost ranges from $224 per seat for upper-deck reserved to $444 for an upper-deck box.
For single games, call Ticketmaster at 312-831-CUBS, buy advanced tickets at the box office or by mail through the Chicago Cubs Ticket Office, 1060 W. Addison St., Chicago Ill., 60613.
– White Sox. Sox fans believe prospects are bright on the South Side with a promising young pitching staff and youngsters like Magglio Ordonez.
Ticket prices for individual games remain unchanged for the third straight year. Prices are $10 for upper-deck reserved, $14 for bleachers, $15 for upper-deck box, $17 for lower-deck reserved and $22 for both club level and lower-deck box seats. The Sox again are offering half-price Mondays on April 17 and 24, May 1, June 19, July 17 and 24, Aug. 21 and Sept. 4 and 11.
The Split Season Ticket plan is a great way to see a variety of teams from both leagues, and includes opportunities to buy tickets to Opening Day, the Cubs/Sox series and any postseason games. Plans are grouped A and B (Monday through Friday games) and C (all games but one are on Saturday and Sunday). Prices for the 27-game package range from $540 for lower-deck box down to $324 for bleachers. Buy the C package and you get two Cubs games, which will probably sell out. All packages save you $54 over individual game-ticket prices.
Want another option? Select the seven-game ticket plan where you pick any six games and get the seventh for just $1 per ticket. Games including Opening Day, Cubs/Sox series and Fireworks nights are included. Contact the Sox at 312-674-1000 or via e-mail at tickets@chisox.com. The Web site is www.chisox.com. Ticketmaster’s number for individual games is 312-831-1SOX. Ticket sales begin Saturday.
– Kane County Cougars. The Cougars open their 70-game home season on April 6. New seating added since last year will bring capacity to more than 7,900.
Except for the new field boxes at $10, single-game tickets remain identical to last year’s prices: $8 for box, $7 for grandstand reserved, $6 for center-field bleachers and $5 for lawn or general admission. Packages include full-season box seats for just under $564, or $494 for reserved. There are also 20-, 15- and 10-game packages priced from $80 to $160 for box seats and $70 to $140 for reserved.
The Cougars are hosts of the Midwest League All-Star game this year, scheduled for June 20.
The team plays at Elfstrom Stadium, 34W002 Cherry Lane (just west of Kirk Road), in Geneva. Phone 630-232-8811 or fax at 630-232-8815 for tickets; e-mail is info@kccougars.com.
– Cook County Cheetahs. The Cheetahs return for their fifth season in suburban Crestwood at Hawkinson Ford Field.
Prices for individual games remain the same as last year: Lower boxes are $7, upper-deck boxes are $6, and general admission is $4. Parking is $1.
“A full season of 42 games plus two playoff games is $308 for Golden Boxes (lower deck),” said sales executive George King. “Upper-deck boxes are $264 for the same number of games.”
A half-season package with 23 games (including two playoff games) is $161 for lower deck, $138 upper deck. A mini-season package of 12 games (10 regular plus two playoff games) is $72–upper-deck seating only.
Two luxury-suite programs are available for family or business use. For groups up to 22 people, one package includes admission, parking passes, an all-you-can-eat buffet and drinks (beer and wine) for $748. A new option is available for groups up to 10 for $340.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster (312-559-1212) or the Cheetahs Web site at www.gocheetahs.com. The stadium is located at 4545 Midlothian Turnpike. Phone 708-489-2255.
– Schaumburg Flyers. The Flyers open their season May 29 against the St. Paul Saints for the first of 43 home games.
Director of media relations Matt McLaughlin said most ticket prices remain the same as last year: single games are $7 for reserved and $4 for lawn. Left-field bleacher seats have increased to $4 this year.
The 15-game flex plan costs $99. “You can choose 15 games based on availability, and receive vouchers you’ll exchange for tickets,” McLaughlin said.
A full-season game package costs $299. Group packages are offered for groups of 25-99 guests ($6.50 per ticket), 100-499 ($6.25 per ticket) and 500 or more ($6 per ticket).
Call 847-891-2255. Tickets for single games go on sale at 10 a.m. March 25. The Flyers play in Schaumburg near the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway and Springinsguth Road. Parking to all games is free.
AND FOR SOCCER FANS . . .
Professional soccer returns to Soldier Field this spring, with the Chicago Fire playing 16 regular-season and four special contests at home.
VIP seats are $28; premier seats, $23; reserved, $17. The special “firehouse section” seats are priced at $12.
“Packages include a full season of 16 games, plus four international or playoff contests, plus a new nine-game and a Flex Plan package,” said account executive Steve Dilenardi.
The Flex Plan gives you 20 vouchers to use all at once, or you can select groups of games for yourself or family. Premier flex plans are $420; reserved, $300; and firehouse, $200. Prices for the 9-game package are $189 for premier, $135 for reserved and $90 for firehouse. Full season-ticket packages cost from $180 to $500.
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster (312-559-1212) or call the Fire at 888-MLS-FIRE. Web site information is at www.chicago-fire.com.
