The sports scene in Chicago was revitalized this summer, thanks to the sudden reemergence of the Chicago White Sox. And with the nip of fall soon to be in the air, Chicago fans are no doubt hungry for more.
As the White Sox continue their push for the World Series, the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks and Wolves are preparing to leap into the fray. For fans looking to follow their favorite franchise, here’s how to get into the game
Bears. Baseball loyalties in Chicago may be split, but there’s no division when it comes to football. Coach Dick Jauron and his Monsters of the Midway revived fans’ hopes last year and stand ready to open their 81st season in the National Football League.
Ticket prices have increased between $4 and $7 since last year. Prices are $59, $52, $44, and $37, and, as usual, about 60,000 of those seats have been gobbled up by season ticket-holders.
Bears ticket manager George McCaskey says about 5,000 single-game seats in the $37 price range (end zone) are available for most games.
“Tickets went on sale July 25, and to date the most popular games have been the Packers, Colts, Vikings, Giants, Lions and Buccaneers,” McCaskey said. “I always hesitate to say a game is ever a sellout, because we sometimes get tickets returned before the game from the visiting team.”
Ticket sales are limited to a maximum of six tickets per individual, per game. Call the Bears’ ticket office (847-615-BEAR) or Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212. Because of demand, group seats would more than likely be scattered throughout the stadium. Call 847-615-2327 for more information on group sales. (Another source of information is the Bears’ Web site, www.chicagobears.com.)
To save some money, McCaskey again reminds fans that food wrapped in soft containers or sandwiches can be brought into Soldier Field, but no beverages, coolers or ice chests. Consider public transportation.
Blackhawks. The Hawks have changed coaches since the end of last season and are hoping to improve. They will celebrate 75 years as a team this season. Manager of client services Kelly Bodnarchuk says a number of events are on tap for the 2000-2001 season.
“We’re planning events we’ve dubbed `Decade Days’ that will be held throughout the year,” Bodnarchuk said. “Beginning Oct. 20, we’ll have a ’20s night. Other dates include Nov. 10, Jan. 5 and 19, plus Feb. 16 and 23. There will be promotions like Fox Sports Net, which is sponsoring a tie-dye-theme T-shirt for the ’70s night on Feb. 16.”
Ticket prices remain unchanged from last year. Forty-one home games at the United Center are priced at $75, $60, $50, $40, $25 and $15. Jim Bare, director of ticket operations, said changes in advance ticket sales this year will limit fans to buying seats for a third of the season at a time.
“Beginning on Sept. 16, fans can buy advance tickets for the first third of the year, which would be about 15 games,” Bare said. “We also have four 11-game packages with preselected games that cover the entire season. They’re the 300-level seats, which go for $15, $25,or $40 (for each game).” Tony Ommen, manager of public relations, says there’s a new money-saving deal for high school and college kids.
“Kids who show their school ID at the box office can get the $15/300-level seats the day of the game only for $8, while they last,” he said.
The Hawks’ regular season opens Oct. 12. Preseason games are scheduled for Sept. 17, 22, 24 and 29. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (312-559-1212), its Web site (www.ticketmaster.com) or at the United Center box office. For season tickets, call 312-943-7000. Check the Web site www.chicagoblackhawks.com for retail promotions.
Wolves. The winners of the 2000 Turner Cup, which is awarded to the International Hockey League champion, are poised to go for it all again this season, and Wolves’ fans won’t want to miss the action. Their 41-game home season begins Oct. 14 in the refurbished Allstate Arena that was reconfigured last season with seats closer to the action and wider concourses.
Bill Makris, executive director of ticket sales, says ticket purchased on the day of the game are available for $11, $13, $15, $17, $24, $32 and $37 (rinkside).
“But fans who purchase those tickets in advance, even the day before the game, save $2 per ticket,” Makris said. “We give fans a break because advance tickets help us plan for security and workers.”
A 10-game “Flex Package” is one of your best bets, featuring vouchers or coupons that can be redeemed any way you wish: Bring a whole group to one game, or spread them out over the season.
Groups of 15 guests or more receive $2 off each seat, and groups of 40 or more get $3 off each seat. Luxury suites for 10 guests are $650 per game and include two parking passes, snacks, 10 T-shirts, and personal catering at an extra cost. Full-season suite packages are already sold out, but Makris said half-season suite packages are still available. The cost drops from $650 to $450 per game with the half-season suite package deal.
Courtney Mahoney, director of community relations and game operations, says a full schedule of promotions, giveaways and timeout game entertainment is planned.
“Our Oct. 14 opener will again feature the tailgate party before the game, and afterward we’ll hoist our 2000 championship banner,” Mahoney said. “We’ll have a holiday jersey auction sometime in December and again in March for St. Patrick’s Day. The Halloween costum8e contest will be back, and we plan to have a lot more premium items as giveaways, but we’ll be keeping those a secret.”
During February and March, kids are invited to play interactive games in the Skyline Room, located directly across from Allstate Arena.
To save on tickets, Bob Welch, director of corporate sales and marketing, says to check monthly fliers from Jewel sent to its Preferred Card customers. A Promotions Page on the Wolves Web site, www.chicagowolves.com, will direct you to other promotions.
If you can’t make it to the box office to buy tickets in person, they are available by calling the Wolves at 800-THE WOLVES for season tickets, groups sales and flex plan vouchers and Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 for individual games.
Bulls. Fans who witnessed the coming and going of Michael Jordan are still packing the United Center, with the Bulls working on a streak of 608 straight sellouts at home. Senior director of ticket operations Joe O’Neil said individual tickets go on sale this year on Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. Prices include a few courtside seats at $450; main floor are $145; 100-level are $80 and $85; and 300-level seats are $38, $28, $22 and $10.
“We have 200-level seats, which are actually our Club Level,” O’Neil said. “The seats are $50, but you have to purchase a $1,000 club membership first. A 45-game, full-season ticket plan is available for the $38, $28 and $22 seats.”
Tickets to see all the Bulls’ action are available at the United Center box office and at all Ticketmaster locations, and the Bulls’ Web site at www.chicagobulls.com. Similar to last year, O’Neil said the $85 and $80/100-level, $50/200 level and the $38/300-level seats have been virtually bought out by season ticket-holders.
“Fans may still purchase the $28, $22 and $10/300 level seats,” O’Neil said. “There’s also limited availability, at times, of the $85 and $80 seats.”
About 88 percent of the Bulls’ season ticket-holders renewed in 1999, and the figure this year is higher. O’Neil said fans can get on a waiting list by calling 312-455-4000.
“Actually, a few season tickets remain, and sometimes people get on the waiting list only because they’re waiting for better seats,” he said.
Parking at the United Center is $12.
The Bulls will have 41 regular-season, plus four preseason home games, scheduled for Oct. 11, 17, 19 and 25. The regular home opener is Oct. 31 against the Sacramento Kings. Director of corporate sponsorships Brooks Boyer says “promotions that will add value to every ticket” are planned throughout the season.
“A new LED ribbon board has been installed at the club-level and 300-level seats that will provide 360 degrees worth of fun as product tie-in characters will race across the screen,” Boyer said.
Boyer says fans should regularly check the promotions page of the Bulls’ Web site for player appearances, retail promotions and giveaways scheduled at games.
