Question about getting tickets for Wrigley Field

[ronfromfresno]

My wife and I have an opportunity to go to Chicago in late June and as luck would have it the Giants will be in Chicago at the same time. I was wondering how hard it is to get tickets to a game at Wrigley, I see that they go on sale to the public next Friday the 25th, and about how much they'll set me back. Also any suggestions on the sites we should take in while in Chicago? We'll be there for 5 days or so.

 

[RITM]

Nothing like it in the world. If it is a game during the week it will not be as difficult. So many great places to see in Chicago. On our last trip we hit Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Michigan Avenue and ate at Harry Caray's.

 

[jmill88]

My wife and I have an opportunity to go to Chicago in late June and as luck would have it the Giants will be in Chicago at the same time. I was wondering how hard it is to get tickets to a game at Wrigley, I see that they go on sale to the public next Friday the 25th, and about how much they'll set me back. Also any suggestions on the sites we should take in while in Chicago? We'll be there for 5 days or so.

I have been up there for 3-4 Cubs/Cardinal series. I have bought tickets in advance and have bought from scalpers at bars near Wrigley. I think you would be ok either way. I recommend Ginos East for Chicago style pizza. Grab a few beers outside at Murphys Bleachers before the game. I always have a great time when I make the trip.

 

[gracecollector]

I'm sorry, but Will Clark fans were banned from Wrigley Field after the 89 NLCS.

 

[rymflaherty]

I always get my tix from stubhub. From my experience I've always found tix at a fraction of the cost...or at worst, they are priced close to what the team charges (but with less fees, so it winds up cheaper).

I suppose the exception is for the few "big series" - Cardinals, inter-league, White Sox, etc......so I'm not sure if the Giants will fit into that group since their the defending champions or not? The other factor is usually how the Cubs are playing.....like last year, tix just seemed to get increasingly cheaper as the season went on.

I guess that's a long response - when all I'm basically saying is..... If you can't wind up getting the tix directly (if you decide to go that route first) you should be able to snag some on the secondary market at a comparable price. So I wouldn't worry too much.


Thursday afternoon may turn out to be the easiest to get (At least from my experience afternoon day games are usually a good time to find deals)........I'm looking on Stubhub right now and you may already be able to buy them for around what the team offers.....here's a link to the team pricing.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ticketing/seating.jsp

 

[shayscards79]

If its a game during the week, you should be able to at least be able to walk up the day of and buy upper deck seats. If it's weekday, day game, you could probably buy field box seats the day of.

If it's on the weekend and you don't want to pay absurd scalper prices, ask the the guys running the parking lots within a few blocks or the randoms walking the streets that have tickets for sale right before the game starts. Trust me, it works.

 

[ahill1]

Me and my wife fly up from Sarasota once a year to see a game. We always buy our tickets off of stubhub. Prices are not bad. For instance we went to a Cubs Brewers game last year and sat 3 rows behind the Cubs dugoht for around 200$ apiece. You will never experiance anything like the buzz or atmosphere around wrigley on gameday.
If you truly want the best pizza in Chicago do not go to ginos east. Go to Pizzeria Due which is downtown. Ginos is the tourist place but all chicagoans know dues is better

 

[Pine Tar]

Tickets in June can be a little higher then in April or say Late August or Sept Since the Kiddies are out of school in the months from June until late August when they go back, also in these months in most season They still pack the place most of the times even if they are sucking wind.

I would just try to get tickets on there site when they go on sale or then check the Bay and Stubhub. As for what to do when here.
Just do the touring thing downtown. The Sears tower ( I will not call it the Willis tower) and then do Navy Pier and hit the Shedd Aquarium
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/
As for Pizza I would go to Giordanos

 

[nyc3]

Buddy guys blues club is one of my favorite spots to stop in at.


http://buddyguys.com/

Also if you like steaks you need to go the the weber grill restaurant. That place is THE BEST!

http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/

 

[ronfromfresno]

Thanks for all of the tips guys, I think I'll see what comes up direct from the team next Friday and there's nothing I like I'll hit up StubHub.

Keep the suggestions on other places to vist coming though, I've got 5 days to fill.


So Brad you're saying I shouldn't wear this.......but I already have it packed.

 

[ahill1]

Lincoln park zoo is one of the best in the country and its free and downtown.

Sears tower is fun to do. I agree I will never call it Willis tower

Navy pier is lots of fun

Field museum, shedd aquarium, and museum of science and industry are all top notch

You could rent a kayak and go down the chicago river which again is a blast

For food I agree with pine tar about gioridanos but Due is a little better imo

 

[gracecollector]

If you stay downtown, just walk the Magnificient Mile/State Street and stop by Millennium Park with the Bean and reflecting pool. Sears Tower is okay, but the "Top of the ****" (top of the John Hancock building) has a nice observation deck and restaurant for a beverage. Plus Watertower Place is right there. World class museums... Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium/Observatory are all on one campus by Soldier Field. You can do the pizza thing (Lou Malnati's is better than Uno's or Gino's East), or try Italian Village for a non-chain experience.

Take the Red Line EL Train from State Street and it will drop you off in front of Wrigley, saves a ton compared to taxi and runs every 10-15 minutes. Then walk the bars outside Wrigley, including Sluggers, Goose Island, Murphy's Bleachers, and Hi-Tops. If you like Southern food (Jambalya), Heaven on 7 outside Wrigley is great, nice wall of hot sauces.

Lots to do, if you have any particular interests, PM me and I'll give you some more ideas.

Taste of Chicago, huge lakefront food festival, is June 25-July 4.

 

[rymflaherty]

Lincoln park zoo is one of the best in the country and its free and downtown.

Sears tower is fun to do. I agree I will never call it Willis tower

Navy pier is lots of fun

Field museum, shedd aquarium, and museum of science and industry are all top notch

You could rent a kayak and go down the chicago river which again is a blast

For food I agree with pine tar about gioridanos but Due is a little better imo

I dig Lincoln Park Zoo. Can't beat free, plus they have Red Pandas. Best Animal Ever. :lol:

My favorite pizza spot is probably Nancy's. Don't know if that puts me in the minority or not...it's not too far from Wrigley (just about across the street from where I'm at). Tried quite a few places in the city and it always seems I end up comparing it to Nancy's and it's not as good.

I think you're actually in town for Taste of Chicago as well.
It will make it a bit of a cluster-you know what if you want to check out Millennium Park and all that.
The best part of taste was probably the free concerts though (had stuff like Counting Crows, gf was psyched Rob Thomas was there last year, so decent acts) this year after losing a ton of money, to keep it free there won't be big acts.......still music, but local bands and I think their combining the Jazz fest and some other fests to account for the music.
So may be something to check out.

 

[mancini79]

I have been to Chicago a couple times (once with friends, the other just with the wife). It is hands down my favorite city that I have visited. Here is a rundown of my suggestions.

Tickets/seating: Luckily the Giants are in the NL, so tix shouldn't be hard to come by. Last year, I was able to get Angels tix the day they went on sale from the Cubs website. If you can be by a computer the minute they go on sale, you shouldn't have a problem. Go to a couple games since they are mostly day games. Sit in Terr Resvd IF or closer so you can get a feel of the stadium closer to the field. The other game, get the cheap seats up top along third base side. You will get a great view of the city all while watching live baseball. Keep in mind the stadium is small, so they don't have "nosebleed" seats.

Transportation: Only take their train which is called the "L". It's really cheap and hits all the main spots of Chicago and both airports. If you have a choice, try to fly into Midway over Ohare. Midway is a lot closer and less waiting around. I've only taken the taxi once, and that's because it was really late and down pouring rain.

Before the game: There are a ton of bars around the stadium. The popular places are Murphys Bleachers (which gets packed early), Cubby Bear, and Sluggers. Hit up one of those places for some drinks before the game. If you plan on going to more than one game, you should get in the stadium close to when the gates open. The ushers are really cool and tell them it's your first time in Wrigley. They will let you walk to the seats right behind home plate. Also, go to the souvenir store and tell them it's your first time. They will give you a cool picture with the date for FREE. At least they did for when the Angels were there last year.

After the game: It's an old stadium so the players have to leave through the general walkway to their bus. The visiting clubhouse is on first base side. The players normally don't sign, but you can get some pictures up close. Plus it's cool just to see them.

Food: You can seriously eat pizza there at different places for 5 days and not get tired of it. But nothing has topped Giordano's in my book (haven't been to Nancy's though). It's AMAZING! My belly is going crazy just thinking about it. If you want a nice steak, Ditka's is really good. But it's hard to find a bad restaurant in the city. For breakfast, you must hit up The Original Pancake house. If you don't get there early, expect to wait a while.

Stuff to do: Walk the Magnificent mile (Michigan Ave). Chicago is known for it's architecture and each building is unique. I'm not a architect buff, but appreciated the designs. Hit up Millennium park in the day and get cool pic's of The Bean. It sounds dumb, but it's really cool. The fireworks dinner cruise pretty cool which comes with dinner and a great view of the fireworks coming off the Navy Pier (I think it's Sat's only). If that is something you are interested in, you want to book well in advance. You also want to spend a few hours at the Navy Pier.

Hotels: Try to find something on the north side of "The Loop" or in the Magnificent Mile area. I got a great deal at Club Quarters Chicago at Wacker for around $70/night. I highly recommend this place, especially if you can get it close to that price. The only downside is that the rooms are really small, but we were out on the town most of the time anyways.

 

[ronfromfresno]

Wow there are some fantastic ideas here. We are going to be there from the June 25 till about 30th or July 1st. Has anyone attended Taste of Chicago in the past, sounds like a great time?

 

[Pine Tar]

Wow there are some fantastic ideas here. We are going to be there from the June 25 till about 30th or July 1st. Has anyone attended Taste of Chicago in the past, sounds like a great time?

http://www.chiff.com/articles/taste-of-chicago.htm
That is one thing if your here in town when it is going on you can't nor should not miss doing. By for the best thing to do in Chicago in the summer-time. Also check to see who is playing (concert) at northerly island right by the Shedd Aquarium I saw the Doobie Brothers and Chicago last year for 10 bucks each. I took my Daughter and my wife we all had a great time.
http://www.livenation.com/Charter-One-P ... enue/33036

 

[braden]

Was in Chicago for the first time a couple of weekends ago and loved the city. Felt familiar as it's laid out essentially like Toronto, just on steroids. Thoroughly enjoyed Millennium Park and walking around the neighbourhood we were staying in (Gold Coast; Walton & State). Checked out Wrigley and actually walked back to our hotel over the course of 4-5 hours.

The Art Gallery has a nice modern wing as well as a few iconic pieces if that's your cup of tea. Was worth the admission and a couple of hours of our time.

 

[shanks25]

The wife and I went a few years back. We stayed right on the Mile (Comfort Inn I think.......wasn'r bad at all). Like has already been said, take the "L" where you want to go. We took in three Cubs games. Got tix for two games off StubHub. One in the lower deck and one game in the bleachers (HIGHLY recommended!!!!). Bought "standing room" tix for the third game......very cheap! Got there for BP and got a lot of HR balls. Nothing like a dog and an Old Style at the game....

Cubby Bear is great for post-game festivities.

We ate at an Italian joint in little Italy. Food was so good we went back a second time.

 

[nyc3]

Wow there are some fantastic ideas here. We are going to be there from the June 25 till about 30th or July 1st. Has anyone attended Taste of Chicago in the past, sounds like a great time?

If you and the wife are into bike riding I suggest renting an electric bike out on the navy pier. We took one my last trip and we rode for nearly 2 hours and almost made it to Detroit driving down the coast line before we turned around :lol: and the best part being electric is its like 1/4 the work since when going up hill you can let the bike do the hard work :lol: and dont be fooled they do 20 mph

http://www.bikeandroll.com/chicago/chic ... ntals.html

 

[rymflaherty]

I 'd also give Ditka's a big thumbs up - I've enjoyed everything I've had there and I LOVE the Pot Roast Nacho's.

Another place I enjoy is Leona's - I'm sure it's not the best restaurant, but if you want a ton of food for a reasonable price it's a nice place to go. One of those places that has a huge selection and for $20 you will be stuffed and probably still have stuff to bring home.

And yeah - Taste of Chicago would be a definite event to check out.
As I said, it's free - so you can go check out the park and see some music.....and there are a ton of local restaurants that are there. You buy tickets and then use those for food and drink....the "fees" come from the ticket purchases.
I forget what it is exactly, but it's something like $10 of tix = $8 of food and the other couple books goes to the city.