First White Sox game. Anything I should know?

Factual Questions
1

I saw a lot of good advice given out in that Cubs thread, and was hoping you’d help me out here. I’ve actually been to a Sox game before, but it was a long time ago (Comiskey Park anyone?) and I wasn’t of drinking age back then, so…

Anyway, my wife and I are flying back to the states (her first time in Chicago) to visit some family and we wanted to catch a Cubs game, but the Cubs are playing the Sox at Cellular on June 26th so we’re going to do that instead.

Anything I should know? Any good bars nearby? I heard they tore them all down. I’m a Cubs fan, if that matters.

2

Don’t get tickets for the upper deck. I sat there once. Never again.

3

Find a nice bar on the north side and watch the game there?

:smiley:

First, ignore anyone that tells you to “fear the unruly Sox fan”. You’re nice and respectful, we are too.

Yes, avoid the upper deck if possible. Unless you’re in the first few rows, it’s not worth the climb.

The outfield seats, in the sun are wonderful. If you’re a sun worshiper, go there.

Don’t eat before you go, the food at Sox park (or the Cell, or Comiskey…, it’s always Sox park to me) is worth a couple of meals. The variety is good, and very little of it will leave any regrets.

Get there early enough to take a nice slow lap or two. There are a lot of good, passionate, friendly fans there, soak it in.

Along the right field line, in the lower level, I’d guess near section 113-119-ish, on the field side of the concourse is a portable beer vendor cart - a big green one. A tall younger african-american guy, and the sweetest old lady (she’d kill me) named Mary work there selling Heineken and Amstel. Tell her I said hi. I swear she doesn’t know my name, she just calls me hon, but she calls most people buddy, so I am special to her. She’d remember the Wife and I from Soldier Field, at Bears games - the first couple seasons the new park opened, she ran the stand right by our section and we know her from there. Try that, she might remember then - friends have gone by and she really does know me. Sees me coming, and knows it’s two Heinies and nuts.

Yeah, so? I go there a lot.

Then head to almost the same spot on the left field side - right in the concourse and seats between the dugout and the LF fence (140’s-ish). Listen for Russell, you’ll know when you hear. Russell the beer guy. You’d think no one could live with a voice like that, but Russell actually works a souvenir stand at the dump up north too, selling stuffed monkeys with cubby uniforms to drunken yuppies. He even has a business card: "Russell (God Bless America) I forgot his last name"

OH CRAP!!!

:smack:

Next thing you do is ignore what I said about the upper deck on the 26th. First, it may be hard to get lower deck seats for that series without mortgaging a kidney. Besides, the Wife and I will be up in 522. It’s possible I’ll be able to get into the 100’s (they keep the 500’s segregated), because the single seat games were bought through my friend on season ticket pre-sale day - if not, the Bullpen Bar in right field is open season to anyone, in fact for us is a pre-game MUST, like Mass only better.

In any case, now that you have all that, PM me sometime before you go, if you do - we can swap cell #'s and do a Comiskey Dope-Fest!

Yours in Black,

MBG (in a mixed marriage to a cubby fan. Poor girl, I’m the only bright spot in her life… )

4

Thanks MBG. We’re thinking of tickets around 145 or 119 (lower boxes) because they’re midrange prices and close to the action. Might even catch a ball over there. :slight_smile:

We’ll see when the date gets closer - the website wouldn’t let me buy tickets yet, so I guess I have to wait until after spring training to get seats. I’ll also keep you in mind and PM you when we get close.

Any other advice? I’m hearing about the good food at the stadium. How about beer prices in the stadium and good bars nearby? Any of that? I know they have parking there (right)? but is it better to drive or take the train?

Thanks again!

5

If you are coming from the city, take the red line down. If you are driving in, not to fear, plenty of parking and tailgating. Not many bars around, only the diehards know of a few. It’s like this: On the South Side, parking and tailgating. On the North Side, no parking, but lot’s of bars.

6

Within 3-4 blocks of the park to the west, you’re in the heart of Bridgeport, the neighborhood of the Daley’s. Along Halsted there are some places to stop in, but I agree with the Red Line advice - and if you hang too late after the game, you’re stuck riding it back downtown.

My wife likes to use the Green Line - it drops a few blocks farther east from the Red line, but she says there are fewer stops - plus she’s a south sider (and a cub fan? ) and likes to walk.

There is parking - ample parking, count on about $20 - $22. If you park, for that game come early, pack a cooler with drinks and food and join the party. I believe friends and I will be doing just that.

In the park, last year, domestic beer was around $5.75, most imports about $7. Imports are at some of the food stands, a couple of the portable ones like I mentioned, and there a couple “Beers of the World” stands set up. The one in the left field corner, down the line from 145 features a really nice couple of servers, a big husky guy and thin girl in her 20’s that work as a quick team. I stand in that line and listen to them make fun of people that go to the “Beers of the World” stand to order a 16 oz Bud.

Ah…baseball season, I’m getting worked up already!

7

Wow- went to the game yesterday the 27th to watch the Cubs get beat out by one run in the bottom of the 9th. Here are my observations:

That new stadium is amazing. I thought it would be a soulless concrete monster, but it feels like it was designed by a professional architect (compared to Wrigley where it feels like they built stands and made ramps to the stands). It’s very easy to navigate and looks great.

The food there is good, but the beers were killing us at $7 each. Start with cheap drinks in the parking lot. (BYOB)

If you’re wearing a Cubs jersey (or opposing team jersey) be prepared for a lot of ribbing by the Sox fans. It’s mostly friendly until the Sox fall behind. Keep a few comebacks on hand.

Also, know your team. For some reason people kept quizzing me (“Who’s the Cubs’ first baseman?” and the like). I don’t know why, but I got the feeling that Sox fans don’t think Cubs fans know their own team or baseball in general.

This “No Smoking Anywhere Indoors” thing was killing me. They should really just put aside a smallish area on a ramp somewhere instead of making everyone march outside gate 5. At least put up a TV in that area.

Overall, it was a great experience. Great park, great people, expensive beers, and baseball. Everything it was supposed to be.