Chicago Cubs/Wrigley TIX Questions...

[upsheez]

So I travel for work and recently picked up an account near Chicago. I'm planning a trip next month and would love to catch a Cubs game as I've never been to Wrigley

My questions are...

1. Should I just go ahead and buy tix online before @ face?
2. Could/Should I try to pick up a ticket on the street before the game?
3. Is it difficult to find tickets before the game?
4. Any recommendations on where to sit?

These are the 2 games I'm looking at....

• Monday July 6, 7:05 pm
• Tuesday July 7, 12:20 pm (make-up game..think this would be less crowded?)

Sorry for the dumb questions, tough to catch MLB games living in TN and I figured this would be a great source to get some pointers from the seasoned vets on here before I go!

Any thoughts or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[speedyjg13]

I will be there in August, have the same questions, will be watching this thread

[chansen10]

The Tuesday noon game will be way less crowded but if your going for the experience I suggest you go to the night game and sit in the bleachers

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

I will be there in August, have the same questions, will be watching this thread

Haha good...glad I'm not the only one

Originally Posted by chansen10

The Tuesday noon game will be way less crowded but if your going for the experience I suggest you go to the night game and sit in the bleachers

Cool, thanks for the advice

[Grizz]

I would not recommend buying from some guy off the street. Get in advance for sure. It's not worth the hassle or risk to possibly save a few bucks from a scalper.

[TheAntiCard]

I have a friend who may have tickets - give me a day to check - one or two?

[iluvfish2]

We got ours on the street when we went, but we didnt pay much less than face. The cubs faithful generally sell a lot of them out. If you really work the scalpers you can probably find a deal but depends on how much time you want to deal with it. If you've got a specific section you want I'd just recommend getting them ahead of time.

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by Grizz

I would not recommend buying from some guy off the street. Get in advance for sure. It's not worth the hassle or risk to possibly save a few bucks from a scalper.

Yeah I understand the concern and would agree. However, I don't plan on purchasing from a shady scalper and can spot them a mile away. I've purchased tix off street all the time here @ Titans games but it's been a little easier to get tix the past few years...or 10

Originally Posted by TheAntiCard

I have a friend who may have tickets - give me a day to check - one or two?

As of right now just 1 unless my buddy flies/drives up there with me but doubt it. The date's not 100% right now but very likely. Either way, I will DEF be going at some point this year. Thanks for the letting me know!

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by Grizz

I would not recommend buying from some guy off the street. Get in advance for sure. It's not worth the hassle or risk to possibly save a few bucks from a scalper.

Oh and nice avatar btw

Originally Posted by iluvfish2

We got ours on the street when we went, but we didnt pay much less than face. The cubs faithful generally sell a lot of them out. If you really work the scalpers you can probably find a deal but depends on how much time you want to deal with it. If you've got a specific section you want I'd just recommend getting them ahead of time.

Great advice. I was unaware of that. I was thinking if I did the day game it would be less crowded and might could get a better deal and/or better seats. Thanks for your input!

[Grizz]

Originally Posted by upsheez

Oh and nice avatar btw

Hahaha thanks! You too! I wish I still owned it. It graded out a GEM 9.5/10 AFTER I sold it. It's probably worth 3x's what I sold it for.

[mattsey9]

Remember that buying from scalpers in Illinois is illegal and the CPD frequently runs stings to catch people on the street. There are several licensed brokers in the block around Wrigley that will have tickets for each game.

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

Remember that buying from scalpers in Illinois is illegal and the CPD frequently runs stings to catch people on the street. There are several licensed brokers in the block around Wrigley that will have tickets for each game.

I thought it was only illegal IF it was sold OVER face? Is it illegal to sell a $95 face ticket for $60 on the streets?

Are the licensed brokers you're referring to online brokers, a brick/mortar location, or brokers selling on the street legally?

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by Grizz

Hahaha thanks! You too! I wish I still owned it. It graded out a GEM 9.5/10 AFTER I sold it. It's probably worth 3x's what I sold it for.

Was yours a red or pink? Hard to tell. And thanks I pulled mine out of a retail rack pack! (I'll be honest, I opened a few but still!) The base SSP is really tough to find. That's why I'm in no immediate rush to get rid of it...if I did, I'd prolly wish I'd still own it like you did haha.

[phreak23]

Bleachers are a blast, as a life long Cubs fan it is the only place I will sit, come early! First come first serve, get that front row bleacher seat right behind the baskets!

[upsheez]

Originally Posted by phreak23

Bleachers are a blast, as a life long Cubs fan it is the only place I will sit, come early! First come first serve, get that front row bleacher seat right behind the baskets!

Oh ok, cool I didn't know that. I'm assuming it's just a general admission pick your spot type of thing? It's still a decent view though? I see them now on the ticket price page. Thanks for the heads up!

[phreak23]

Originally Posted by upsheez

Oh ok, cool I didn't know that. I'm assuming it's just a general admission pick your spot type of thing? It's still a decent view though? I see them now on the ticket price page. Thanks for the heads up!

Amazing view, if its a nice summer day the ball game won't be the only fun thing for you to watch while in the bleachers

[DaBaddestHic]

I've never done the bleachers so I can't attest to those (although I really need to try them this year).

Yeah, the Tuesday afternoon game would be less crowded. And the games against the Cardinals are always really packed. Although in general it seems like games are more packed this year since the Cubs are actually doing well.

Since Wrigley has poles there are areas that are have a blocked view. WrigleyFieldSeating.com has more information on that. That'd be my only real worry in buying tickets on the streets is not being able to tell what the blocked seating is. But really, I've been to around 15 cubs games and I only remember 1 game with a blocked view. And if it's one of the less crowded afternoon games you can probably just move. If you do the bleachers though none of that matters :P.

If you want to drink before/after the game, Murphy's Bleachers is a popular spot.

[briscogun]

Originally Posted by chansen10

The Tuesday noon game will be way less crowded but if your going for the experience I suggest you go to the night game and sit in the bleachers

I'm actually of the opposite mind here. There's nothing like a day game at Wrigley staring out at that view of the scoreboard/bleachers/rooftops. Get a good seat in 200 section. You'll have a blast!

Bleachers can be fun for day games, too. More rowdy, more crazy, more of Chicago's young ladies in tank tops drinking Old Style's... Nothing bad. It's not like a bunch of hoods out there fighting.

Get a ticket ahead of time if you can. Get to the stadium early, traffic is horrible. If you are staying in the city, take the red line, it drops off at Addison. And there are bars everywhere. Murphy's was mentioned, they are behind the bleachers. Cubby Bear is right actoss the street from the main entrance. I usually go a block or two down Clark to Barleycorn's or even Goose Island.

Have fun! You'll love it!

[partykhakis]

Originally Posted by briscogun

I'm actually of the opposite mind here. There's nothing like a day game at Wrigley staring out at that view of the scoreboard/bleachers/rooftops. Get a good seat in 200 section. You'll have a blast!

Get a ticket ahead of time if you can. Get to the stadium early, traffic is horrible. If you are staying in the city, take the red line, it drops off at Addison. And there are bars everywhere. Murphy's was mentioned, they are behind the bleachers. Cubby Bear is right actoss the street from the main entrance. I usually go a block or two down Clark to Barleycorn's or even Goose Island.

Have fun! You'll love it!

Yes to all those Bar and above recc's.

I've purchased tickets prior to Cubs games along with scalping. If you can negotiate with scalpers, why not give it a shot? Just don't do it on Wrigley's grounds and you shouldn't have any issue. Only thing I hate about scalping on away trips is that I didn't know the sections too well, but as long as you stand firm on your price don't be afraid to walk away.

200 levels are great and so are day ballgames. I sat on the RF side first row for a Cubs v Buccos game 3 years ago and loved it.

[glassnickels]

Stubhub will be cheaper than the guys on the street. It's just a little annoying for day games since it stops 6 hours before game time. I would do that before street guys anyways only because of the columns. Definitely check Wrigley guide while you are looking at tickets. The guys on the street will not tell you. If you do go with them, don't worry about cpd, they can sell them a certain distance from the stadium. Most of them have seat maps up even.

I personally do not like the bleachers. At all. My seats are in 200 level and it's a great view of the field, not surrounded by the kind of people who just come to party (at least as much as the bleachers). Not everyone in the bleachers is there to drink first and watch second, but the ratio is definitely higher out there. It's definitely a personal preference though. I'm not a fan if big crowds in general.

You can type in exact seat locations on this map to see where the columns are. Before I got my season tickets, I used it all the time and it is very accurate.

http://wrigleyguide.com/map.php

[glassnickels]

Also, those two games are both Cardinals. The Tuesday day game is a make up game from April so there will likely be plenty of seats for that on Stubhub for people that can't make the rescheduled game. The Cardinals games will run higher than other games and will be heavily attended by Cards fans.

As far as bars in the neighborhood go, they are all eerily similar. The Goose Island beer garden is nice and they have a nice Cubbie Blue beer you can only get there. Best beer lists are at Sheffields, Merkles, and sometimes Dark Horse depending on what their recent tap events are. Murphy's is huge and well attended and very fun. My favorite less crowded dives are Ginger Man and Wrigleyville North. Wrigleyville is real dive, Ginger Man is trying to be a dive, if that makes sense. I go to probably 60 games a year so if you have any other questions I can probably answer.

[padsfan10]

Going to the Aug. 13 day game against the Brewers as part of our annual ballpark trip. Got seats in last row of Sec. 27 so pretty pumped. Will be following this one as well to get any tips/advice. Really appreciate it.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by upsheez

I thought it was only illegal IF it was sold OVER face? Is it illegal to sell a $95 face ticket for $60 on the streets?

Are the licensed brokers you're referring to online brokers, a brick/mortar location, or brokers selling on the street legally?

That's what I thought until the cop I was selling to told me otherwise. He didn't pinch me for selling at face value, but he made it clear I needed to stop selling tickets without a license

There are at least two licensed brokers with a B&M location just across the street from Wrigley. Oneis right by the Red Line stop.

[skillovermyluck]

Went to Weds game vs Nationals .. Awesome day for night game .. Bleachers is find an openspot .. Great location because you can wander and watch game from wherever you want .. Heck sit on top part of stairs going up .. Nobody will say anything ..

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[Grizz]

Originally Posted by upsheez

Was yours a red or pink? Hard to tell. And thanks I pulled mine out of a retail rack pack! (I'll be honest, I opened a few but still!) The base SSP is really tough to find. That's why I'm in no immediate rush to get rid of it...if I did, I'd prolly wish I'd still own it like you did haha.

Mine was the Red Refractor. Sold it to another board member at one point who has since moved it.