Washington Redskins take on the Monsters of the Midway...The Chicago Bears in Historic Soldier Field
Chicago sports fans are Awesome. They pay attention to every play, are passionate about "Da Bears" and Respect...okay, they Tolerate Fans of the other team. The food is great (see breakfast & dinner sections).
Lake Michigan is Beautiful. But, they don't call it the Windy City for nothing. Dress Warm.
Wear your Redskin attire...Sing "Hail to the Redskins"
Plenty of Great Seats Available - Cheap
All the Season Tickets Holders Renew - yet Ticketmaster, Stub Hub have thousands of tickets to sell for this game. Somehow, all those tickets are going to show up at the game for sale. Its a buyers market. Go below to Scoring the Best Seats - Cheap.
Flying to Chicago
Chicago is Central Time***Kickoff is Noon
Chicago Midway Airport is 40 min to Soldier Field . Southwest Airlines has Non-Stop to Chicago-Midway from both BWI and Dulles Airports.
Chicago O'Hare Airport is an 1 1/2 hour to Soldier Field. There are many airlines that serve O'Hare from the DC Metro area.
Getting from Airports to Chicago
Midway Airport - Follow Airport Signs "Trains to City" and "CTA" through the airport garage. Walk in the Pedestrian marked walkway. Its a 5 minute walk, you'll be at the CTA Midway station. Midway is the End & Beginning (via "The Loop") of the Orange Line.
O'Hare Airport - Follow Airport Signs "Trains to City" and "CTA" This will take you to lower level concourse. Its a 10 minute walk, you'll be at the CTA O'Hare station. O'Hare is the west end of the Blue Line. Your trains destination is Forest Park.
Airport CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Station
Purchase a 1 Day Fun Pass - $5.75 from the "CTA Pass Machine" - credit cards, cash & coins.
If the CTA Pass Machine is out of order, the attendant in the booth has 1 Day Passes to sell for cash only. If you buy a Transit Card, put $8 on it.
The CTA 1-Day Fun Pass is good for 24 hours from first use. If you came in Saturday night or are staying until Monday, the pass may still be valid when you use it the second day.
Insert your 1 Day Fun Pass in the turnstile and BOARD THE TRAIN.
Chicago is Central Time***Kickoff is Noon
Is there an hour for Breakfast?
Midway Airport - No time for breakfast. Exit the train at the Roosevelt stop, 25 minute ride from the airport. A 15 minute walk (1/2 mile) from the station (east on Roosevelt, Right on Columbus) to Soldier Field.
Yes! I want the Best Breakfast in Chicago, Get off the train at Quincy. Walk half block south to Jackson Blvd and then west (cross under the "EL") on Jackson Blvd four blocks, Lou Mitchell's is across the street on your left.
O'Hare Airport - Exit the train at Jackson. When you come up to the street, walk west on Jackson Blvd. If no time for breakfast, stop at Canal & Jackson (see below Getting to Soldier Field). Hungry for the Best Breakfast in Chicago, continuing walking 2 blocks to Lou Mitchell's.
Best Breakfast in Chicago
Lou Mitchell's 565 W Jackson Blvd is the Best Breakfast in Chicago and they can "handle" (defined as sitting, eating & enjoying a meal together at the same time) a group. On a Sunday morning, there will be plenty of Bear fans to talk football, its a big place
.
Getting to Soldier Field
Make a right out of Lou Mitchell's. Walk 2 blocks along Jackson Blvd towards Canal Street. Cross Canal Street, the Stop for Bus #128 Soldier Field Express is there. Your CTA 1 Day Fun Pass is accepted. Or the fare is $1 Cash. Buses line up and depart this location starting at 10 am.
Scoring the Best Seats - Cheap
What you need to know:
At Kickoff (noon) Unused Tickets are Worthless
Tickets for the Best Seats arrive One hour to 30 minutes prior to the Noon Kickoff
DON'T settle for bad seats. This is YOUR DAY! Your team, on the road; your friends will be talking about this game for years to come.
Season Ticket Holders (i.e. Best Seats) have extras or gave them all away to friends, customers and employees. Those great seats are going into the stadium unused...Unless you offer to buy it from the person that have them. Most people are delighted to get something for it.
A lot of people come to the game with extras want to decide who sits next to them. That's why they don't sell them on exchange sites.
Buying extra tickets from a season ticket holder is a Win-Win situation. Thank him/her for selling it you.
Do NOT buy from Ticket "Scalpers" - The "I need tickets" guys with 10 tickets in their hand. Some sell fakes & voided tickets. Season ticket holders don't want anything to do with them. They would rather "eat" (carrying it unused into the stadium) the ticket...but you're going to help the season ticket holders by buying their tickets.
Season ticket holders don't want to be "embarrassed" by standing outside "hawking" tickets for sale. But, if they see you're looking to buy a couple of tickets they will ask, "Do you need a ticket?"
The "Face Value" of a ticket means nothing. The team makes season ticket holders feel good that they paid $90 for something marked $200. It also disappoints them to sell it for $25.
Never buy "Internet" printed tickets...they've been photo copied 50 times.
What you need to do:
Print up a Seating Chart of Soldier Field - Know what sections you want. Don't bother with corner end zone, between the two 30 yards lines is a good range.
Know what you are willing to pay - $25 a ticket is plenty for this game. Have CASH READY to buy the tickets.
Dress (your Redskins attire is fine) & Act like the guy you would want sitting next to your children at FedEx Field. Nearly every ticket I bought was next to the people I bought it from. Nobody wants to sit next to a jerk.
Go to Where The Tickets are - The season ticket holders Come From Permit Parking north & east of Soldier Field. Their extra tickets are for the East side (backing up to Lake Michigan). Go to the East Side Gates close the 50 yard line. Put up 1 or 2 fingers (even if you need 4) to let people know you're looking.
The best seats are Fancy, Team Logos, Quality Printed tickets. Do NOT bother with "Internet" printed tickets. If Ticketmaster printed tickets, check the back for printed matter - they should not be blank.
Check the tickets for the Section Number, is it in your range? Ask the seller "Are the seats next to you? Are they Good?" If you want the tickets, then offer $25 a ticket. When the person ask for $100, just tell them that's all the want to pay. They may take the $25 or look for a better price, but the clock is ticking. They'll take the $25 and why not? Its better than nothing.
Finally, Don't be surprised if someone gives you great seats for free, its happened to me twice at Wrigley Field.
After the Game
No Time For Dinner
Midway Airport - Walk out of Soldier Field, go north onto Columbus, make a left onto Roosevelt to the Roosevelt CTA Station and cross the street under the "EL" The Orange Line going southbound goes to Midway. This station is not in "The Loop" be sure to go southbound. At Midway Airport follow the signs into the garage "To The Terminal."
O'Hare Airport - Express Buses leave from the east side of McFetridge Street on Soldier Field's north end. Take the #128 Soldier Field Express back to Jackson & Canal (where you boarded in the morning). Walk the 6 blocks back to the Blue Line - Jackson CTA station on Dearborn. Go down the stairs and take the northbound train, destination O'Hare.
Quick Chicago Style Dinner:
Express Buses leave from the east side McFetridge Street on Soldier Field's north end. Take Bus #128 Soldier Field Express back to Jackson Blvd & Canal Street (where you got on in the morning). On Jackson, walk 2 blocks east to Giordanos Pizza at 223 W Jackson (walk over the viaduct). Before you arrive, have an idea of what you want on your pizza, takes 25 min to cook.
To return to Midway Airport after dinner, turn right out of Giordano's onto Jackson, cross Wells Street (the "EL" will be over your head) go left a half block. Go up the stairs and take the Orange Line to Midway. The destination on the train will be "Loop." It will take 45 minutes from Quincy to Midway. Enjoy the sites of Chicago and "The Loop." At Midway Airport follow signs into the garage "To The Terminal."
To return to O'Hare Airport after dinner, turn right out of Giordano's on Jackson. Walk the 2 blocks to the Blue Line - Jackson CTA station on Dearborn. Go down the stairs into the station. Take the northbound train destination O'Hare.
Time for Dinner & Little Bit of Chicago
The games ends 3:15 pm or so. From Soldier Field walk along Columbus, left on Roosevelt to State Street (2 blocks past the elevated trains) approx .6 mile. Enter the CTA Red Line at Roosevelt Station (underground station). Go northbound, the trains destination is Howard, your stop is Grand.
When you exit the Grand CTA Station, go two blocks north on State Street to Ontario. This is the "River North Restaurant & Nightlife" area. Below are two of my favorites, which are four blocks west on Ontario at Wells Street.
Carson's For Ribs - Great Ribs & Chicken dinners with all the sides for a good price. They can handle your group and get you served quick. Casual atmosphere...Perfect!
Gino's East Pizza - Everyone in Chicago has a favorite pizza place, this is mine. Gino's can handle your group, decide ahead what you want on your pizza, it take 25 min to cook.
If these suggestions don't work for you, there are many other restaurants in the "River North" area.
To return to Midway Airport walk back on Ontario to Clark and make a right (south) turn. It's a 15 min walk, if the #22 Clark bus comes by, get on it. Walk (ride) over the bridge above the Chicago River.
At the "Loop" on Lake Street. The entrance to the CTA Clark Station is inside the building (James Thompson Center) on Lake Street. Go in the building, up the stairs and catch the Orange Line train to Midway. You'll see the sign with an airplane on it. It's 40 minutes to Midway. When you arrive at Midway Airport, go back through the garage "To The Terminal."
To return to O'Hare Airport, walk on Ontario to Clark and make a right (south) turn. It's a 10 min walk or if the #22 Clark bus comes by, get on it. Walk (ride) over the bridge above the Chicago River. The Blue Line - CTA Clark Station is inside the building (James Thompson Center) on Lake Street. Follow the signs to the Blue Line, take the westbound train destination O'Hare.
Just want to Wander Around
This is the best plan of all.
Express Buses leave from the east side of McFetridge Street on Soldier Field's north end. Take the #128 Soldier Field Express back to Jackson & Canal. Get on Bus #151 Sheridan heading east. This is a great ride up "The Magnificent Mile" (Michigan Ave). Plenty of shopping and restaurants inside the "Vertical Malls."
Return to Midway Airport, from a CTA station on "The Loop." Board an Orange Line train. At Midway, go into the garage and follow the signs "To The Terminal."
Return to O'Hare Airport, from a Blue Line CTA station and go westbound, train destination O'Hare.
Have a Safe Trip Home.
I miss our Memorial Day weekend trips to Chicago!
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