Thread: Soldier field information

Just looked at some tips threads and I have put them into some sort of order. I have yet to go to SF (next Autumn will be my first J) so I am just putting all the info together for other virgins and therefore happy to have it corrected. Apologies for not crediting the advice but couldn't be arsed :). Feel free to claim credit.
General
1) Dress warm
2) Sneak in the booze – the pat downs are pointless.
3) Around 20 blocks away is walkable.
4) Carry food in your pockets so you can join some friendly types tailgating without being too awkward J
5) if you bring a camera... since it will most likely be cold, bring extra batteries and keep rotating said batteries, so you can keep shooting without waiting for them to warmup. I had fresh batteries, took the camera out and took pics, less than 3 minutes later, it was dead!

Transport
1) If you take the electric Metra to 18th street. Make sure you let the conductor know, or else they will pass up that stop.
2) RTA | The Regional Transportation Authority: Public transportation in Northeastern Illinois

3) Public transportation is decent in Chicago. You can take the red line (train)

4) Hopping a cab and getting at least closer to Soldier Field isn't a big deal either... its just getting BACK to your hotel is the tricky part, since you pretty much have zero chance of landing a cab outside of the stadium.
Accommodation
1) The Essex Inn has packages for rooms/tickets and is pretty close by, but they sell out fast.

Tickets
1) There really isn't a bad seat in the house. Tickets through eBay to sit in section 232 (10 yard line in first balcony) go for about $200/ticket.
2) Stubhub is at least $75 higher per ticket, but offers you their "guarantee".
3) “…used stubhub when I came over to watch a game, would recommend using them, no problems at all in using them.”


Pre-Game
1) “By the time I was a dozen blocks away, I was walking w/other fans (at 7am, lol). Walk to the 31st street lot to tailgate (other side of McCormick Center from stadium) if you want the rowdiest crowd. Although, all of them are fun and welcoming (as long as you aren't trying to sponge off of them).”

2) Make sure to go into the stadium a little early to walk around and see everything they have....it's worthwhile. You will have to sneak in your flask.

3) If you come to a game at Soldier Field, for the full experience, you need to come early and tailgate. Find someone on the boards that will be there, who you can join... heck, tell some random friendly Bears fans that you are from Green Bay J and would like to join them and they'll let you... and if you join a stranger's tailgate, bring some beer or food as a contribution, to make it less awkward. That's my best advice.

4) From the main entrance, by the dough boy statue, you have the bears "hall of fame and history", which uses the old soldier field concourse to show the whole history of the bears and has jersey's , equipment etc that are really worth taking time to read, and picture take( get a high five payton!), usually also have a guy there taking pics of you on field which if in early is a quick thing to do!!

5) if you are into memorabilia they have some cool auctions in the south courtyard, where sometimes you can get some good stuff cheap.

Post Game
THERE MUST BE A GOOD PLACE FOR A PISS UP!!??

For tickets, check with concierges at better hotels. Many of them have blocks of tickets that are reserved for those that stay in the hotel. I've known people who have reserved tickets with a room, only to later cancel the room and use the tickets. Warning, that may not work for you - I believe they had them sent via mail prior to arrival, then cancelled the reservation.

For post game transportation - Claws and I stuck around tailgating through the 3pm game, and then had little trouble finding a cab.

If you're coming from out of town or simply don't have the very-expensive-and-crappy Soldier Field Parking Pass, but still wanna tailgate, your best places to do so are at either the Adler Planetarium Parking Lot or the 31st Street tailgate lot:

The Adler Planetarium Lot: kinda small and more expensive than 31st Street, but it's a bit more close-knit and has a great view of the lake. The lot is primarily for RV and bus parking, so if you're only driving a car, you might not be able to park there. Parking fills up quick, and during major games, cars aren't usually allowed to park there (simply because they'd rather have RVs park there instead). Fire pits, tents, and canopies are all allowed and tailgating is allowed during game time (unlike the Soldier Field lot). Price = $121 for RVs, buses, and campers (it's $46 for cars when they actually have room)

31st Street Lot: this is my home, and personally I feel that the real tailgaters go here to party. The lot used to be open for RVs/buses and cars to mingle, but now, the RVs and buses are separated in their own designated area (overflow goes to the Planetarium). The handy things about this lot are 1) there's alot of room, 2) it's much cheaper to park there, 3) there's a bus shuttle to the stadium (and if you wanna walk, it's only a mile and a bit to get there), and 4) fire pits, tents, and canopies are all allowed and tailgating is allowed during game time. The lot opens at least 4 hours before gametime and closes an hour or so after the game ends (on night games, the lot tends to open sooner). Price = $25 for cars, $50 for RVs and buses

If you're going on your own and you don't wanna be a loser and party by yourself, there are tailgating groups that are more than welcome to have you party with them. The Fork-U Tailgating Club (www.forkyoutailgatingclub.com) does an excellent job for a great price and are great people; and my crew, Da Bus Tailgating Crew (www.da-bus.com), is always happy to have extra people come and party. Price is $25 all you can eat and drink (bear and pop), plus an occasional $10 for cold weather game watching on the "Blood" Bus (a very swank, plush seated former American Red Cross blood donation bus equip with a fully operational bathroom and five 42" plasma TVs). If you wanna party with Da Bus, let me know, and I'll tell Timmy you'll be coming.

It's lovely fried up from your ration pack though.

If you're coming from out of town or simply don't have the very-expensive-and-crappy Soldier Field Parking Pass, but still wanna tailgate, your best places to do so are at either the Adler Planetarium Parking Lot or the 31st Street tailgate lot:
The Adler Planetarium Lot: kinda small and more expensive than 31st Street, but it's a bit more close-knit and has a great view of the lake. The lot is primarily for RV and bus parking, so if you're only driving a car, you might not be able to park there. Parking fills up quick, and during major games, cars aren't usually allowed to park there (simply because they'd rather have RVs park there instead). Fire pits, tents, and canopies are all allowed and tailgating is allowed during game time (unlike the Soldier Field lot). Price = $121 for RVs, buses, and campers (it's $46 for cars when they actually have room)

31st Street Lot: this is my home, and personally I feel that the real tailgaters go here to party. The lot used to be open for RVs/buses and cars to mingle, but now, the RVs and buses are separated in their own designated area (overflow goes to the Planetarium). The handy things about this lot are 1) there's alot of room, 2) it's much cheaper to park there, 3) there's a bus shuttle to the stadium (and if you wanna walk, it's only a mile and a bit to get there), and 4) fire pits, tents, and canopies are all allowed and tailgating is allowed during game time. The lot opens at least 4 hours before gametime and closes an hour or so after the game ends (on night games, the lot tends to open sooner). Price = $25 for cars, $50 for RVs and buses “By the time I was a dozen blocks away, I was walking w/other fans (at 7am, lol). Walk to the 31st street lot to tailgate (other side of McCormick Center from stadium) if you want the rowdiest crowd. Although, all of them are fun and welcoming (as long as you aren't trying to sponge off of them).”