With the Cubs game ending around 5:45 pm, I had plenty of time to drive to the United Center in time to buy a ticket for Game 1. As I write in the ticket buying guide for Championship games, I had done my research ahead of time. However, instead of buying ahead of time, I had a feeling ticket prices would drop outside of the arena so I went to the United Center empty handed. My first stop was outside of Billy Goat Tavern where most scalpers congregate for sporting …

It was a big day for sporting events in Chicago. First, the Chicago Cubs were hosting the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field at 3:10 pm. Second, the Chicago Blackhawks were hosting the Philadelphia Flyers in the first NHL Finals game in Chicago in 18 years. With the NHL Finals game starting at 7:00 pm there was very little wiggle room for the Cubs game to run long.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
As was the case Friday, I was shocked at how little Cubs tickets were selling for outside of Wrigley Field …

Cubs’ tickets are officially dead for the summer. My neighbor and I bought a pair of Cubs tickets for $30 ($15 each) without leaving our courtyard. The face value on each ticket was $70.56. Buying a ticket for so cheap to watch the Cardinals and Cubs at Wrigley Field rarely occurs, but is the main reason why I always recommend waiting to buy tickets until you arrive to the venue on game day.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
The Cardinals made quick work of Randy Wells. Wells threw 16 pitches, faced …

Most Cubs fans would believe that bleacher seats at Wrigley Field are expensive and hard to get. This is sometimes the case for summer games versus the Chicago White Sox or St. Louis Cardinals, but for the other 70 games or so bleacher seats are usually sold for face value or less. For example, today, I bought two bleacher seats for $40 ($20 each). The face value for today’s game is $50.40.

The Cubs are being tricky with their tickets this year. They “lowered” their prices for tickets but charge the …

Tonight Wrigley Field experienced a blackout for only the third time since lights were installed during the 1988 season. The first two blackouts were during the 2003 season.  The first was May 6 and the second was June 24 that year. I was out of town for both of those games so this was the first time the lights have gone out while I was in attendance.

Beg, Borrow and Deal
For the second night in a row, the Cubs drew less than 36,000. Thus, tickets were easily available outside of Wrigley …

2 ½ weeks ago, I questioned whether White Sox management knew how to price their tickets for weekend games against opponents nobody really cares about. After attending tonight’s Cubs game, I am now questioning whether the Cubs know how to price some of their games as well. Cubs management made a mistake when they made tonight’s game versus the Dodgers a premium-priced game – the most expensive games at Wrigley Field for the 2010 season.
Last night’s attendance was only 34,749 (84.4% full) – a far cry from their usual 40,000+ …

I was back at the United Center after missing the last two Blackhawks playoff games. This game I was not going to miss. The Blackhawks had a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992 and the first time since I have been living in Chicago.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
Blackhawks Jim, who I am now renaming Hospitality Jim after the London version of Hospitality Jim, picked me up. He already had a ticket so we needed to buy two tickets – one for me and …

It’s been one week since I brought home my newborn son from the hospital.  In that time, I have not slept much, changed lots of diapers and ordered a lot of food.  However, last Wednesday my son witnessed Carlos Silva’s new revival as Silva became 4-0.  Today, Silva continued that revival giving up only two runs in six innings to improve his record to 5-0.  Maybe Silva will continue his run as he became the first Cubs player to start 5-0 since Greg Maddux in 2006 and the first to …

“Cheaper on the outside” – the famous quote heard from all peanut vendors as you walk from your car to the ballpark. And, if you have been to Wrigley Field before, you know there is no way you cannot avoid a peanut vendor on your way into the ballpark. I would argue that they are not actually cheaper. Yet, my friend, Frank Garrett, buys these peanuts every game as he enters the ballpark – until tonight when he will no longer buy them “on the outside.”

Not only did he find …

For the second day in a row, I met up with The King and Gary Herman as they were attending their 5th of six baseball games in three days. They attended the Friday afternoon Cubs game, the Friday night Brewers game, the Saturday afternoon Cubs game, the Saturday evening Kane County Cougars game, the Sunday afternoon Cubs game and Sunday night baseball in Milwaukee – just a typical weekend for the two of them.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
As was the case Saturday I was planning to sit with Gary and The …