Dylan was healthy and released from the hospital Saturday morning so it was business as usual over the weekend. Since Sunday afternoons are my favorite time to attend a Chicago Blackhawks game, I was not about to miss the Penguins coming to town in a 2:30 pm start time.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
Realizing that it would be nearly impossible to find a ticket from a scalper that matched the $27 standing room only price point, I purchased an SRO ticket once I realized they were available at the box office. This …

I drove straight to the United Center from work since Hospitality Jim invited me to the game the night before. Miraculously traffic was not that bad, so I had time to go out before the game. I drove down Ogden Ave. and chose Mahoney’s Pub & Grille located at 551 N. Ogden Ave. since they had street parking nearby.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks, back at the United Center for the first time since January 25, defeated the Wild 3-1. Troy Brouwer broke the 1-1 tie with 12:27 left in …

It was the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field! Since I became a Bears season ticket holder in 1999 the Bears have advanced to the playoffs four times. Once as the #1 seed and three times as the #2 seed (including this year). The first two times the Bears were the second seed they lost. However, the Bears won last week while the Green Bay Packers defeated the #1 seed Atlanta Falcons which sent the NFC Championship game to Soldier Field.
My original plan for today was to attend the Flyers …

It was the Bears first playoff game since the 2007 NFC Championship game. As I had done throughout the regular season, I tailgated with the friend Mike Holzman and the Ultimate Sports Wife before the game.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
I already had my season tickets for the game today. However, I have noticed that the secondary market in Chicago for the divisional playoff weekend is soft in the days leading up to the game. I am not sure why it is soft, but wait to buy tickets to a wild card …

Last year at this time I drove down to Indianapolis twice to see the Colts in the playoffs. This year was no exception except for the fact they were playing on Wild Card weekend rather than later in the playoffs. This worked out for my schedule since the Chicago Bears are now playing on the Divisional Playoff weekend. For this road trip, I was able to get a babysitter so I was set to drive to Indianapolis for the evening.
Pre-Game Dining
I arrived in Indianapolis early to give myself plenty of …

NFL Game Day is “slightly” different when traveling with a baby. We woke up early and had to take care of Dylan rather than sleeping in and going directly to the bars before the game.
Pre Game Dining
Since we were up early we decided to drive around Green Bay to check out “the sites.” Of course, there really weren’t any, so we stopped at Titletown Brewing Company located at 200 Dousman St. Our hotel’s magazine listed this place as one of the top places to eat at in Green Bay.
Beg, Borrow …

My first sporting event of the year had been planned since September. I have always wanted to attend a Bears game at Lambeau Field but for whatever reason was never able to do so. Nicole and I did not plan to travel anywhere this holiday season since it would be our first holiday season with a baby. But, since the Packers were hosting the Bears on January 2, we thought it would be fun to take a road trip to Green Bay for the game.
Hotel in Green Bay
Back in September, …

Ever few years the Chicago Bulls play an afternoon game on New Year’s Eve. Nicole wanted to bring her great uncle to the play “White Christmas” which started at the same time the Bulls game did – 2 pm. Since you cannot bring a baby to a play, this was my opportunity to bring the Ultimate Sports Baby to his first Chicago Bulls game.
Beg, Borrow and Deal
I dropped Nicole and her uncle off at the theater around 1:30 pm which gave me plenty of time buy a ticket, find parking …

The last two Bears games were pushed to 3:15 pm starts. Today the game was kept at noon which was great so we could also make it to the Chicago Blackhawks game that was scheduled to start at 6 pm.
Last night Gary Herman (who runs royaltytours.blogspot.com) flew to Chicago to attend today’s doubleheader of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Blackhawks. Gary had planned this trip for awhile since the Bears were hosting the Jets and he is a diehard Jets fan. Since Parking Pass Mike sold his tickets and parking …

When the MetroDome’s roof collapsed on Sunday, December 12 and the game location for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings game was in question I was planning to attend the game. However, when it was announced that the game would be played at Ford Field, where I had just gone the week before, I decided to forego the trip.
But, when it was deemed that the MetroDome would not be ready for the Bears and Vikings game for Monday Night Football I was ready to travel. Rumors were swirling that …