In continuing my support of women’s basketball this year (I attended nine NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball games this winter), the Ultimate Sports Wife and I attended the Chicago Sky 2008 home opener last night at the UIC Pavilion. In the past, I have had to buy tickets at the ticket window for Sky games (cheapest seat is $15), since scalpers tend not to show up where tickets are cheap and the volume is low. I had planned to buy two $15 tickets last night while hoping I could find a scalper or a fan with a couple of extras.

When we arrived outside the arena, there were a fair amount of people mingling around. That gave me hope there may be some extra tickets outside. I walked by one woman and asked if she had two extras. She did. However, she wanted to be paid. I asked if she really wanted anything, she said no and handed me her extra two tickets ($35 face value and a few rows from the court).

Ticket Buying Tip #5: Always re-question whether the average fan “really” wants to be paid. Most fans do not want to deal with the hassle of negotiating and may be apprehensive to accept any payment.

With an extra $30 in my pocket, Nicole and I headed into the arena. A few minutes after we sat down, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Quentin Richardson of the New York Knicks walked in front of us and took their seats two rows from the court. Wade was in town this past week buying a church for his mom.

After the game, we went to dinner at Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap Restaurant. Although there are many restaurants to choose from in Little Italy (most just a few blocks from the UIC Pavilion) Tufano’s is the only restaurant within walking distance (just on the opposite side of the main parking lot) so you can leave your car in the parking lot while dining.