Some argue that the Chicago Cubs home opener at Wrigley Field is an event not to be missed. I would argue that you should save your money for another event – the weather is usually miserable, tickets are expensive and all the bars in the neighborhood are overcrowded. The games later in the week are the much better bargain and experience.

However, as was the case with the Chicago White Sox home opener last Monday, today’s game between the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers was abnormal – it was sunny and 60 degrees.

Beg, Borrow and Deal
In addition to the fact the weather was beautiful for the home opener, my friend and I bought tickets in row 1 of section 26 – four rows from the Milwaukee Brewers on-deck circle and one row behind the Dugout Box seats which cost $315 each. Our seats cost $100 (plus $12 in taxes) each.

My initial plan for today’s game was to buy a SRO ticket from the box office and sit wherever I felt like in Wrigley Field. SRO for today’s game cost $17. However, I thought I could beat that price on the street. But, as I crossed Addison St. (heading south on Clark St.), I ran into a friend of mine who also did not have tickets. He was heading over to Mullen’s on Clark so I went with him.

After eating lunch, it was already the first inning so rather than try to buy tickets on the street, we walked back to the box office. I had convinced my friend to buy two SRO tickets. But when we asked what seats were also available, the ticket guy said terrace level was available for $47 each (I would never buy those seats since you can buy SRO and find dozens of seats available in the terrace level) and that the tickets we ended up buying were available. I hesitated at first about buying the front row seats, not realizing where they were exactly, but my friend did not hesitate and bought the tickets immediately.

Cubs Ticket Trick
The Cubs have a new ticket trick this season. They tell you the cost of the ticket and charge the tax later. Every year prior to this one, the tax was included in the price they quoted for the ticket.

Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
The Cubs made quick work of the Brewers scoring 5 runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth inning to take an 8-1 lead behind home runs from Xavier Nady, Jeff Baker and Aramis Ramirez.

Sitting one section over from us was Brad Miller – the Chicago Bulls backup center. Since I took a picture with him at a Bears game in December, I decided I had to have a picture with him at a Cubs game too.

Post Game Dining
After the game we went back to Mullen’s on Clark to finish up the day. Ask for Karl Fernandez and he may give you some deals.