The Ultimate Sports Wife and my original plan for today was to attend NASCAR’s LifeLock.com 400 in Joliet, IL. Since the race started at 7 pm and the Cubs game started at 3 pm there was really no way to make it to both events. If the Cubs game had started at noon then the doubleheader would have been possible. However, when my cousin from New York City said he was coming to town and wanted to attend the Cubs game we changed our plans – even though it goes against my rule of prioritizing the event that comes to town annually.

Pre Game Dining
Before the game Nicole and I wanted to try out a new brunch spot. Last Sunday we walked passed The Stretch, which appeared to have a good brunch menu. Since we did not eat there last week we decided to this week – a good decision. The Stretch has a great brunch menu for a few dollars less than Uncommon Ground or Rockit Bar & Grill. The best part is that it has $2 Old Styles every day – including game days – unheard of around Wrigley Field. If you drink Old Style at Wrigley Field, then $2 “beers” is the best deal in south of the stadium.

Obtaining Tickets
Even though Nicole and I already had our tickets for the game through our season tickets, my cousin and his friends did not. They had debated between sitting in the bleachers and just buying Standing Room Only (SRO). We talked to an “official” ticket broker (guys with a store front) and they wanted $100 per ticket for the bleachers. Then we walked to a ticket scalper (a guy on the street) and he wanted $90 per ticket for bleachers. Then I mentioned to my cousin that SRO tickets maybe available at the window for $15 – the only drawback being that you have to enter Wrigley Field immediately after purchasing your ticket.

My cousin and his friends decided to see if tickets were available at the box office and only pay $15. SRO tickets were still available 30 minutes before the first pitch for a game that StubHub had on sale for 3 to 4 times face value for seats.

The Game
Ted Lilly won his 100th game as the Cubs defeated the Cardinals 5-2. Of course, rather than sit in our seats, we stood with my cousin for the entire game – an experience that has now convinced the wife that SRO is actually not so bad.

Post Game
After the game we went to our usual post game bar Wrigleyville North. Wrigleyville North serves $10 pitchers before, during and after the game – a better deal than $2 beers at The Stretch but the remote location makes The Stretch a better experience.

My cousin’s friend, who was from Australia, wanted to be sure he hit one of the main bars around Wrigley Field. He wanted to go to Cubby Bear, but when we walked past Murphy’s we settled. Beers at Murphy’s were $6 each – far more expensive (and much more crowded) than most bars around Wrigley Field. If you want to be sure you make it to one of Wrigleyville’s most famous bars then you will need to pay more than the other cheaper options.