The High-Cost of Fandom: An Out-of-Towners Quest to Buy Bears Tickets
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 3:00 PM CDT
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There's a lot to love about living in Charleston, South Carolina. The beaches, the southern cuisine, the "winter" weather...
However, as good as I think it is here, there are downsides as well - the most prominent being the approximated 900 miles that separates me from the Windy City and my beloved Chicago Bears.
I visited Chicago, once, as a teenager with my parents. We trekked for two days, so my father could attend a Moose Lodge convention (super fun, right?). So, even though I came to the city then, I never really got to experience what it had to offer.
Now that I'm all grown up, and have a beautiful wife who loves the Bears almost as much as I do, we're making it a goal to visit Chicago sooner, rather than later.
Follow me the past the jump to find out where the hell I'm going with this...
As soon as the Bears schedule released, and I saw that they were coming to Charlotte to visit the Panthers, I circled that date on my proverbial calendar.
About a month ago, my wife mentioned that the Cubs were hosting the Cardinals on Sunday, 9/26. Just one day before the Bears played host to the Packers on Monday Night Football. While I'm not the biggest Cubs fan (Go Sox!), she grew up as one, and has always wanted to see a game at Wrigley. While she meant this as just a suggestion in passing, I immediately wrote this off as happening and started scouring the interwebs for tickets to both games.
After a few hours, which has now turned into many weeks of searching for decent seats that won't completely break us, I've found that there are about five main options to purchasing single game tickets.
Option A:This Saturday, on July 17th, individual game tickets for the Chicago Bears 2010 season go on-sale through Ticketmaster. This is, from what I've read, the cheapest and most preferred option. However, I've also read that tickets sellout faster than Lebron James. So basically, if you don't catch a lucky break, this isn't really much of a choice.
Option B:The dreaded ticket brokers, i.e. StubHub. The filthy scum of the earth that buy up all the tickets, multiply the price they paid by 6-700% and resell them to you and me. You will be getting a legitimate ticket when you purchase from here, but like I said, you may have to give up your first born to acquire it.
Option C:Ticketmaster has set up a service where fans with tickets can basically become ticket brokers, called ticketexchange. This service works pretty much the same way as StubHub and other brokers, except you are purchasing tickets (at inflated prices) directly from the fans.
Option D:Ebay. From what I've seen, ebay is an alright alternative, but you have to be a little more careful with who you buy from. You can sometimes find a "decent" deal, but you really need to check the recent feedback/comments section of the buyer before you send payment.
Option E:Another option, one which was suggested to me by a friend who lives in the Chicago area, was to go on craigslist.org and search for tickets. He mentioned that he's purchased lots of tickets this way, and has never had an issue. The problem with that option though, is that I don't live locally and craigslist has a general rule of only buying locally to ensure that you're not getting ripped off.
Lots of options, each with its positives, and each with its negatives.
So, fellow Bears' fans... I have some questions for you:
1) Are you planning on attending any games this year - home or away?
2) How do you typically buy your tickets?
3) Any suggestions on where to, or where not to sit in Soldier Field?
4) What are the chances of getting decent tickets, if any at all, off of ticketmaster on Saturday?
5) Do you have any secrets/tips to pass along to your fellow WCG-ians?
6) Do you have any success/horror stories from buying off of ebay or craigslist?
I know that I'm not the only person interested in this information. We recently got an email from another out-of-town member who's planning on attending the same Monday night game, and this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them.
How about it WCG?
• • •
Also, while there's no OSS this week, it should return next Wednesday. If you have a fun and creative idea for a Bears-related photoshop, send me an email. If it passes WCG's 34-step approval process, I'll see what I can come up with (and give you full credit for it). Don't forget to include your profile name.
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My answers...
1. Don’t think so this year. GG & I splurged a little on tickets last year, plus just graduating & not having jobs doesn’t help the cause!
2. We got ours via Option A – Ticketmaster last year. We tried to get 3 so that we could sit with ChiFan, but were only able to snag 2 seats. (We met up w/ ChiFan after though!) :]
3. I’m not good at answering this one. Our seats were on the lower level, which was nice, but we were under an awning, which was nice because it was cold and sheltered us from the weather, but bad because we could see the scoreboard. However, they have the little TVs that are nice and handy to help see better!
4. I think you’d have good chances. As long as you’re by your computer and ready to go at whatever time it starts, you can probably get ’em!
5. GG might have tips – I just followed him around when we went. :P Haha.
6. Nope!
Good luck everyone! :]
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor/Writer for WindyCityGridiron.com
StubHub charged me a TON
I’ve had friends that have had luck on craigslist and eBay
In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 14, 2010 3:47 PM CDT reply actions
Could you get your friend in the Chicago area to try Craigslist for you?
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
"Fellas, what are they, unblockable? Is that the '85 Bears over there?" - overheard at Giants' '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~
so true.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Probably cause you look like the Hoff and pose with puppies.
Just sayin.
If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.
by Ditkavsworld on Jul 15, 2010 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions
The guys not that good of a friend.
However, that’s an excellent point. I do know someone else that might would do that.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Find someone who has season tickets..
and see if there’s a game they’ll give up.
by boondock_saint812 on Jul 14, 2010 4:05 PM CDT reply actions
Great idea.
But I don’t know anyone with season tickets.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 6:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Or anyone who would give up tickets for
MNF vs the Pack.
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
Haha.
I’m not that guy.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Somebody has to be the first, take the bullet for the rest of us.
If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.
by Ditkavsworld on Jul 15, 2010 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Next suggestion, convince Adam to get you a press credential because you're a "journalist" now.
by Mike Mueller on Jul 15, 2010 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Can we get those?
Cause I’m on that like Tiger on a craigslist escort service.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
seriously...
Press Pass Please!
In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 16, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions
I went to my first one last year
I took option A and had no problems. Just make sure you are logged in right when they go on sale. I was hung over and woke up 20 minutes into sale time. I had to choose between worse seats than I wanted or paying more than I wanted. Being my first trip to Soldier field, I shelled out the extra coin. Unfortunately, it was the AZ game….
Just imagine that I typed something clever right here.
But you got to see Greg Olsen
make three meaningless touchdown catches.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
I actually had forgotten about the punch
The crazy thing was, in the stadium, unless you saw it happen, no one knew what was going on.
Just imagine that I typed something clever right here.
GG & I
did the same thing. Dished out a little more for better seats. Ours was for the December Vikings-Bears game… sooo worth it! I’m sorry your luck didn’t work out as well.. :[
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor/Writer for WindyCityGridiron.com
by Ashley Czuba on Jul 14, 2010 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions
It was worth it
The whole experience of being in the city on the weekend of a home game was awesome. Everyone was decked out in their gear everywhere we went. Even on Saturday. Total sense of comradare.
Colt's fan friend - "This is our dog, we named her after Peyton Manning."
Boondocksaints812 - "You named her Bitch?!? Did you train her to lie down when you run towards her too?"
where'd you end up sitting
and about how much did you pay? If you don’t mind me asking.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 14, 2010 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Section 208
We were in the 19th row seats 2 & 3. It was the last row of the section, but we were on the end (there was no seat 1 in our row). We were basically on the 45 yard line on the visitors side with an unobstructed view of everything. Like HoneyBear mentioned, we had the awning over us that took away some of the open-air feeling, but it was no bother. Plus, they had tv’s so you could keep up on the scores of other games. The tickets were $305 a piece. I probably won’t ever splurge like that again on tickets, but it was my first game in person. Like yourself, my only trip to Chicago previous to that was with my folks as a teen for a couple days. Hope some of this helps.
Colt's fan friend - "This is our dog, we named her after Peyton Manning."
Boondocksaints812 - "You named her Bitch?!? Did you train her to lie down when you run towards her too?"
Do what I did....
I basically signed up to be a season-ticket holder…. Yeah, I know… it will be atleast 15 years before I become eligable, but here’s the catch… You get the oppurtunity to purchase tickets one day BEFORE the general public gets to on Friday morning… which means you have a better chance to get more valuable tickets…. or any tickets if at all.. because they sell out FAST!
So on Friday morning I will be on a ticket-buying spree! I can’t wait!
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dude, I have been on the list for 6 years and had no idea about this! Is this because they put everything on their website? God I really hope you come back to this page and help me out here bro. Do you do it through the Bears or Ticketmaster? Is it only clubseats? Screw it, I am calling Soldier Field tomorrow. And here I was gonna say I have never gotten tickets through ticketmaster because they sellout in 60 seconds, except for clubseats which end up costing about the same as Stubhub. We did the Essex Inn thing once and it was sweet, but pricey. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! Ahhhhhhh!!!
If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.- Mike Ditka
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Jul 15, 2010 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Damn.. well I just signed up this year so I don’t know if this is a new thing or not. But, I got an email a couple of days ago letting me know what to do on Friday to purchase tickets… You have to call up ticketmaster and buy them through the phone… you cant purchase them online. You never got an email from them? That’s weird… lol Like I said.. the only reason I signed up to get on the Priority List was just to purchase tickets at face value and not have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for sub-par seats. Hopefully I can get field-level seats!
Thats what I get
for giving them my junk email address. I just sifted through 500 emails to find it! Dude, you are a life saver, I had no idea and would have deleted that email along with a 1000 others. Kinda crazy you have to by a set of preseason tickets but who cares, it is still cheaper than most routes. I gotta say thanks again!
If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.- Mike Ditka
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Jul 15, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Hahaha …. That’s crazy.. I’m glad you found it because all the info you need … I’m gonna try to get tickets for the game against Philly… Was going to try for the Monday Night game against GB, but I wanna go to Chicago during the winter and see how it is!
And about the preseason thing.. yeah I was surprised by that too… WTF am I gonna do with 4 preseason tix ?!?!?
Just another
money making ploy by NFL teams is what the preseason thing amounts to. We are gonna try for the Green Bay game now. Me and my buddies had kinda settled on the Redskins game but if we can get face value on good Packers tickets we gotta try. I have never been to a Bears game in late November or December because my friends are pansies who cry when its cold. But we did see the Eagles 2 years ago. We were in the nose bleeds but right on the goal line for the stand at the end of the game. It was pretty sweet. Beware, Philly will show up in force and are not afraid to give shit so you gotta fight fire with fire. They are nasty outside of their home stadium, actually really surprised, me. But they are dumb so its not difficult to put them in their place.
Sorry for the generalization any Eagles fans reading this, just sharing what I experienced.
If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms.- Mike Ditka
by Hurricanes becoming Bears on Jul 16, 2010 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions
So, did you guys already get your pre sale tickets?
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 16, 2010 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Yup... but it was a bad experience!
This is the first time I’ve purchased tickets this way… but it wasn’t as easy as I expected it to be… Those of us on the west coast had to wait an hour after they went on sale because the local ticketmaster agents didn’t start until 9am PST time.. like I said… an hour AFTER they first went on sale. LOL. So… anyways… after getting disconnected while on hold a couple of times I finally got to buy tickets but not to the game I wanted to because they were sold out. Good tickets though… 8 rows from the field…. at face value too!!!
So...
the MNF against Green Bay (9/27) is already sold out? That’s disappointing.
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
by David Taylor on Jul 16, 2010 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Here we go.
1. Me and my Dad are flying up for the game against the Skins on the 24th of October at Soldier. Haven’t been to a Bears game in 4 years.
2. Chicago craigslist is where we bought our tix. Good seats for a reasonable price.
3. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Soldier Field as previously stated, but there really aren’t very many “bad” seats. Just like every other stadium, the higher up you get, the cheaper the tickets are.
4. Give it a shot. It’s worth trying.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." -- Alvin Dark
Funny that this topic should come up just now!
The hubby and I have been fretting over the lack of funds and vacation time for a “proper” family vacation this summer, so we decided to do a Chicago weekend. (We live in Minneapolis, so we’re not being quite as cheap as it sounds.)
The boys are 14 & 16 yrs old, and none of us have been to a Soldier Field game (though the hubby has been to a couple of Bears games elsewhere). So I checked their school calendar and our work schedules, and decided Aug 21 vs Oakland would be the best bet. We bought our tickets from Ted’s Tickets, for section 235 row 1. Found them on TicketTriangle.
Sure, it’s preseason, but we figure we’ll see the Bears, absorb some Soldier Field culture, buy some overpriced Bears loot, and stay at a hotel on the outskirts of town. We still have to figure out where to park, or take public transportation or what, but I’m hoping you guys will have some words of advice on that point!
Is it football season yet?
Oh, and Dane/Kev...
Really?!?
I mean, I’m not even mad at it. I think that I might even leave it for a while. But still, really?!?
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Stupid babies need the most attention!
Ah hahahahaha.
I noticed it on another thread and wondered if you did it or one of them. :P Bahahahahaha.
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor/Writer for WindyCityGridiron.com
by Ashley Czuba on Jul 14, 2010 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Much like Shaggy bangin' on the sofa
…it wasn’t me.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
I go through the Essex Inn.
They are the Bears largest season ticket holder. They will offer packages that can be pricey but it is a good hotel in a great location (within walking distance from Soldier Field) that includes parking and a one night stay plus two tickets to the game. You sit in the end zone usually and for the packers on a Monday night you are probably looking at $400. Just google it and click on their special packages. Its pricey but I find it worth it.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
OK I just checked and right now they are only offering preseason packages.
But keep checking. They’ll be posting them soon.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
Well
I’ve been to two games in the last three years. The Atlanta game last year and when we hosted the Saints in the ‘07 finale. I ordered the tickets through StubHub on both occasions for OK prices and was very pleased. The Atl game was just me and some buddies so we really didn’t care where we sat, and we ended up about 30 rows from the field for roughly $100. The game in Chicago was a different story. I’d never been to Chicago so my mother and I decided to “go all out” and enjoy the experience as much as possible. Ended up on the Bears sideline sitting at the 10 yard line in the second row. The tickets were expensive, but given where we sat and the experience(18 degrees, Hester returned a punt for a TD and had a receiving TD as well, and Urlacher picked off a Brees pass damn near right in front of me) it was well worth the extra cash spent.
WILDCARD BITCHES!!! YEEEEHHHAAAAA!!!!!
Pricing all depends on how hot the team is
I have had season tickets for over 30 years and their are times I can get $350 per ticket and other times I struggle to get face value.
"He is remarkably bright", a "terrific talent", the sky is the limit for Cutler"
-Mike Martz-
Sounds like a powerful enterprise. You got a sponsor for that operation?
If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.
by Ditkavsworld on Jul 15, 2010 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions
powerbrokers!!
For us season ticket holders to make available our excess tickets at reasonable prices!!
"He is remarkably bright", a "terrific talent", the sky is the limit for Cutler"
-Mike Martz-
It's catchy in a Super AIDS sort of way.
If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.
by Ditkavsworld on Jul 15, 2010 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Does anyone else have a problem
with Ticketmaster now having their own affiliated scalping service? I mean, I already had enough issues with Ticketmaster before, but this just reeks of a major conflict-of-interest.
"The time has come to get deeply into Football. It is the only thing we have left that ain't fixed." - HST
You have one other option...
You’ve got a pack of rabid fans following your every word. Even though we are a bunch of drooling idiots when it comes to all things Bears, we’ve got wallets.
There’s gotta be some company with season tickets out there that would be willing to swap you some great seats for a few months of prime advertising space. You might even be able to wriggle your way into a luxury box if you offer up good space for long enough.
Good Luck!
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