Spectator Sports

Baseball

Baseball is imprinted on the national consciousness as part of Chicago, not because of victorious dynasties but because of the opposite -- the Black Sox scandal of 1919 and the perennially losing Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs haven't made a World Series appearance since 1945 and haven't been world champs since 1908, but that doesn't stop people from catching games at historic Wrigley Field 1060 W. Addison St. (tel. 773/404-CUBS; www.cubs.mlb.com), with its ivy-covered outfield walls, its hand-operated scoreboard, its view of the shimmering lake from the upper deck, and its "W" or "L" flag announcing the outcome of the game to the unfortunates who couldn't attend. After all the strikes, temper tantrums, and other nonsense, Wrigley has managed to hold on to something like purity. Yes, Wrigley finally installed lights (it was the last major-league park to do so), but by agreement with the residential neighborhood, the Cubs still play most games in the daylight, as they should. Because Wrigley is small, just about every seat is decent.

No matter how the Cubs are doing, tickets ($15-$50) go fast; most weekend and night games sell out by Memorial Day. Your best bet is to hit a weekday game, or try your luck buying a ticket on game day outside the park, when you'll often find some season-ticket holders looking to unload a few seats. And not that I would ever suggest doing something illegal, but if you're willing to pay above face value, scalpers usually lurk on street corners a block or two away.

Wrigley's easy to reach by El; take the Red Line to the Addison stop, and you're there. Or take the no. 22 bus, which runs up Clark Street. To buy tickets in person, stop by the ticket windows at Wrigley Field, Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm, and on game days. Call tel. 800/THE-CUBS for tickets through Tickets.com (tel. 866/652-2827 outside of Illinois); you can also order online through the team website.

Despite their stunning World Series win in 2005, the Chicago White Sox still struggle to attract the same kind of loyalty (despite the fact that they regularly win more games than the Cubs). Longtime fans rue the day owner Jerry Reinsdorf (who is also majority owner of the Bulls) replaced admittedly dilapidated Comiskey Park with a concrete behemoth that lacks the yesteryear charm of its predecessor. That said, the new stadium, U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St. (tel. 312/674-1000; www.whitesox.mlb.com), in the South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport, has spectacular sightlines from every seat (if you avoid the vertigo-inducing upper deck), and the park has every conceivable amenity, including above-average food concessions, shops, and plentiful restrooms. The White Sox's endearing quality is the blue-collar aura with which so many Cubs-loathing Southsiders identify. Games rarely sell out -- an effect, presumably, of Reinsdorf's sterile stadium and the blighted neighborhood that surrounds it. All of this makes it a bargain for bona fide baseball fans. Tickets cost $12 to $45 and are half-price on Monday.

To get Sox tickets, call Ticketmaster (tel. 866/SOX-GAME), or visit the ticket office, open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with extended hours on game days. To get to the ballpark by El, take the Red Line to Sox/35th Street.

Field of Dreams -- Wrigley Field is one of the last old-time baseball stadiums in the country (no luxury boxes here!). For an intimate look at the historic ballpark, take one of the tours offered on various Saturdays throughout the summer; stops include the visitors' and home-team locker rooms, press box, behind-the-scenes security headquarters, and, yes, a walk around the field itself. Tours sell out, so buy tickets ($20) as far in advance as possible. Call tel. 800/THE-CUBS, or stop by the box office at 1060 W. Addison St.

Basketball

When it comes to basketball, Chicagoans still live in the past, associating the Chicago Bulls (tel. 312/455-4000) with the glory days of Michael Jordan and the never-ending championships of the 1990s. Although the team has rebounded somewhat from the dismal seasons following the departure of Jordan, and so on, the current players don't inspire the same city-wide excitement. The upside for visitors? The Bulls don't consistently sell out, which means you might be able to catch a game at the cavernous United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. (tel. 312/455-4500; www.chicagosports.com). Most tickets run $20 to $100 through Ticketmaster tel. 312/559-1212).

The DePaul Blue Demons, the local college team, are another good bet. They play mostly at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont (tel. 773/325-7526), and sometimes at the United Center.

Football

The Chicago Bears play at Soldier Field, Lake Shore Drive and 16th Street (tel. 847/295-6600; www.chicagobears.com), site of a controversial renovation that added what looks like a giant space ship on top of the original stadium's elegant colonnade. Architecturally, it's a disaster, but from a comfort perspective, the place is much improved -- although that doesn't impress longtime fans who prided themselves on surviving blistering-cold game days and horrifying bathrooms. The Bears themselves have been inspiring high hopes -- most recently, winning a trip to the Super Bowl in 2007. But even during losing seasons, tickets are hard to come by (most are snapped up by season-ticket holders long before the season starts). If you plan ahead, individual tickets run $45 to $300; expensive seats are usually available through ticket brokers or online sites.

The Northwestern Wildcats play Big Ten college ball at Ryan Field, 1501 Central St., in nearby Evanston (tel. 847/491-CATS).

Hockey

The Chicago Blackhawks have devoted, impassioned fans who work themselves into a frenzy with the first note of "The Star-Spangled Banner," but don't expect heroics that challenge the exploits of past Hawks legends such as Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito. The Blackhawks play at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. (tel. 312/455-7000; www.chicagoblackhawks.com). Tickets cost $15 to $100.

For a more affordable and family-friendly experience, catch the semipro Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont (tel. 847/724-GOAL; www.chicagowolves.com). The team has been consistently excellent over the past few years, and the games are geared toward all ages, with fireworks beforehand and plenty of on- and off-ice entertainment (tickets $13-$30).

Horse Racing

Thoroughbreds race at Arlington International Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights (tel. 847/385-7500; www.arlingtonpark.com), and Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie Ave., Stickney (tel. 708/780-3700; www.sportsmanspark.com).

Soccer

Chicago's Major League Soccer team, the Chicago Fire, plays at its own 20,000-seat stadium in suburban Bridgeview (about 12 miles southwest of downtown). The season runs from late May through October (tel. 888/MLS-FIRE; http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com). Games have a family feel, with plenty of activities for kids and affordable ticket prices ($15-$60).