Coca-Cola Championship: Norwich City at Sheffield Wed

The Ultimate Sports Wife and I woke up early Saturday morning in Paris. Our friend, British Mick, who lives in London, is a big Sheffield Wednesday supporter. So with Wednesday playing Saturday afternoon at Hillsborough in Sheffield, we had a big day ahead of us:

1) Take the 8:07 am Eurostar train from Paris to London.
2) British Mick and, his wife, Caroline was planning to pick us up from London St. Pancras when the train arrived in London a little before 10 am.
3) We were driving directly from St. Pancras for three hours straight to Sheffield before eating a famous pork sandwich and meeting Mick’s friends at the usual pre game pub.

The Eurostar was on time. We threw our bags in the car and off we went. England, just as the United States, has travel plazas on the side of the highway, so if you are road tripping in England, you should almost feel as though you are driving in the U.S.

We parked the car for free a few blocks from the stadium around 1:15 pm. With the weather a balmy one degree Celsius, we changed into our Chicago winter clothes and walked to Beres Pork Shop just outside Hillsborough Stadium. The pork sandwich is definitely worth the trip – basically Thanksgiving in a sandwich with pork, apple stuffing and an additional shocker – crunchy pork rhines. The bag even comes with a warning label – “Contents in packet may contain crunchy objects” and boy did it ever.

Obtaining Tickets
As we drove to Sheffield, we discussed how we should buy tickets. Mick said the crowd would be around 17,500 in a 40,000+ stadium. I figured we could buy tickets from a scalper or fans with extra tickets for much less than the 27 pound face value. Mick said there were no scalpers since most fans bought their tickets at the box office anyway. I remembered that I normally do not scalp tickets to minor league baseball games either because a secondary ticket market does not normally exist even though there are empty seats. Thus, rather than trying to “find” a secondary ticket market outside of Hillsborough Stadium; we paid face value from the box office.

Pre Game Pub
We walked about 10 minutes to Mick’s usual pre game pub - Jubilee Sports & Social Club. Since it was a club, we had to pay one pound each to enter. Ideally, we would have had more time in the pub. We walked in at 2:15 pm and had to leave around 2:45 pm to walk the 10 minutes back to the stadium.

The Game
Sheffield Wednesday won a five-goal thriller 3-2. Norwich City took an early 1-0 lead, before Sheffield scored 2 straight, Norwich City equalized and Sheffield scored the winner with 18 minutes left in the game. During the second half, Sheffield Wednesday had a break away and John Kennedy from Norwich City took down Leon Clarke – a straight red card.

Half way through the first half, the fog started to roll over the top of the stadium. Mick mentioned the game could be abandoned if the fog was too thick. The fog never got too thick for the players although we did have a hard time seeing the opposite stand.

Post Game Pub
After the game, we drive to Mick’s mom’s house in Misterton – about 40 miles east of Sheffield. We ate dinner at the house followed by going to the local pub – The Red Hart Inn. If you are looking for a small town with a safe local pub to go to in Northern England, then go to this pub. They may look at you weird at first but say Mick Farmer sent you and you will be treated like family.

UEFA Cup: Real Racing Club at PSG

Ten years and five months ago, my friend, Tom Fry and I stood outside the Parc de Princes Stadium in Paris trying to buy a ticket to the World Cup group stage match between Uruguay and Brazil. It was one of only a handful of games in which I tried to attend but could not get into the stadium. Although tickets were available, scalpers wanted around $400 for the match, which we thought was too expensive. Instead we watched the match with some Argentineans a few blocks from the stadium.

On Thanksgiving night, I was back at the Parc de Princes for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup group phase match. The two teams playing were Paris’ club team PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) and, a Spanish team with the unusual team name, Real Racing Club Santander.

Suspecting that Parisians did not support their soccer club very well, I assumed I could buy a ticket from the box office rather than try to negotiate for a ticket in French; I was right. I bought a ticket for 25 euros from the box office and walked back to the Brasserie (French for beer hall) that I had passed along the way from the metro stop. The brasserie was packed with Real Racing Club fans singing, dancing and drinking just as they had been when we were at the bottom of the Eiffel Tour earlier in the day. With an hour before the match this seemed like an entertaining place to relax before the game.

The Game
What I had not realized was that I had bought a ticket in the PSG supporters section and that the area was general admission. The section was crowded, while the more expensive sections were relatively empty. I was able to find a safe seat (a few empty seats around me and away from the flares).

PSG scored two goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead. PSG also scored an own goal to make the score 2-1 at the half. Santander’s second goal was one of the most amazing goals I have ever witnessed. Gonzalo Colsa shot the ball about 30 yards away and into the upper right corner of the goal. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Post Game
I met the Ultimate Sports Wife at the Dix Bar (or ten bar) for some post match Sangria. Rather than charge by the pitcher, this bar charges by the person – 3.30 euros each. If you are with 3 people but do not want to go to the bar multiple times, order a pitcher for more than 3.

Champions League: Dynamo Kyiv at Arsenal

In the first Champions League match I have attended since 2001, Arsenal defeated Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 on a late goal by Nicklas Bendtner. Once again, I attended the match with “Hospitality Jim” who started to think I was an Arsenal jinx since Arsenal had played 177 minutes without scoring a goal with me in attendance. Instead, with a free kick from beyond the mid field line, Cesc Fabregas launched a pass to Nicklas Bendtner who put the ball in the net for the only goal of the game.

Pre and Post Game Dining
Before the match, we ate at Pinchito Tapas at 322 Featherstone Street, a Basque tapas bar in Islington. If going from the Old Street tube station to Arsenal remember to take the Northern City Line, which is part of the network rail line rather than the Northern Line. This train will go directly to Drayton Park – a short walk to Emirates Stadium.

After the match, we went to a bar around the corner from the restaurant we dined at before the Aston Villa match - 25 Canonbury Lane. However, instead of ordering beer, the “Arsenal boys” were buying bottles of champagne just as they had 10 days prior. Maybe the Ultimate Sports Wife and I will need to adopt a “champagne only” mentality before Bears games rather than drinking cheap beer.

Emirates Stadium
In my two Arsenal matches at Emirates Stadium, I have not been impressed with the Arsenal faithful. Emirates Stadium, nicknamed the Library for the supporters subdued attitude, has been relatively quiet compared to the other matches I have attended in Europe. Also, the stadium has taken on more of an NFL stadium feel, rather than the old stadium feel of other European soccer stadiums.

Greek Basketball A1 League: Olympiacos at Panathinaikos

This may have been the most intense sporting event I have ever attended. That is saying a lot after attending about 1900 sporting events. Since the hotel receptionist was correct that Saturday night’s soccer match would not be sold out, I was nervous he was correct that Sunday night’s basketball match would be. Once again, Nicole needed to work on her scholarship application. However, since she was instrumental in ticket negotiations at the Olympiacos match a week prior, I was nervous that I would be on my own for this negotiation session.

I figured I should arrive at the arena earlier than normal since I may have to walk around the stadium a few times in order to buy tickets from the secondary ticket market – if any market actually existed. I left the hotel at 7 pm for the 9:15 pm tip off.

I arrived at the Olympic Village and noticed the ticket booths I had bought tickets from the night before were closed. I figured that meant the match was sold out and I would have to negotiate for a ticket in “Greeklish”. However, as I walked towards the Olympic Basketball Hall, I noticed a small ticket booth with a light on and a small line – “that must be tonight’s ticket office,” I thought. I walked swiftly to the booth and stood in line. While in line I thought, “Was this a Will Call booth?” I looked for people paying with cash instead of an ID – they were. In addition to cash they needed to supply an ID. “Would my Illinois drivers license count?” I thought. I had left my passport in the hotel room with Nicole. When I approached the window, I noticed the ticket price was 30 euros. I handed over 30 euros and the box office seller handed me a ticket while asking me a question in Greek. “Do you speak English?” I replied. “You’re ok,” she stated and waved me off with her hand. It appears that if I could not speak Greek, the team assumed I would not cause any trouble.

I walked the 5-10 minutes to the basketball arena and decided to enter even though it was only 8 pm. With the boring atmosphere at the soccer match the night before, I did not know what to expect at the basketball match. As with NFL games, my bag was checked and I was frisked as I entered the arena. However, they required a second bag check after being frisked. Once again, I was asked a question in Greek. I responded, “Excuse me?” The police officer laughed and said, “You’re ok.” I guess an English-speaking fan was the last person they expected to attend the match.

The “supporters” section was already full. Knowing full well they would be throwing firecrackers and lighting flames in a soccer match, I did not know what to expect in a basketball arena – not to mention the former Olympic basketball arena. A few minutes later a few firecrackers were thrown towards the riot police guarding the visitors, in this case the Olympiacos bench. Instead of the length of a soccer field separating me and the flag waving, flame lighting, and fireworks throwing crowd, there were only a few sections. I started to become uneasy, as I did at my first European football match on September 9, 2001 at SK Slavia Praha.

Once I realized the fireworks and throwing objects were only directed towards the riot police and Olympiacos players I began to calm down. I did wonder if Josh Childress was rethinking his decision of playing for more money in Athens, rather than the safety of Atlanta.

Panathinaikos won the match 86-69. Panathinaikos fans were rowdy and energetic throughout the entire match, which definitely improved my respect for them after Saturday’s soccer match. I found myself rooting quietly for Olympiacos because of Childress. Based on the three matches I attended in Athens I would say I would lean towards being an Olympiacos supporter over Panathinaikos.

Greek Super League: Thrasivoulos at Panathinaikos

After having to buy tickets on the secondary ticket market to Olympiacos I was a little nervous about attending the Panathinaikos match at Olympic Stadium Saturday night. On Friday night, I talked to the hotel receptionist about both Panathinaikos matches I wanted to attend. He stated the basketball match Sunday night would probably be sold out and that the soccer match Saturday night would not. He was right, attending the Panathinaikos was a completely different experience from the Olympiacos match Nicole and I attended last Sunday night. Of course, what I had failed to realize earlier in the week was that Olympiacos and PAOK were #1 and #2 in the Greek Super League, respectively. Tonight’s match was between a top team, Panathinaikos, and a bottom team, Thrasivoulos.

Nicole and I ate dinner in Psiri Saturday night – a concentrated area of restaurants in Psiri (to read Matt Barrett’s description of Psiri click here). Since Nicole had a scholarship application due by the end of November, we agreed that I should attend the soccer match while she worked on her scholarship application at the hotel.

I left the hotel around 5:30 pm for the 7:00 pm kick off and arrived at the 2004 Olympic Village just before 6 pm. I noticed ticket booths (white trailers) just outside the metro station. I walked up to one of the booths and bought a ticket to the match - 10 euros (ticket prices ranged from 10 euros to 40 euros and much easier than negotiating in Greek).

After I bought my ticket, I walked to Olympic Stadium. I was hoping for a similar atmosphere to the Olympiacos match Nicole and I had attended the prior Sunday. That night, after we bought “scalped” tickets we were able to relax outside the stadium with drinks and food. However, to my disappointment, there was no atmosphere to be found. I had a 5-10 minute walk from the ticket office to Olympic Stadium. On route there were a few sausage vendors (similar to those found outside of Staples Center, the Home Depot Center or the Rose Bowl). I walked half way around the stadium and realized there was no pre-game activity.

By the time I was in Olympic Stadium and seated, it was 6:45 pm. I bought myself a Coca-Cola Light (Diet Coke for those not familiar with European lingo) and flipped through the free (in Greek) program I received. I looked around the stadium and realized the match was nowhere near selling out. One side of the upper deck was completely empty and even the “supporters” section was half full. I figured this was the case since the opponent, Thrasivoulos, was in second to last place in the division.

The Game
Panathinaikos won the match 3-0. They scored a goal in the first half and two more early in the second half. I left the match disappointed in the Panathinaikos fan base, but realized they were probably not geared up for the poor opposition – in fact, I only saw one flame during the entire match – something I have become accustomed to at European soccer matches.

Greek Super League: PAOK at Olympiacos

Nicole and I arrived in Athens at 1:40 am Sunday morning after our day in London. We hopped in a cab driven by an associate of George Taxi and Limo, otherwise known as George the Famous Taxi Driver recommended by Matt Barrett. The cab took us immediately to the hotel and we were asleep by 3 am.

I had Sunday all planned. We would wake up, drink some coffee, get dressed and head to the Monastiraki Flea Market - the place to be in Athens on a Sunday. We would then eat lunch, shop some more and take the subway to the Olympiacos match that started at 7 pm.

Obtaining Tickets
We arrived at Karaiskakis Stadium a little before 6 pm. We walked directly to the box office to buy tickets – something I generally do not do, but I thought was a better move than trying to negotiate for tickets in Greek. “Sold out,” the box office attendant said. “Great,” I thought, but something that had never stopped me before. Even the Ultimate Sports Wife let out a, “If I had married a simpler man, I would be heading back to the hotel right now.” Little did I know Nicole would get a big assist with buying our tickets to the match.

We walked around the stadium for 15-20 minutes looking for tickets. There was no secondary ticket market. Each time I saw a person exchanging tickets for cash I would approach them asking 1) if they spoke English and 2) did they have extra tickets. Each time the answer was 1) yes and 2) no. And each time I did this, Nicole started to determine if the Greeks spoke a language other than Greek (or English).

Finally, we found an older man who was talking to some younger kids. I pulled out a 50-euro bill to show that we wanted to buy tickets. We determined he had two tickets for sale. He pointed for a second 50 (speaking in Greek) while at the same time stating he did not speak English. However, Nicole, after realizing Greek’s understood other languages, started to speak in some Italian/Spanish dialect and was able to come to an agreement on 80 euros for the two tickets.

Since we could not speak Greek we did not know the face value of the tickets (I asked what the face value was multiple times – in English). When the transaction was complete we looked at the tickets – 20 euros each. We paid twice face value, which I considered not bad for a sold out game with no scalpers in a foreign country and negotiating in a foreign language.

The Game
We ended up buying the tickets around 6 pm. So we decided to relax and enjoy ourselves around the stadium. We also hoped the tickets were not around any of the “most supportive fans” who light fireworks and flares within the stands which we had witnessed in Rome, Milan and Rio de Janeiro. We got to our seats and realized, thankfully, that the fans with flags (and flames) were on the opposite side of the stadium. As the match was about to start, the “supportive” Olympiacos fans grabbed their flares and started to wave them. The game started under a cloud of smoke so thick you could barely see the players.

Olympiacos scored a goal late in the first and second half to win the game 2-0.

Post Game Dining
The Ultimate Sports Wife and I took the train back to the flea market area and ate dinner at The James Joyce Pub, an Irish pub that was nearby and showed English and American Football. Since it was 9:30 pm the Chicago Bears were playing the Green Bay Packers. If you are looking for some Irish grub and some English banter after a long day in Athens this is the place to go – especially if you are in need of some American sports as well.

EPL: Aston Villa at Arsenal

The Ultimate Sports Wife and I landed at London’s Heathrow airport at 6:30 am. With a 13-hour layover before our 8 pm flight to Athens, Greece, I had already planned to attend the Arsenal and Aston Villa match at Emirates Stadium Saturday afternoon – kickoff was set for 3 pm.

Our friend, British Mick, had made all the plans for the day. He insisted on picking us up from Heathrow at 7:30 am (which was definitely a good decision) and drive us back to his place. From there we were to nap, shower and be ready to depart by 11:30 am in order to meet the “Arsenal boys” for lunch by noon.

We met Mick’s friends at the Cock Tavern – a pub directly next to the Highbury & Islington tube stop. We grabbed a drink at the pub before continuing to Gem Restaurant - a Turkish/Kurdish restaurant. Politics aside Kurdish/Turkish food should be read as Greek/Turkish food. Nicole and I laughed at the irony that we were dining at a Kurdish (read Greek) restaurant in London before flying to Athens for over a weeks visit. Nonetheless, after a few bottles of cava and wine I was ready for the match.

As we walked to Emirates Stadium, I asked one of the “Arsenal boys,” who we will call “Hospitality Jim,” how much I owed him for the ticket. He said I owed nothing and that they were corporate tickets. I was shocked and offered to buy him beers inside the stadium, which he agreed. Then, he handed me his season ticket card for entry to the stadium.

Note: The season ticket card looks and acts much like a driver’s license or credit card. Many European soccer clubs sell season ticket cards rather than individual tickets to season ticket holders. There are multiple reasons to do so:

1) It cuts down on secondary ticket market sales since the season ticket holder needs to invite a friend or walk the buyers of the ticket to the stadium themselves.
2) It must save on ticket cost since the club only needs to pay for one credit card per season ticket rather than the paper stock to create 10 (NFL), 45 (NBA and NHL), or 81 (MLB) tickets per season ticket.
3) It allows for easier transactions of tickets amongst season ticket holders. “Hospitality Jim” explained that if a friend has extra tickets and wants to sell them to you, Arsenal will transfer those tickets to the buyer minus a 10% commission.

In my personal opinion, it sounds like Arsenal wants to avoid the secondary ticket market and ensure they know who is entering the building. Arsenal’s decision to have a season ticket card has nearly eliminated the secondary ticket market.

My first thought of receiving the season ticket card was that I would need to find a paper ticket stub. I have paper tickets for nearly every event in which I have attended. For those events that do not have tickets, like a Tour de France, I try to find a proxy such as a flyer or something that might substitute. Thus, I asked a few people in the stadium if they had paper tickets. Each scoffingly laughed and said that I would be pretty lucky to find a paper ticket. Thus, I came to the conclusion that this would be my first game without having an actual ticket stub. In the absence of a ticket, I took a picture of “Hospitality Jim’s” season ticket card. My plan is to develop the picture and use that as my ticket stub.

At halftime the game was tied 0-0. I bought “Hospitality Jim” his beer as promised. The Premiership allows fans to buy and drink beer on the concourse. However, fans cannot bring beer to their seat, which kind of encourages you to chug your beer. The second half was not good for the home team. Aston Villa scored a goal early and late in the second half to win the game 2-0.

After the game, I found the Arsenal tube stop on the Piccadilly line since I could take that line directly to Heathrow without changing. The entire journey took about an hour and 20 minutes. I arrived at Heathrow at 6:30 pm and met Nicole (since she did not have a ticket for the Arsenal match). We sleepily sat waiting at the gate and boarded the plane for Athens. This was the ultimate sports layover for a trip to Europe.

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls

For the second time in three days, I witnessed an undefeated team defeat a Chicago team. First was the Titans defeated the Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday and second was the Atlanta Hawks defeating the Chicago Bulls 113-108 last night at the United Center to win their first 6 games of the season – their best start since the 1997-98 season.

Obtaining Tickets
When I attended NBA Opening Night two weeks ago, I bought about a dozen games for $10 each. Since the next price point above $10 is $40, it can sometimes be difficult to find a fan or scalper willing to sell their ticket for $10 or less. Thus, more often than not purchasing a $10 ticket ahead of time will save me money in the long run.

Last season I had to pay $20 occasionally because the face value of the ticket I was purchasing was $50 rather than $20 or $30. Since you can basically sit where you want in the upper deck of the United Center, paying more for a seat location is not worth it.

Feeling like a Sunday (Game 2 of 2): Flames at Blackhawks

I had wondered what I would do between the end of the Bears game and the 6 pm Chicago Blackhawks start. However, since we ended up in the United Club at Soldier Field I had my answer. We left the United Club around 4:45 pm and I took the red line from the Roosevelt el stop and got off at the Monroe el stop. I transferred to the #20 Madison Street bus and got off at Ashland Ave. in order to eat dinner at Billy Goat Tavern, located at 1535 W. Madison St. – a few block walk to the United Center.

Another transfer option would have been to take the #19 United Center Express bus from downtown Chicago. However, the #20 came first and also does not stop at Ashland Ave.

Obtaining Tickets
After dinner, I made the walk to the United Center which passes most of the ticket scalpers along the way. I offered a scalper $5 (for a $15 face value ticket). He did not accept at first but accepted once he realized no other offers were coming his way.

The Game
The Blackhawks defeated the Calgary Flames 6-1. The Blackhawks have now won 11 straight games when I am in attendance at the United Center. Their last loss in a game I attended was January 11, 2008.

After the game, I planned to take the #9 Ashland bus back to Addison St. and Waveland Ave. – about 6 blocks from my house rather than take the #19 bus downtown and transfer to the red line. While I was waiting at the corner of Ashland and Madison St., I remembered I could logon to www.ctabustracker.com to determine when the next bus would arrive. It showed 2 minutes and the bus there within a minute or two of that estimate.

Feeling like a Sunday (Game 1 of 2): Titans at Bears

Rather than tailgating before the Chicago Bears game on Sunday we chose to frequent the bars around Soldier Field. First up was Grace O’Malley’s pub, located at 1416 S. Michigan Ave. – a good place for Irish Breakfast before the game. However, we were not eating breakfast and the bar was over crowded. Thus, we left and went to Weather Mark Tavern less than a block further south on Michigan Ave., located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave. Not only was the Weather Mark Tavern quiet and have room to sit, it also had cheaper drink and food prices before the Bears game that Grace O’Malley’s.

The Game
The Tennessee Titans defeated the Chicago Bears 21-14. The Titans only rushed for 20 yards which was one yard more than the lowest total in Titans history. The last time the Titans ran for 19 yards was as the Houston Oilers on December 12, 1965.

United Club
Since my neighbor had seats in the United Club ($305 face value per ticket), he snuck his brother and myself into the club part way through the 4th quarter by giving us his tickets and having us walk past security. The United Club stays open until 5 pm after a noon kick off and serves alcohol until 4 pm (about 2 hours after the rest of the stadium gets cut off at the end of the 3rd quarter).

CFB: Ohio St. at Northwestern

Today I set a personal record by attending my eighth college football game of the 2008 season – the most regular season games I have attended in one season. The day started out with my driving two Ohio St. fans up to Evanston, IL.

We parked on Milburn St. Although Milburn St. is about a 5-10 minute walk to Ryan Field it has no parking restrictions. Another plus with the parking location is that you pass most of the ticket scalpers as you walk to the stadium. With the game sold out and a lot of Ohio St. fans attending that game, I was not sure what the secondary ticket market would be like.

Obtaining Tickets
On the walk from the car to my regular tailgate in the west parking lot, we walked passed a few scalpers and fans with extra tickets – each one wanting face value ($50) or higher per ticket. Finally, we found a fan that had a single ticket for $36 (face value for a “season ticket” ticket). I agreed to buy it.

My Ohio St. friends bought tickets for face value from a fan walking by the tailgate. Of course, another friend of mine showed up late with two extra tickets. Ticket market is all based on timing.

On the walk to the stadium entrance (after the tailgate), there were a lot of scalpers and fans with extra tickets. We realized we had paid too much for tickets. I found a fan that had two extra tickets and he gave me the tickets for free. I sold the tickets to a scalper for $30 total – making my total cost for the game $5. If I had tried harder I probably could have found more free tickets.

The Game
Ohio St. defeated Northwestern 45-10. The last time I saw Ohio St. play, Northwestern beat Ohio St. in OT 33-27. In what may have been a first for me – Ohio St. faked a punt with 4th and 2 and ahead in the game 31-10. I do not remember seeing a fake punt with a team so far ahead in the 4th quarter.

Post Game Tailgate
After the game we went to an “official” Ohio St. tailgate – kropkogate.com – before driving back to Chicago.

MLS Playoffs: Revolution at Fire

With prior plans on Saturday night and the Chicago Bears game to attend on Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Fire’s home game in the conference semifinals fell on the only day of the week I could have attended – Thursday night.

I had considered eating at Fire Station Pub before the match since Nicole was not attending but I called one of my friend’s to see if they were attending. They were and said I could get a ride to Toyota Park. The ride from Wrigley Field to Toyota Park took over an hour so we did not have much time to tailgate in the Toyota Park parking lots.

Obtaining Tickets
With 15 minutes left until kick off, we were still in line to park. 15 minutes before the game is usually the perfect time to try and find a free ticket. The main reasons being fans who do not want (or know how) to sell their extra tickets are heading into the game and would rather give away their ticket than wasting it.

I ended up buying a single ticket for $10 – the cheapest ticket they had at the box office was $30.

The Game
The Fire defeated the New England Revolution 3-0 to advance to the Conference Finals. As with the Champions League’s knockout round, the winner of MLS Conference Semi-Finals is determined on total goal aggregate of a home and home series.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears

I planned my flight back from Minneapolis on Saturday night so we could make the early morning tailgate for the Chicago Bears game Sunday morning. Just as we had done before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on September 21, we arrived in Soldier Field’s south lot by 8:45 am.

However, this time we chose to drive and park in the Monroe Parking Garage located on the corner of Monroe St. and Columbus Dr. (instead of taking the train and walking for 30 to 40 minutes to the parking lot). The perk of the Monroe Lot is that they run a shuttle from the parking lot to the south side of Soldier Field. Since we were tailgating in the South Lot this was a much easier option than taking the train. What I did not realize was that the Monroe Parking Garage now costs $25 on game days. The last time I parked there it was less than $15.

As was the case last time, Rob Wipf’s tailgating menu consisted of jalapeno poppers wrapped in bacon, buffalo wings, brats and burgers. For some reason this time the tailgate ran a little longer than expected. So in classic Bears fan fashion Rob started cleaning up his tailgate before the burgers were finished in order to get into the game on time. There is a big difference between a Bears tailgate that shuts down 30 minutes before the game starts and a Northwestern tailgate that shuts down after the first quarter is over if at all.

The Game
The Bears scored a touchdown with 5:36 remaining in the game to defeat the Detroit Lions 27-23. The loss dropped the Lions to 0-8 for the season, their worst start since 2002.

After the game the Ultimate Sports Wife and I walked swiftly back to the shuttle bus area. The lines can be very long if you take your time walking back to the parking lot shuttle buses.

Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves

The post game tailgate at the Metrodome turned into a pre game tailgate for the Timbervolves game as we walked over to the Target Center for the Timberwolves game. We had thought about driving to the Xcel Energy Center for a college hockey doubleheader but with my flight scheduled to depart at 10:15 pm we would have had to leave the second hockey game too early to make it worthwhile.

Instead we were able to buy 100 level seats ($50 face value per ticket) for $10 each to the Timberwolves game (obviously legalized scalping is not helping the Timberwolves secondary market).

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry led the Mavericks to a 95-85 victory. The game only lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes so we were able to watch the 4th quarter while still making it to the airport on time to catch my flight.

CFB: Northwestern at Minnesota

We arrived at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome around 9:30 am. Just enough time to tailgate before the 11 am start. We paid $7 to park and walked a few blocks to Chicago Ave and 3rd St. S – one of the lots that allow fans to tailgate.

Obtaining Tickets
At 10:40 am, we decided to start looking for tickets. My plan was to pay about $10 each for tickets. The same price I would expect to pay for a non-sold out game at Ryan Field in Evanston, IL. What I did not realize was that Minnesota legalized ticket scalping on August 1, 2007. The scalpers were now able to hawk their tickets in plain site without worrying about repercussions. I believe this kept the secondary market price higher than I would have expected. In addition, a lot of fans buying tickets from scalpers since the seats were better than what the box office had available.

With the cheapest tickets at the window costing $30 each, we at least had some negotiating power. However, we looked for tickets for about 30 minutes before finally purchasing two ($45 face value) tickets for $25 each.

The Game
Northwestern defeated Minnesota 24-17 when Brendan Smith returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game. Mike Kafka shattered Zak Kustok’s quarterback rushing record of 115 yards in 2001 with a 227 yard rushing performance.

Post Game Tailgate
After the game most Northwestern fans continued tailgating in the same lot where we pre game tailgated.