World Travel Guide

Home -  City Guide  - Chicago  - Sport
Sport

Chicago has professional teams in all the major American sports. It is where the first regulation baseballs and bats were manufactured and used by professional players. There are two baseball teams: the Chicago Cubs (website: www.cubs.com), who play at the Wrigley Field (tel: (773) 404 2827) and the Chicago White Sox (website: www.chisox.com), who play at Comiskey Park (tel: (312) 674 1000). A unique Chicago experience in the baseball season (April-September) is to be had at Wrigley Field, with the traditional singing of 'Take me out to the Ball Game' during the seventh innings. The old, ivy-clad stadium is in itself unique in these days of high-tech sports facilities.

The NFL team, whose season runs from early September to the end of December, is the Chicago Bears (website: www.chicagobears.com), who play at Soldier Field (tel: (847) 615 2327), where the Chicago Fire (tel: (888) 657 3437; website: www.mlsnet.com/teams/fire) soccer team is now also based. Basketball, with the Chicago Bulls (website: www.nba.com/bulls), playing at the United Center (tel: (312) 455 4000), is perhaps the most internationally known of the Chicago teams because of one player, Michael Jordan. Also at the United Center are the Blackhawks (website: www.chiblackhawks.com), an ice hockey team in the NHL divisions. Near the O'Hare Airport is the Rosemont Horizon ground, home of the IHL ice hockey team, the Chicago Wolves (website: www.theihl.com/teams).

Biking:
The Lakefront Trail area has 29km (18 miles) of bicycling paths, where there are also areas for rollerskating (the first ones were made in Chicago in 1884) and blading, jogging and strolling. For detailed information and maps, there is a City of Chicago Bicycle Page on the website (www.cityofchicago.org). See also the Bicycle Hire section.

Golf:
There are five courses within Chicago itself that have public access: Edgebrook, 5900 North Central Chicago (tel: (773) 763 8320); Harborside International Port & Starboard Courses, 11001 South Doty Avenue (tel: (312) 782 7837); Indian Boundary, 8600 Forest Preserve Drive (tel: (773) 625 9630 or (708) 366 9466); Jackson Park, 63rd Street and Lakeshore Drive (tel: (312) 245 0909 or 747 2763). Green fees are around US$16-20, although Harborside starts from US$65.

Ice skating:
A free rink is provided by the Mayor's Office on State Street, between Washington and Randolph Avenues.

Smelt fishing:
This is a traditional spring event when finger-sized smelt (relatives of salmon and trout) make for the lakeshore to spawn. Little skill is needed to catch them and the atmosphere is party-like rather than serious fishing. The session begins around 0200-0300 with one of the best spots to watch being from the lakeshore just south of Navy Pier, although fishermen's lanterns can be spotted along most of the shoreline.

Swimming:
There are 31 sandy beaches on the Lakefront Trail. From June to September lifeguards are on duty 0900-2100.



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
GENERAL
City Overview
City Statistics
Cost of Living
 
GETTING THERE
Air
Road
Rail
 
GETTING AROUND
Getting Around
 
BUSINESS
Business
 
SIGHTSEEING
Sightseeing
Key Attractions
Further Distractions
Tours of the City
Excursions
 
ENTERTAINMENT
Nightlife
Sport
Shopping
Culture
Special Events
Food and Drink