Visiting for Chicago Fire game (Cicero, Bridgeview: hotels, neighborhoods, vs)

[Tobias C]

Im going to be in town for the October 22, Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew game and I have some questions.

I know nothing about the area (Bridgeview) of the stadium. Is there any worthwhile fun neighborhoods (dining, nightlife, etc) in the vacinity? If not, would it be relatively simple to take transit into Downtown? I had the idea in my head that I could maybe park near the stadium for the day and just take bus or rail around the city to wherever I want to go. Is the area around Toyota Park safe for me to leave my car all day?

I dont really have a solid plan of what I want to do throughout the day seeing as I dont even really know what all I could do easily. I know the whole Downtown area fairly well and have been to some of the other popular neighborhoods around the city, but im hoping to not have to drive everywhere.

Any advise or suggestions would help. Thanks!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Tobias C

Im going to be in town for the October 22, Chicago Fire vs Columbus Crew game and I have some questions.

I know nothing about the area (Bridgeview) of the stadium. Is there any worthwhile fun neighborhoods (dining, nightlife, etc) in the vacinity?

No.

Originally Posted by Tobias C

If not, would it be relatively simple to take transit into Downtown?

No. The stadium is pretty well out there in suburban no-man's land with no convenient transit connection to the city.

Originally Posted by Tobias C

I had the idea in my head that I could maybe park near the stadium for the day and just take bus or rail around the city to wherever I want to go. Is the area around Toyota Park safe for me to leave my car all day?

It's not the best area but it's far from the worst. But chances are you won't be doing this anyway.

Originally Posted by Tobias C

I dont really have a solid plan of what I want to do throughout the day seeing as I dont even really know what all I could do easily. I know the whole Downtown area fairly well and have been to some of the other popular neighborhoods around the city, but im hoping to not have to drive everywhere.

Any advise or suggestions would help. Thanks!

Are you just making a day trip out of it or are you staying overnight? If the latter, knowing where you intend to stay might help. In either case, you're probably best off leaving your car in one of the CTA Orange Line lots -- I think it's 4 bucks for up to 12 hours of parking -- and then taking the Orange Line up toward downtown and using mass transit to get you around the city. (The closer to the Midway station you park, the better. I think the Midway lot itself fills up pretty quickly so the lot at the Pulaski stop is probably your best bet.) Then when it's time to head to the game, you can bypass traffic most of the way down toward the stadium, pick up your car, and drive the last few miles to the stadium.

[Attrill]

Don't stay around the park, it's in the middle of nowhere.

There are a number of bars that run buses to Fire games. I'd suggest staying somewhere close to one of those bars and taking the bus for $10. You'll be hanging with a bunch of Fire fans, but any rivalry/ribbing will be plenty friendly if you don't act like a complete jerk (especially towards Crew fans).

[prairiestate]

Actually, for $1.75 each way Pace (the suburban bus service) runs service to the park from the Midway El station. If you're just coming for the day, you can leave your car there. If you need a place to stay the night, the Midway hotel center has a variety of accommodations right down the street and shuttle service to Midway.

http://pacebus.com/sub/espd/toyota_park_express.asp

Midway Airport Hotels | Chicago Airport Hotel | Chicago Midway Hotel Center

[sunnyandcloudydays]

Midway is your best bet hotel, orange line, leaving your car at the hotel.
No the area is not technically bad and no its not a no mans land.

It is a suburban area that just happens to have the Chicago Fire.

If you do not know the area I would not even come close to suggesting leaving your car.

One can easily stray from a beaten path and wind up in an area that is not recommended for entertainment purposes.

HIghly recommend you just play it safe stay at midway take the orange line to the city and leave your car safe at the hotel.

You will not have any regrets.

[Tobias C]

Yeah were gonna be staying the night. So if I stay at one of the hotels by Midway (which it seems everyone agrees I should)...I catch the Orange Line (CTA) and can basically take that further in to the city. How would I easily get from the Midway hotels off Cicero over to the stadium? Is there an easy bus route? Or should I just drive? Saving cash on parking would be nice but its not a problem either way. Are the hotels close to the CTA Station at Midway? Like within walking distance or would I probably be able to grab a bus or something to the station?

Just tryin to pin down some details. Thanks guys.

[prairiestate]

Originally Posted by Tobias C

Yeah were gonna be staying the night. So if I stay at one of the hotels by Midway (which it seems everyone agrees I should)...I catch the Orange Line (CTA) and can basically take that further in to the city. How would I easily get from the Midway hotels off Cicero over to the stadium? Is there an easy bus route? Or should I just drive? Saving cash on parking would be nice but its not a problem either way. Are the hotels close to the CTA Station at Midway? Like within walking distance or would I probably be able to grab a bus or something to the station?

Just tryin to pin down some details. Thanks guys.

Take a look two posts ago. I posted a couple links. Pace runs a bus to the stadium from the Midway El station, and the hotel campus runs shuttles to the Midway station. Also, CTA bus route 54B runs along Cicero Ave. and stops at Midway.

[prairiestate]

Oh, most importantly, you can find great Chicago pizza at Giordano's at 63rd and Cicero. It's walking distance to the hotels should you feel the need to drown your sorrows after the game!