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There are a million different things to do on a vacation in Chicago. You can spend the entire trip enjoying the amazing restaurants or shopping that can be found there. You can take a historic tour of the city and immerse yourself in the roles that Chicago has played in this country over time. You can take advantage of the opportunity to see top-level art museums and Broadway theater shows. But one of the most fun things that you can do in Chicago is to spend some time checking out the sports stadiums there.

From the Bulls to the Blackhawks, Chicago’s teams have a strong following of fans. And even those people who aren’t particularly devoted to any one team or sport will find that there’s a lot of excitement to be experienced when you get the chance to see a game live in person at one of Chicago’s best stadiums. Whether you want to take a tour of the sports world in Chicago or you just want to hit up the spot or two that interests you the most, the following list will provide you with all of the information that you need to visit Chicago’s stadiums.

Chicago Sports Stadiums

These are all of the spots where you can see professional level teams competing against outsiders in the Chicago area.

• Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs have been playing their games on this baseball field since 1916 which makes it the most historic of the fields and stadiums in Chicago. People who don’t know any other sports attraction in Chicago will have heard of this baseball stadium. It has been referenced numerous times in popular culture and is the home of many different important moments in sports history.

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• U.S. Cellular Field. The Chicago Cubs are not the only game in town when it comes to baseball. The Chicago White Sox also draw a lot of attendees to their field. Unfortunately, it’s not a historic place like Wrigley Field; the White Sox had played for years on a historic field called Comiskey Park but then moved to this newer field in the 1990’s. This stadium does, however, have the distinction of being the first “new” stadium built; none were constructed between 1929 and the time that this building was made so it holds an important part of sports history despite the fact that it’s not an older site.

• Soldier Field. Fans of football will want to make sure that they go check out a Chicago Bears game which takes place at Solider Field. It’s actually a small stadium, the smallest in the NFL, so it’s not necessarily going to wow you with its appearance. However, this means that it’s the NFL stadium that offers the most intimacy; you’ll practically feel like you’re actually on the field with the Bears if you attend a game here. It’s a great attraction to check out as a Chicago visitor because it’s officially a National Historic Landmark where many different types of sports events have been held over the year. If you’re not a particular sports fan but want to get the historic sports experience while you’re in Chicago, this is probably the best stadium to choose.

• Toyota Park. Chicago’s soccer team (the Chicago Fire) used to play on Soldier Field before it was taken over by the Bears but since 2006 they’ve been playing their games at Toyota Park. This is a soccer-specific field which isn’t that common; most soccer games throughout the nation are played on multi-purpose fields (usually football / soccer fields) so it’s something of a novelty that’s worth checking out. Despite this, you can actually also see lacrosse games at Toyota Park. At $100 million+, it’s an impressive stadium that should awe you a bit with its design and amenities.

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• United Center. Those folks who want to catch a Chicago Bulls basketball game will need to make their way to this indoor stadium that was built in the 1990’s. Make sure to take a photograph with the statue out front of the Bulls’ most famous player: Michael Jordan. Then take yourself inside where you can be wowed by the immensity of the place. Although it doesn’t hold the title for largest basketball arena in terms of capacity, it is reported to be the largest arena in terms of actual physical size. If you happen to like the idea of checking the stadium out but don’t especially want to see the Bulls, you’ll be happy to know that there are numerous other events held here. The most popular of those are the ice hockey games for the Chicago Blackhawks who also call this stadium home. However, there are several non-sports events held here including musical concerts and performances such as those put on by Cirque du Soleil.

Other Chicago Sports Attractions

Sports stadiums aren’t the only way to see Chicago’s world of sports. Here are some of the other attractions you’ll want to make sure to see:

• National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Celebrate the history of Italian Americans playing all different sorts of sports in the Chicago Area with a trip to this museum and event center. From the exhibit halls to the architecture of the building itself, you’ll find that there’s a lot to see here. It’s the perfect sports tour stop for active people in Chicago who want to include something sports in their sightseeing.

• Route 66 Raceway. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see a NASCAR race while you’re spending time in the Midwest and this race track is one of the better places to go do that. You’ll get the adventure of watching live sports of action. You’ll be able to learn a little bit of racing history through a review of the exhibits at the location. And you’ll probably have a really good time.

• Windy City Rollers. There are a few places in the nation where the fun sport of roller derby has made a comeback in recent years and one of those places is Chicago. Go watch some really tough girls race each other on skates and attack each other in turn. It’s one of the most interesting live action spectator sports out there today. There are also intermission shows and performances that make the sport even more fun. It’s something worth seeing at least once.

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• Chicago’s Sports Bars. Chicago is definitely a city that knows how to drink. If you’re not going to make it to the stadiums, or you simply need a place to go after the game, you can catch televised sports action at any of the many great sports bars that are located throughout the city. One of the best places to go if you just don’t want the night to end is The Store which stays open until four in the morning and lets you just keep getting rowdy even after the rest of Chicago’s sports bars are settling down for the night. However there are a range of different sports bars in all of Chicago’s neighborhoods so just plan to find the one that suits your style best.

Chicago will definitely keep you busy whether you want to do a sports tour of the city or just add a few sports stops to a more general itinerary. Figure out which stadium appeals to you most and book your tickets in advance to get the best seats! You’ll be glad that you got to see this side of the city.

Tags: attractions | Chicago | illinois | North America | Stadiums | United States