Rate Field

Rate Field at a glance

Upcoming events at Rate Field

No upcoming fixtures for its teams in our current schedule data — this page updates when new fixtures are published.

🚆 Getting to Rate Field

Take the CTA Red Line to Sox-35th — the ballpark is just a block west of the station — with the Green Line's 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stop three blocks east as the backup.

CTA lists Sox-35th on the Red Line a block from the park and 35th-Bronzeville-IIT on the Green Line three blocks away, and urges fans to use public transit with extra game-day service. Metra's Rock Island Line also stops at 35th Street, just east of the Dan Ryan Expressway, and CTA buses including the #35 serve the area.

Unlike Wrigley, this is a drive-and-tailgate park ringed by official lots: the Red lots A, C and G north of the stadium and the Green lots F and L to the south, with Lot B the premium lot closest to Gate 5. The park is bordered by I-90/94, the Dan Ryan Expressway, using the 31st or 35th Street exits, lots open two hours before game time, and the White Sox strongly encourage buying parking prepaid in advance.

The designated rideshare lot for taxis, limos, Uber and Lyft is in Lot A near Wentworth Avenue, for pickup and drop-off via Gate 5, open until one hour after the game ends.

🛏️ Where to stay near Rate Field

There are no hotels within walking distance of this South Side park, so most visiting fans base downtown or in the South Loop and ride the same Red Line to the game.

• Downtown / The Loop — A straight Red Line ride south to Sox-35th. The widest choice of places to stay in Chicago and the easiest base for sightseeing on non-game days.
• South Loop / McCormick Place — Still on the Red Line, only a few stops north of the park, so the game trip is short. A quieter, more convention-oriented part of downtown near the museum campus.
• Bridgeport / Armour Square — The residential neighborhoods right around the park — Bridgeport to the west is the walkable fan base, but it is a bedroom neighborhood with few hotels, so stays here are mostly rentals rather than hotels.

🎟️ Game-day tips for Rate Field

Give yourself an hour on the outfield concourse before first pitch — statues, the exploding scoreboard view and the park's food scene are all out there.

• The exploding scoreboard — The center-field scoreboard's pinwheels spin and fireworks fire after every White Sox home run and win. The idea dates to Bill Veeck's original exploding scoreboard at old Comiskey Park in 1960.
• Tailgating is the pregame here — Rate Field is one of the few MLB parks where tailgating is a primary tradition, permitted in the official lots that wrap the stadium. Lots open two hours before game time, so drivers can make a pregame of it in a way Wrigley fans cannot.
• Shade comes from the overhang — Because home plate sits on the northwest side, night games lose the sun fast behind the grandstand. For day games, sitting farther back under an overhang buys shade, and the upper deck has a shade canopy added in the 2004 renovation.

Bags: Only single-compartment clear tote bags 12 x 12 x 6 inches or smaller, clutch purses 9 x 5 x 2 inches or smaller, and diaper bags when an infant is present are permitted; no backpacks or other bags are allowed. Official policy.

Gate rules, bag policy and everything else: the club's official A-to-Z guide — policies change by season, so check before you go.

Teams at this stadium

• Chicago White Sox tickets, schedule & travel guide (Major League Baseball)

More buildings: all stadium guides · travel guides

Rate Field FAQ

How do I get to Rate Field?

Take the CTA Red Line to Sox-35th — the ballpark is just a block west of the station — with the Green Line's 35th-Bronzeville-IIT stop three blocks east as the backup. The stop to know: CTA Red Line — Sox-35th station.

Where should I stay for a game at Rate Field?

There are no hotels within walking distance of this South Side park, so most visiting fans base downtown or in the South Loop and ride the same Red Line to the game. Popular bases: Downtown / The Loop, South Loop / McCormick Place, Bridgeport / Armour Square.

Does Rate Field have a roof?

No — Rate Field is open-air, so dress for the weather.

What is the bag policy at Rate Field?

Only single-compartment clear tote bags 12 x 12 x 6 inches or smaller, clutch purses 9 x 5 x 2 inches or smaller, and diaper bags when an infant is present are permitted; no backpacks or other bags are allowed.