bike to Chicago Fire soccer?

I got an interesting phone call this morning from a guy in the Chicago Fire promotions dept.  They'd like to do a Bike to Chicago Fire day sometime during the season, with a special bike tailgate section and promotion of cycling.  A portion of our group ticket sales could be a fundraiser for a cause of our choosing.  What do you think?

Looking at their schedule, I see that most games at Toyota Park are in the evening, with start times between 6 and 8 p.m.  There are a couple of weekday afternoon games in September with 3 p.m. starts.  There's a July game at Soldier Field against Manchester United, but I'm guessing that would be a pricey ticket.

Of course, part of the challenge would be figuring out a rideable route to get to Toyota Park.  Given the nature of the few through routes in that area, it might require a police escort for part of the route.

How many of you might be interested in such a combined event?  If we could get a large group, it has the potential to be pretty cool.

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Permalink Reply by Vilda on June 15, 2011 at 4:46am
we've done this and never had a police escort. the best games to ride to are saturday early starts. you get a better turn out and are still riding home in relative safety. archer is the main route to narragansett then turn right when u get close. left on harlem can a lil harrowing but is pretty easy with a few experienced riders to cork. we usually sit in section 8. :-)
Permalink Reply by igz on June 15, 2011 at 4:55am

Joe has organized a number of rides there in the past.  We noticed the Fire also started organzing rides - i guess there was one planned about a month ago.  not sure what happened with that.

 

a police escort is definitely not necessary.  all rides have been safe, fun, and without incident, other than flats.  even while returning quite intoxicated.   the route is straightforward.  Halsted to Archer to Narrangassett, to some industrial street where you cant go any further, to Harlem, over the big viaduct, and you are there.  Approx 30 miles round trip.

 

if we were to organize into something larger, it would be nice to have some support from Fire, just not sure what.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 15, 2011 at 5:01am
There's a game with a 1:00 p.m. start on Sunday 6/26, but that might not be enough time to organize a large group.  It's also the same day as the Pride Parade.  Otherwise, all the home games are evening games until September.
Permalink Reply by igz on June 15, 2011 at 5:21am
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 15, 2011 at 5:22am
That's cool.  I know I've heard some of you mention previous rides out to Toyota Park for games.

iggi said:
Permalink Reply by Greg Valent on June 17, 2011 at 2:40am

Several years ago the Oak Park Cycle Club determined, thru much investigation, that there is no safe way to ride to Toyota Park.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 19, 2011 at 5:00am

That would be Archer to Narragansett to 65th to Harlem.  The section on Harlem would be the hairiest part, because the traffic tends to move fast in that area. 

 

Coming from the north, that would be slightly easier and shorter than taking Marquette to Cicero to 73rd.  The section on Cicero is just as hairy as Harlem, and slightly longer.

 

From the south, taking 83rd to Central to 73rd to Sayre to 71st would be a piece of cake by comparison.  From my area in Beverly, it would be less than 11 miles each way. 


iggi said:

Joe has organized a number of rides there in the past.  We noticed the Fire also started organzing rides - i guess there was one planned about a month ago.  not sure what happened with that.

 

a police escort is definitely not necessary.  all rides have been safe, fun, and without incident, other than flats.  even while returning quite intoxicated.   the route is straightforward.  Halsted to Archer to Narrangassett, to some industrial street where you cant go any further, to Harlem, over the big viaduct, and you are there.  Approx 30 miles round trip.

 

if we were to organize into something larger, it would be nice to have some support from Fire, just not sure what.

Permalink Reply by Ken Gray on June 19, 2011 at 4:35pm
Anne, sounds cool. Please keep me in the loop. I've never been to a game and would like to go. I bet a few folks from Beverly Bike Club might be interested too.
Permalink Reply by igz on June 20, 2011 at 1:27am
The short stretch of harlem is taken via sidewalk over the viaduct. No worries...no pedestrians.
Permalink Reply by Eduardo on June 20, 2011 at 4:06am
Does anybody have any good routes coming from the western suburbs especially a way to cross the I&M, or is harlem the best way? I can get kind of close using the Salt Creek Trail.

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