If you’re ready to bring your kid(s) to a Chicago Sky WNBA game, it’s about time! Women’s pro basketball games are a kid-friendly way to introduce kids to professional sports and an opportunity for children to see a pro game without you having to pay a month’s mortgage for the experience.
The Chicago Sky’s venue, Wintrust Arena, is a small arena with a family-friendly atmosphere. It’s a great place to watch the Sky with your kids.
I attended the Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever game on August 30, 2024 at Wintrust Arena with my 10-year-old. We made a special trip to Chicago to see the game and we had an amazing time!
If you’re heading to Chicago to see a Sky game with your kids, here’s some basic info to help make your experience fun and stress-free! And, if you’re not sure if you should bring your kids to a game, I hope this info will help you decide (do it!).
You may also want to read about Going to an Indiana Fever (WNBA) Game with Kids
Buying Tickets for a Chicago Sky Game
I purchased our Chicago Sky tickets on Ticketmaster a few months before the game. There were still a few tickets available the night of the game. Still, if you want to attend, I’d purchase your tickets in advance.
The tickets were on my Ticketmaster app on my phone, and we just scanned them at the entrance – easy.
As far as deciding where to sit, I wouldn’t stress about it. Wintrust Arena is small and intimate, so there aren’t any nosebleed seats. We sat in Section 124 and while the seats were fantastic, I wouldn’t pay as much in the future. Instead, I’d purchase tickets in the upper bowl (200 Level).
Good To Know: Kids under 2 years old sitting on an adult’s lap don’t need a ticket, but all other kids do.
Getting to the Game
We were staying between the river and Millenium Park, so the easiest option for us was to take the Green Line from State/Lake to Cermak-McCormick Place. From there, it was just a straight walk for a couple of minutes to Wintrust Arena.
Helpful Tip: Make sure you get on the correct color train! We accidentally took the wrong one, so we got off and waited for the next Green Line train.
Helpful Tip: If you want to eat near Wintrust Arena before the game, try Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta. It’s across the street from the arena and you can have Chicago deep dish pizza!
Good To Know: We were wearing our Fever gear and felt totally fine/safe walking around Chicago before and after the game. I only mention this because I know wearing rival team gear can be an issue in some places.
Entering Wintrust Arena with Kids
We arrived at Wintrust Arena at 5:20pm (1 hour and 10 minutes before the game started) and there were people entering, but we didn’t encounter any long lines at security or the ticket scanners.
We all know that having kids means carrying a lot of stuff around, but when you enter Wintrust, you can only carry clear bags no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches OR non-clear purses or bags no larger than 10 x 6 x 2 inches. There are lockers available outside. You can see the up-to-date rules on the Wintrust Arena official site.
Helpful Tip: I don’t like carrying my wallet, phone, chapstick, kids’ stuff etc. separately in my hands, so I bring a plastic grocery type bag to the game, empty it out before we enter, and put the bag in my pocket. Then, I take it out when we leave and use it to get home.
Good To Know: You can bring your diaper bag in, but it will be inspected at the entrance.
Good To Know: According to the Wintrust site, you’re not allowed to bring ‘bottles’ in, but we were allowed to bring in two empty 500ml clear disposable water bottles (that we refilled inside).
During the Game at Wintrust Arena
Though the Fever-Sky game was very competitive, it was still a kid-friendly atmosphere, which isn’t always the case with professional sports!
As a mom, I was happy to have my 10-year-old watching the two teams play in a positive, energetic atmosphere.
The seats are comfortable, there’s plenty of space, and the rows are set high enough from each other that kids can see the court. Although, smaller kids may need a boost from an adult.
We were in a section with a mix of Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky fans, and the mood was competitive but friendly, with smiles and joking comments about a few of the refs’ calls.
There were a few loud moments, but nothing requiring ear protection (unlike at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana).
There are multiple bathrooms in the arena, and the lines weren’t bad at all. I also didn’t think the concessions lines took very long.
My son and I enjoyed the time out and half time entertainment.
All in all, it was a fun and exciting game, made more so by the Fever victory!
I’d gladly return to Wintrust Arena for another Chicago Sky game, but I’d buy cheaper tickets higher up. The views are still great in this small arena.
I asked my son what his favorite moment was, and he had two:
“Seeing Caitlin Clark have a great game against the Chicago Sky” and “seeing Shaq!” (he was courtside)
Tips for Attending a Chicago Sky Game with Kids
- If you’re going to be out exploring Chicago before the game, bring an external charger so your phone doesn’t die. You’ll want to have it for navigating the public transport and, more importantly, for scanning your tickets to get into the game!
- Have something to eat before the game. You can’t bring food in, and the food offerings are typical for sporting events… not super nutritious yet super expensive. We had a meal in downtown Chicago before taking the train to Wintrust. Then, we bought a snack/treat during the game.
- Go early to see the warmups! This is my number one tip if you’ve got a kid that is interested in basketball or a specific player. You can walk closer to the floor (yes, even if your seats are higher up) to watch the players shoot around and warm up. Some players will also give autographs after they’ve warmed up (Caitlin Clark did at this game, but my son didn’t try to get one because he was able to get Caitlin’s autograph at Gainbridge Fieldhouse). We arrived at 5:20pm and were allowed to enter. The official game start time was 6:30pm.
- Talk to your kids about sportsmanship. We had a ‘boo’er’ next to us and my son started doing the same thing. We had to have a quick chat about being positive vs. being a poor sport.
- Get your bearings when leaving the arena. We ended up following the crowd and walking to a parking garage… the opposite way we needed to go.
- If you want to get Chicago Sky merchandise or jerseys for your kids, I recommend ordering online or looking in Chicago before the game. We didn’t see much available in Wintrust Arena at the game (we saw one kiosk). In Chicago, try Chicago Sports & Novelty on Michigan Avenue – we saw Chicago Sky gear there, including for kids. You can also get gear at Dick’s Sporting Goods, but the locations are a little further out of the city center.
