A New Perspective: Rediscovering the 500 Level at Rate Field

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

I did something the other day at Rate Field that I had not done in quite some time. I sat in the 500 level. It’s the highest level at the ballpark and is known for its steep upper deck and, at times, limited restrictions to the main concourse on the 100 level, several escalator rides below. However, one game in this area proved more fruitful than frustrating, and I have found a new respect for not only the area, but the fans.

There are benefits to having a seat way up here: the price point. The cheapest tickets can be found, ranging anywhere from as low as $7 for a Wednesday night game to $16 on Saturday night. That changes on who is in town; don’t expect these prices for the Crosstown Classic against the Cubbies, or when the Sox have one of their creative giveaways, but you shouldn’t expect to pay a lot for the 500 level.

The area provides access to the Wintrust Kids Zone entrance on the left-field side of the stadium. I was with my 10-year-old nephew and 8-year-old niece, but they were not interested in the 15,000-square-foot area that features a youth-sized diamond, batting and pitching cages, among other things designed to entertain the youngest fans at the game. It’s free of charge, but they were more interested in their phones and what was for dinner.

Then there are views from the exterior ramps of the city skyline. If only the ballpark faced this direction, but up here you can pose for photos and even take a peek down at the diamond outline of the Sox's former home, Comiskey Park. However, when you are up this high, the section can become steep.

Incredibly, the area had more seats- close to 7,000 more when it opened in 1991. Today, some of these seats are still a steep walk, and one can feel a strong case of vertigo when climbing up the staircase aisles, but the area is not usually full, so feel free to sit where you can if permissible.

As for some of those missing seats, they’ve been turned into a couple of small social balcony areas called The Blue Moon and Miller High Sky Lounge. They offer tabletop chairs and tables, provide nice views of the field, and are great for small social gatherings. Are they anything like the Terrace District at Progressive Field in Cleveland? No, but it could inspire future improvements to the area.

“It’s a chilled environment,” said one fan sitting on the balcony. “This is where you come watch the game and have something to eat, something to drink.”

The food options include almost anything you can have downstairs. Comiskey dogs, nachos, chicken tender baskets, pretzels, and popcorn can all be found. Also, local delicacies such as Italian beef, brats, and Cuban sandwiches are prepared up here.

The hot dogs are served as big as a foot and feature a fixings bar of pickles, relish, chopped onions, and mustard. However, the short beef pierogies at the Polish-Colombian fusion vendor came highly recommended by several fans.

The fans are equally supportive in the 500 level. A group of young men took their shirts off and waved them in the air as the Sox fell 4-0 to the New York Mets. As each inning progressed, more and more men joined the cause, and by the 6th inning resulted in 100 or more chanting “Let’s Go Sox!”, “Take it Off!”, and being Chicago “F Green Bay!”

Their hard work paid off as the Sox exploded for four runs in the inning on back-to-back-to-back home runs. The exploding scoreboard almost ran out of fireworks due to the home run barrage, but by this time the whole section was loud and boisterous due to the 4-4 game as their team held on to the lead in the division.

There were more fireworks as the Sox walked it off with a two-run homer with 2 outs in the 9th. The home run off the bat of Jake Rodgers: a lucky fan grabbed the ball but also lost most of the contents of her purse. Luckily, they were returned to her, but she was not the only one to misplace her belongings that night.

My brother-in-law misplaced his wallet and went to the lost and found to see if someone had brought it there. Much to his shock, it was there, along with everything else inside it. Sox fans are known for many things, but apparently they are not thieves.  

The 500-level of Rate Field offers its own vibe during a game. It is much different than the 100-level. There are fewer people, shorter lines for food and washrooms, and better views of the city’s skyline. The walls are decorated with photos from the ball club's past, featuring images dating back a century.

However, there are obstructed views of the field in certain areas, and there are even a few pillars that might be obstructive. The seats are unapologetically steep, and holding onto a railing is recommended. There are also no statues, access to the shower, or the Vizzy View Bar. The Leinenkugel's Craft Lodge is also a much longer walk to grab one of the many Chicagoland craft beers.

Then there is the question of access for 500-level ticket holders. In the past, there has been restricted access for ticket holders to enter the 100-level. However, I have heard conflicting stories that this no longer exists. I also did not witness a line at the checkpoint during my visit this past Friday night. Whatever the rules are when you are in the game, keep that in mind, but feel free to share your experience with me. I’m easy to find.

Is it worth bringing the family to the 500-level for a White Sox game? Sure, the tickets are inexpensive, there is enough food to satisfy everyone, and there is plenty of excitement from exploding scoreboards, music in between innings, and multiple visuals from the video board.

It also helps that the White Sox are on pace in their division after three straight seasons of over 100 losses. When the Sox are winning, more fans show up at the stadium, including the 500-level.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com