Wintrust Arena: Guide for Visiting Fans

The CTA is the right call. The CTA Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station is located at Cermak Road and State Street, just 2.5 blocks (0.15 miles) west of Wintrust Arena at Cermak Road and Indiana Avenue. That's a flat three-minute walk with no elevation changes — about as clean a transit-to-gate connection as you'll find in Chicago. The CTA Cermak-Chinatown Red Line Station is also an option, located four blocks west (0.5 miles) of the arena. Either works; the Green Line drop puts you closer.

By bus, the #3 King Drive bus is the most common route, running north and south from the McCormick Place campus along Michigan Avenue, with stops at many downtown hotels. The #21 Cermak bus runs east and west along W. Cermak Road and is the one to take to transfer to the Green or Red L trains.

From O'Hare (ORD), hop the Blue Line downtown to Clark/Lake, switch to the Green Line, and ride to Cermak-McCormick Place — plan on about 55–65 minutes total. From Midway (MDW), it's the Orange Line to the Loop, then Green Line south — roughly 45 minutes. Metra Electric also provides direct service via a station inside the McCormick Place Grand Concourse, reaching downtown Chicago's Millennium/Randolph St. Station in about seven minutes.

Driving from the north, use the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), exit at 18th Street, head east to State Street, turn south to Cermak Road, and then travel east to Wintrust Arena. Rideshare is convenient — Uber and Lyft both operate in Chicago — but have a plan for the return trip (see egress section below).

There are three McCormick Place lots. McCormick Place Parking Lot A provides the most convenient on-site parking access for Wintrust Arena events; it's a six-level garage with 2,100 spaces, and has access to the pedestrian sky bridges leading directly into the arena. Parking runs $22 per vehicle in Lot A for Sky games. That skybridge connection is genuinely useful in bad weather — and this being Chicago, assume bad weather.

Lot B (the 31st Street Lot) is an outdoor surface lot near Lake Shore Drive South holding over 1,800 vehicles, at a flat fee of $18 per day with no in-and-out privileges. It's cheaper, but factor in the longer walk back at night. Lot C is an underground garage with 1,900 spaces on Fort Dearborn Drive near the Lakeside Center, at a flat $27 per day. No in-and-out at any lot — don't forget that. You can reserve parking in advance through SP+ , which is worth doing for weekend or rivalry games when the convention center crowds bleed in.

The most convenient options are literally connected to the arena. The arena is connected via skybridges to the Marriott Marquis Chicago and the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is the official hotel of the Chicago Sky. Both are pricier (expect $200–$350/night), but you'll walk to the game in under five minutes in any weather, and you'll be first out of bed the morning after.

If you want some distance and character, the South Loop proper — around 18th Street and Michigan — has a handful of mid-range hotels and is a reasonable 15-minute walk or quick rideshare to the arena. Prices there run $130–$200 in peak summer season. The Loop itself (the heart of downtown) is only 10–15 minutes by Uber and puts you close to Chicago's restaurant and bar scene for pre- and post-game. The River North neighborhood (north of the Loop) gives you the widest hotel selection and nightlife, but budget an extra 20 minutes of travel time to the arena.

Fatpour Tap Works McCormick is your most practical answer. It's a modern sports bar and restaurant featuring a wide array of beers and game-day eats, steps from Soldier Field, Wintrust Arena, and McCormick Place. It'll be lively before tip-off and it's close enough to catch a cab back to the arena without drama. Order the beer, not the ambiance — it's a sports bar, not a gastropub.

VU Rooftop is the splurge option right next door. It's a 13,000 square foot concept located 22 stories up, offering a locally driven beverage program and unparalleled views of the lake and downtown. Go pre-game for a drink and the view; it's a genuinely impressive way to set the scene for a summer night in Chicago.

Chinatown is a short five-minute rideshare west on Cermak and is absolutely worth your time. The neighborhood has been there since the 1870s and the restaurants don't cater to arena crowds — which means the prices are honest and the food is excellent. MingHin Cuisine and Lao Szechuan are both proven. Plan for an early dinner and ride back to the arena.

South Loop dining along Michigan Avenue — spots like Chicago Brewhouse and Yolk (for pre-game brunch) — are solid options within 10–15 minutes on foot if you're coming from the Red Line side.

All clear bags — plastic, vinyl, or PVC — that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are permitted, and may be hand-carried or have a shoulder strap, including fanny packs, backpacks, or sling bags. Non-clear purses or bags cannot be larger than 10″ x 6″ x 2″. A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc) is also allowed.

Doors open to the general public 60 minutes prior to tip-off; full season Skyrider members and Team Night Out groups get early access 90 minutes before tip-off through specified entrances. The main entrance for Wintrust Arena is located at the corner of Cermak Road and Indiana Avenue. If you're coming via Lot A and the skybridge, you'll enter from the north/west side — follow the signs and don't fight the crowd funneling toward the main gate.

The arena is fully cashless — only debit/credit cards are accepted at the box office. Leave your cash in the hotel room.

Wheelchair accessible seating is available on all levels of the arena — both the 100-Level and 200-Level — with adjacent companion seating purchasable based on availability. Guests needing accessible seating can contact the Chicago Sky Ticket Office at 866.SKY.WNBA. There are five elevators located on the southwest side of the arena, providing access to all three levels. ADA vehicle drop-off and pick-up is on the 200 East Cermak Road side of the arena, and all doors are ADA-accessible.

Assisted listening devices are available upon request from Guest Services, located on the southeast side of the arena. On the sensory side, KultureCity has partnered with Wintrust Arena to make the venue sensory-inclusive; families can download the free KultureCity App before attending to view what sensory features are available and where to access them.

There is no designated away section in WNBA — you sit where your ticket puts you. The good news: Wintrust Arena has excellent views of the game action from any of its seating areas, so you're not fighting bad angles anywhere in the building.

The lowest seating prices start at $19 in the upper level at the ends of the court, with $28 tickets in the upper level corners and $33 on the upper level sides. Sections 101–122 wrap around the arena on the lower level, with center court sections 107, 108, 121, and 122 considered the premium lower-level seats for sports.

For away fans who want to cluster together without being conspicuous, the upper level end sections (200-level, end zone equivalent) tend to have available inventory late and offer perfectly watchable sightlines at a price that leaves money for beer. The lower level sideline — sections 107–115 — is where the sightlines are cleanest and the Sky's most ardent fans tend to congregate, so if you want to keep a lower profile, the upper sideline 215–222 range is the move.

Concession offerings include nachos ($7), chicken tenders ($7), hot dogs ($8), extra-large popcorn ($9), pretzels ($6.50), chicken sandwiches ($13), and pizza ($8.50). Domestic drafts run $9, premium drafts $11, and craft IPAs $11. Alcohol service is cut off at the start of the 4th quarter for basketball games , so order with some runway. Notable stands include Garrett Popcorn, which is a genuine Chicago institution — get the Chicago Mix (cheese and caramel together) and don't apologize for it.

The Sky have a large and loyal fanbase, and Wintrust Arena is one of the largest capacity arenas in the WNBA — they sell out games on a regular basis. Come expecting noise. The Sky faithful are engaged and knowledgeable, and the post-championship (2021) crowd energy hasn't dissipated — this is a fanbase that finally tasted a title and hasn't forgotten it. That said, the hostility level stays reasonable; you can wear your team's gear and have a fine time. The arena features a huge center-hung videoboard/scoreboard that makes the whole building feel like it's at the center of something, not the margins of professional basketball. One thing that only registers when you're actually there: the glass exterior makes the concourse feel open and airy during evening games, catching the last light off Lake Michigan — it's genuinely beautiful in a way that most arenas aren't.

Transit: The Green Line is your fastest exit. Head west on Cermak immediately after the final buzzer — the walk to Cermak-McCormick Place Station is only 0.15 miles. Post-game trains run regularly but platforms fill quickly after a sellout; expect a 10–15 minute wait on the platform. The Red Line at Cermak-Chinatown (four blocks west) is often less crowded post-game because it requires a longer walk — smart move if the Green Line platform looks like a sardine can. Wait about 5 minutes after the buzzer before leaving your seat to avoid the main bottleneck at the gate.

Driving: Lot A is the closest to the arena and has skybridge access , but it's also the last to clear. Lot B (31st Street) empties faster because it exits toward Lake Shore Drive South rather than Cermak Road, which gets clogged. Realistic time from final buzzer to moving traffic: 20–35 minutes from Lot A; 15–25 from Lot B. The opinionated tip: if you're in Lot A, sit down, have a water, let 20 minutes pass. You'll save 20 minutes.

Rideshare: Surge pricing is real and starts fast after the final whistle on sellout nights. Rideshare companies have multiple campus locations in their menus — use West Building's Gate 40 for a quick exit. Better yet, walk two blocks west to State Street or north toward the South Loop before requesting your ride — pricing drops noticeably once you're off the immediate arena footprint. Wait 15–20 minutes post-game if you can; surge windows on WNBA nights typically clear faster than they do after a Bears or Bulls game.

What is the nearest CTA station to Wintrust Arena?

The CTA Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station, located at Cermak Road and State Street, is 2.5 blocks (0.15 miles) west of the arena — the closest and most direct option.

What is the bag policy at Wintrust Arena?

Clear bags up to 12″×6″×12″ are allowed; non-clear bags cannot exceed 10″×6″×2″.

How much does parking cost at Wintrust Arena for a Sky game?

Lot A, the closest garage with skybridge access, costs $22 per vehicle for Sky games. Lot B is $18 flat.

Is Wintrust Arena cashless?

Yes — Wintrust Arena is fully cashless. Debit/credit cards are accepted at the box office, and concession stands accept debit/credit cards and mobile payments.

What time do gates open for Chicago Sky games?

Doors open to the general public 60 minutes prior to tip-off for each Sky home game.

What are the best seats for away fans at Wintrust Arena? There is no dedicated away section. Upper level sideline seats in the 215–222 range offer solid views and lower prices, and tend to be slightly less dense with the most committed home fans. Wintrust Arena is a smaller venue, so there really aren't bad seats.

How far is Wintrust Arena from O'Hare and Midway airports?

The two closest major airports are Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Chicago Midway (MDW). From O'Hare, allow 55–65 minutes on CTA (Blue Line to Green Line). From Midway, allow about 45 minutes (Orange Line to Green Line).

Can I bring outside food or drinks into Wintrust Arena?

No — outside food and drink are not allowed into Wintrust Arena. The arena is also a peanut-free facility. Plan accordingly.