Getting free tickets to see the Chicago White Sox play at Guaranteed Rate Field can seem difficult, but there are actually a few different ways to score seats without paying. As an MLB team with a large fanbase in a major city, the White Sox offer various promotions and ways for fans to earn free tickets throughout the season. With some planning and effort, you can often find ways to see the White Sox for free.
Sign up for White Sox email alerts
One of the best ways to find out about free ticket opportunities is to sign up for the White Sox email newsletter. The team sends out alerts and promos to subscribers, including periodic offers for free tickets. This could be a code to redeem online for free tickets to select games or an invitation to attend a specific game for free. Supply is limited for these offers, so you have to act fast once you get the email. But it’s worth being on the mailing list because special offers are announced throughout the season.
Follow the White Sox on social media
Along with the email newsletter, following the White Sox Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts can provide details on free ticket giveaways. Last minute opportunities are often announced on social media to fill seats for less popular games during the week. You may see a post that the first 100 people who show up at the box office that night get in for free. So if you have open availability and can get to the ballpark on short notice, social media can be a useful way to score those last minute deals.
Go to White Sox community events
The White Sox host various events around Chicago and surrounding suburbs during the season. These could be forums with players and coaches, skills competitions, concerts, or general fan rallies. Often some amount of free tickets are set aside to be given out at these special events. By attending events and following the team closely in your community, you can take advantage of these free ticket opportunities when they are announced.
Enter contests and promotions
Both the White Sox and popular Chicago radio stations will run ticket giveaway contests throughout the season. The team partners with radio stations like The Score and classic rock stations to provide tickets to fans. Keep your ears open for any contests, call in when prompted or enter online for your chance to win. The odds of scoring free tickets improves the more contests you actually take the time to enter.
Buy upper deck or cheap seats, try moving up
This tactic requires actually buying cheap tickets in the upper deck or bleachers first. The White Sox don’t always sell out every game, so there should be plenty of $10 seats available. Once inside, you can try moving down to better empty seats after a few innings if you see availability open up. This method worked better in the past, but ushers are more strict about checking tickets nowadays. But it can still be worth a shot if you’re already in the door and spot a better open seat later in the game that isn’t being occupied.
Follow giveaway rules and promotions
The White Sox will have various in-game giveaways and promotions throughout the year. Pay attention to giveaway rules posted online or announced at the ballpark. Often you can get a free ticket voucher by following certain steps when you arrive. For example, some giveaways require you show up early and stand in a specific line to claim the free item. But following all giveaway rules carefully can result in a voucher for a free future game.
Volunteer as a team ambassador
The White Sox employ volunteer ambassadors to help with games and events. Ambassadors may take tickets, answer fan questions, or assist with promotional activities. In return for working and putting in volunteer hours, ambassadors receive free tickets to games. There is an application process to become an ambassador, but it’s a more consistent way to get into games for free if you’re selected.
Check game time weather and walk up
Paying attention to the forecast before game time can pay off. If the weather looks ominous, like strong rain or storms, the demand for tickets will decrease. You may be able to walk up to the box office right before game time and find cheap or free seats that otherwise would not have been available on a nice day. It takes some planning and luck, but can work on a rainy and nasty evening.
Go on late season weeknights
As the season wears on, especially during the week in late August and September, attendance really drops off. There are likely to be many empty seats on weeknight games against non-contending opponents. Stop by the box office and nicely ask if there are any unsold seats or cheap tickets available. There’s a chance they hook you up with seats they want to fill. Being friendly and asking nearer to game time can pay off.
Get creative with statues, history, and landmarks
If there is a White Sox player statue, monument, or other landmark near the stadium, this can possibly get you free entry. Politely approach the box office with a question or story about searching for the landmarks and want to learn more team history. There’s a chance the staff will take pity and let you in for free. Use your imagination and knowledge of any White Sox statues or history near the ballpark to craft a compelling tale.
Contact your elected officials
Getting involved in the community and contacting your local Chicago alderman or other elected officials can also present free ticket opportunities. Especially as the elections approach, candidates want to show their community support and hand out freebies. Calling or emailing your local reps politely and explaining you’re a huge White Sox fan but can’t afford tickets could yield some freebies. They have tickets at their disposal for community outreach.
Hang around the players parking lot entrance
Autograph hunters often gather outside the players parking lot entrance hoping to get signatures before the game. Intentionally go early without a ticket and strike up polite conversations with people waiting around. There’s a chance someone with an extra could hook you up out of generosity. Being nice and expressing your lifelong fandom could persuade someone with an extra ticket to let you have it for free.
Scalp cheap right before game time
Professional ticket scalpers acquire a surplus of seats and sell at a big markup. But even scalpers have inventory they are stuck with sometimes at the last minute. Politely ask scalpers after the national anthem if they have any unsold seats. Offer $5-$10 cash for tickets they are looking to dump and turn some profit. They may give you the tickets for even less just to recoup something as game time approaches.
Join the White Sox newsletter email waitlist
Sign up and get on the newsletter waitlist if the free ticket offer emails are not active at the moment. Sometimes the team pauses those promotional emails for periods when demand is steady. But a waitlist signup ensures you will be notified as soon as the next batch of free ticket opportunities are announced to email subscribers. As soon as they reactivate the free ticket newsletter emails, you’ll be included.
Follow all social media accounts and turn on notifications
In addition to the main White Sox accounts, follow their minor league affiliates like the Birmingham Barons on social media. Also follow the accounts for White Sox charities and programs like the team booster club. Toggle your notifications on for these accounts so you are alerted any time there is a post. This widely expands the chances you’ll see a free ticket post from somewhere tied to the organization.
Attend White Sox charity events
The White Sox and players are involved with various charities and causes, from battling cancer to helping Chicago youth. Attend related charity events when the team is participating and there is often a chance at free tickets as a reward for your community support. Even if not guaranteed, attending and networking at these events can build connections that eventually lead to free tickets.
Check with bars and restaurants near Guaranteed Rate Field
Some bars and eateries in the Guaranteed Rate Field vicinity advertise specials involving free tickets if you order food or drinks. There may be a voucher or tickets given to a table that spends a certain amount before the game. Call around and check options like Turtles Bar & Grill, Turtle’s Tap, Cork & Kerry Chicago, and more nearby sports bars.
Buy a used ticket off the street
Approach ticket scalpers after the game has started selling fake tickets or acting like you misplaced your ticket. There’s a chance in the middle of the action they just let you in with a real ticket to avoid confrontation or talking with security. This tactic is hit or miss but could work if you plead your case passionately enough in the moment. Offer a few bucks for a fake lost ticket story.
Wait for foul balls behind the stadium
Ballhawks know a way to get in for free is loitering outside Wintrust Gate 4 and Waiting for batting practice home run balls to fly over the stands. Be prepared with your glove and carefully dodge traffic on Shields Avenue. Wait until you snag a ball and then walk up to the ticket window. There’s a chance they let you in free in exchange for the caught ball from batting practice, but it may take several before you get a ticket taker willing to make that deal.
Say you lost your ticket
A very risky approach is to pretend you already had a ticket but lost it somewhere between the car and front gate. Complain that you must have dropped it and don’t know where it could be. Security may just ask you details about the supposed missing seat and let you in if you answer correctly and seem convincing enough. But getting caught in this lie could also get you thrown out, so this desperate act should only be attempted as a total last resort with no other options.
Check StubHub right before first pitch
Ticket resellers on StubHub risk taking big losses if they cannot sell their surplus of tickets before first pitch. Keep an eye on StubHub listings at the very last minute on game day for huge price drops. There may even be some tickets listed at $1 or less just trying to unload inventory before eating the entire cost. Grab these deals if you can find them, but the ultra cheap listings get bought quickly so you have to look early and lock them in fast.
Call the White Sox as a bereaved fan
This tactic should also only be used in an act of desperation if you have no moral quandaries about it. Call the White Sox box office and plead that your lifelong grandmother or some other relative just passed away suddenly. Pretend she was the biggest Sox fan ever and your family wants to honor her memory by attending the next game. If you can sell this sob story, there is an outside chance the rep takes pity and offers a free courtesy ticket. Have your fake story well prepared and details ironed out.
Check the trash cans
Rumor has it that trashed sports tickets can sometimes be found outside stadiums after games in nearby garbage cans. Loiter around the garbage cans to dig through and salvage any tickets that were thrown away. This is obviously extremely unhygienic and risky, with no guarantee of finding a ticket. But some desperate fans insist they have scored a free ticket from meticulously searching the post-game garbage. You never know what could be thrown out until you look.
Conclusion
Getting free White Sox tickets is certainly possible for savvy and dedicated fans. Your best chances involve signing up for team promotions, winning contests, visiting box office giveaways, and networking in the White Sox community. With persistence and using multiple strategies, you can often find ways into Guaranteed Rate Field without buying a ticket. Just don’t break any laws or breach ethics in your quest for a free seat. A little luck and polite persistence can go a long way to scoring free White Sox tickets over the course of a season.