White Sox Home Opener 2018: What To Know If You Go

CHICAGO, IL - A fresh season of baseball starts on the South Side this week as the Chicago White Sox begin their 2018 slate of home games on Thursday, April 5 with the home opener against the division rival Detroit Tigers. Whether you are a season-ticket holder going to the game or you are planning to take part in the tailgate festivities, fans flocking to Guaranteed Rate Field for the yearly tradition should be mindful of a number of things before heading out to the ballpark. Here's everything you'll need or want to know about the 2018 Chicago White Sox home opener.

Game Time:

First pitch for the White Sox-Tigers contest will be at 3:10 p.m.

Weather:

Snow flurries and rain are possible for game time. The predicted 38 degrees Thursday afternoon would make this the coldest Chicago White Sox home opener in team history.

Starting Pitchers:

James Shields (1-0) is listed as the probable pitcher for the White Sox. Jordan Zimmermann is likely to counter for the Tigers.

Ceremonial First Pitch:

A.J. Pierzynski, a member of the White Sox' 2005 world championship team, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch just before the game.

Game Ball Presentation:

In honor of fallen Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer, members of the Bauer family will present the game ball.

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Getting To The Game:

Fans are encouraged to take public transportation to the ballpark on Opening Day.

• The CTA Red Line stops near the ballpark at the 35th Street station, and the Green Line is just two blocks farther east at the 35th Street station.
• A Metra stop at 35th Street is conveniently located just east of the Dan Ryan Expressway, along the Rock Island line. On the line, stop at the 35th Street "Lou Jones" station and walk west toward the ballpark. For the most up-to-date game day service information, including weekend inbound train schedules to meet the various scheduled first pitch start times, check metrarail.com.
• Pace offers a direct express bus service to Guaranteed Rate Field from suburban locations on 51 select games, including the home opener. The six suburban locations include Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Markham, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights and Tinley Park. For more information, fans can call the Pace Express service line at 847-228-2416, visit the “Express to Events” information site at pacebus.com or contact the RTA Travel Information Center at 836-7000 from any Chicagoland area code.

Free Shuttle:

There will be a free shuttle service from McCormick Place (31st Street and Moe Drive) to Guaranteed Rate Field beginning at 11 a.m.

Parking:

All parking lots at Guaranteed Rate Field will open at noon on the day of the home opener. Prepaid red coupons are accepted in Lots A, B, C and G, and prepaid green coupons are accepted in Lots F and L only. Cash parking will be very limited when lots open (Lots G, F and L). Fans seeking cash or credit card parking should follow directional signs to available lots. Cash parking is $20 Monday through Saturday and $10 on Sundays.

Gates Open:

All gates will open to fans entering the ballpark at 1:10 p.m.

Giveaways:

All fans entering the ballpark will be given a White Sox 2018 magnetic schedule.

Bar Opening:

ChiSox Bar and Grill restaurant near Gate 5 of Guaranteed Rate Field will be open to the public at 6:30 a.m. the morning of the home opener.

Players' Arrival:

White Sox players will enter the field in style, arriving in Ford Mustangs, before the first pitch. The Ford Drive Around will kickoff the season around 2:15 p.m., so fans should be in their seats before then to welcome the Good Guys to the South Side for the season.

Flag Presentation:

About 130 Members of the Naval Station Great Lakes and Navy Recruiting District Chicago will present the flag before the game.

National Anthem:

Country music artist Brandon Lay will perform the National Anthem. Lay is a former baseball player who was named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “10 new country artists you need to know.”

Gun-Free Zone:

Guaranteed Rate Field is a gun-free zone. It is illegal for anyone to enter or attempt to enter the ballpark with a firearm, regardless of permit. Additionally, no knives, pepper spray or weapons of any kind are allowed in the ballpark.

No Tobacco:

Tobacco of any kind (including smokeless tobacco and electronic cigarettes) is prohibited in all areas of Guaranteed Rate Field. Smoking areas are located outside of Gates 2 and 5. Fans who wish to use tobacco must go to the ground level to access those areas.

Metal Detectors:

All fans entering the ballpark are subject to walk-through metal detector screenings and bag searches. Fans will not be required to remove shoes, coins or belts, but will be required to remove cell phones and cameras.

Protective Netting:

Protective netting has been extended at Guaranteed Rate Field from the backstop to the outfield end of both dugouts this year. The state-of-the-art netting extends across 21 sections (Sections 122-142) and matches the existing backstop’s 30-foot height.

Tickets Available:

Team officials say "great seats" remain available for the home opener at the White Sox Ticket Office at Guaranteed Rate Field (Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on non-game days), online at whitesox.com or by calling (866) SOX-GAME (769-4263).

TV/Radio:

Not going to the game? Fans can watch the home opener on NBC Sports Chicago and follow the play-by-play on WGN AM 720, the White Sox flagship radio station, as well as WRTO-AM 1200/Univision Radio, the Spanish-language radio home of White Sox baseball.

Photo via Patch archive / Tim Moran