10/12/01
Chicago hosts a full scorecard of athletic events this weekend, October 12-14, and the CTA will provide extra service for each contest so fans can enjoy the games without having to fight traffic and search for parking around each location.
CTA will operate its #19 United Center Express buses to the United Center when the Chicago Bulls play the Atlanta Hawks Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Similar service will be provided when the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center at 7 p.m. Sunday, for all future Bulls and Hawks home games, and for special events such as the U2 concerts Monday and Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m.
Fully accessible #19 United Center buses begin their trips about two hours before the start of each event, making their first stop southbound on Michigan at Chicago Avenue. Operating every 12 minutes until about a half hour before the start of each event, #19 buses go south on Michigan, stopping at Illinois and Randolph, and west on Madison, stopping at Wabash, State, Wells and Clinton before running express to the United Center.
For the 11 a.m. Northwestern homecoming football game Saturday between the Wildcats and the Golden Gophers of Minnesota, the CTA will have longer trains and more frequent service on the Purple Line between Howard and Linden, and extra customer assistants at the Central Avenue station, which is just a long pass away from Northwestern's Ryan Field at Central and Ashland in Evanston. Customers can connect to Purple Line trains from the Red Line or from bus lines serving the Howard terminal.
When the Chicago Bears face the Arizona Cardinals at noon Sunday, and for all Bears home games, shuttle buses will supplement regular service to Soldier Field, beginning two hours before kickoff time, on the #146 Marine/Michigan Express route, southbound on State from Kinzie. The buses then continue south on State to Roosevelt and go east to a stop on McFetridge Drive at the north end of Soldier Field.
Bears games are also served by #128 Soldier Field Express buses, which operate from stops at the Ogilvie Transportation Center (North Western Station) westbound on Madison, and Union Station on Jackson at Canal. The buses then run express via Jackson, Clark and Roosevelt directly to Soldier Field.
Fans can also reach Soldier Field from Red, Green and Orange Line 'L' stations at Roosevelt, either by walking, or by taking #12 Roosevelt shuttle buses to the field.
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