SABR 51: Transportation Tips
SABR 51 will be held July 5-9, 2023, at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. All baseball fans are welcome to attend.
We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a spectacular SABR 51 convention in the summer of 2023. Visit SABR.org/convention for more details on panelists and presentations, or to register.
Members of the host Emil Rothe Chicago Chapter have compiled a list of transportation tips to help visitors and convention attendees enjoy their stay in the Windy City. If you have any questions during your stay, please don’t hesitate to ask a friendly SABR 51 volunteer for assistance.
For more information on Chicago’s award-winning restaurants, upcoming events, and other attractions, visit choosechicago.com.
Directions to the hotel
The Palmer House Hilton is located in the heart of the downtown Loop, between Chicago’s two major airports.
Please note: A number of street closures are planned in downtown Chicago between June 25 and July 15 due to the NASCAR Street Race. Click here for more details on the city’s traffic plan.
From O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
Distance: 18 miles northwest from the hotel
- Public transportation: Take the CTA Blue Line train to the Monroe/Dearborn stop. Walk east for three blocks on Monroe to the hotel (at State Street). The Palmer House is on the south side of Monroe. (Fare: $5.00. Visit transitchicago.com for details.)
- Driving: GPS address: 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603 (Hotel may appear as “Palmer House a Hilton Hotel” on your phone). Follow signs for I-190 out of the airport. Take I-190 to I-90/94 East (Kennedy Expressway). Take I-90/94 to the Monroe Street exit, turn left on Monroe Street (east) and go approximately 8 blocks to the Palmer House Hilton. The hotel is on the right.
- Shuttles/cabs: A taxicab ride or shared-van shuttle service is available for an average fare of $30-40 (or more, depending on traffic) from O’Hare to downtown hotels. O’Hare Airport is also serviced by Uber and Lyft. Please plan for about one hour of travel time. Click here for more information.
From Midway International Airport (MDW)
Distance: 12 miles southwest from the hotel
- Public transportation:From Midway Airport, take the Orange Line from Midway to downtown. Get off at the Adams/Wabash stop. The Palmer House is located on the west side of Wabash Avenue. (Fare: $3.00. Visit transitchicago.com for details.)
- Driving: GPS address: 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603 (Hotel may appear as “Palmer House a Hilton Hotel” on your phone). Drive north on Cicero Avenue. Take Stevenson Expressway (I-55) northeast to Kennedy Expressway (I-90 West). Exit Monroe Street, turn right (east) and go 8 blocks to the Palmer House Hilton. The hotel is on the right.
- Shuttles/cabs/rideshare services: A taxicab ride or shared-van shuttle service is available for an average fare of $28-35 (or more, depending on traffic) from Midway to downtown hotels. Midway Airport is also serviced by Uber and Lyft. Click here for more information.
By Amtrak train
Station Name: Union Station – Downtown
Distance: 0.8 miles west from the hotel
Many Amtrak routes come in to Chicago’s Union Station, which is a short distance from the Palmer House Hilton. Visit Amtrak.com for more information or to book your reservation.
- Walking directions:From Union Station, walk north two blocks to Monroe Street and turn right (east). Continue for 0.6 miles to the hotel (at State Street). The Palmer House is on the south side of Monroe.
Parking at or near the hotel
The Palmer House Hilton offers valet parking on-site or self-parking for hotel guests across the street:
- Valet Parking: $75 overnight, with in and out privileges
- Self-Parking at 55 East Monroe Street, directly across from hotel: $52 overnight
Click here for more details at palmerhouse.hilton.com. There are also several discount parking lots and garages with day rates near the hotel. Visit chicago.bestparking.com or spothero.com for more information or to book your parking in advance.
Directions to the White Sox game
Public transit: CTA southbound trains run approximately every 6-8 minutes from the Monroe Red Line station next to the convention hotel. Exit onto State Street, on the west side of the hotel, for the Red Line station at Monroe. The stop for Guaranteed Rate Field is at 35th Street. To return to the hotel, take the Red Line train north (toward Howard) back to the Monroe station. Visit transitchicago.com for complete CTA schedule and fare information.
Parking: If you are driving by car, Guaranteed Rate Field has ample parking surrounding the park. Parking can be purchased in advance for $27 or on the day of the game for $30. Click here for more information.
Taxi/rideshare: Prices from the Palmer House to Guaranteed Rate Field run about $30 one way (it may be higher on Friday night.) Dropoff and pickup for Uber/Lyft are in Lot A, just steps from the ballpark entrance at Gate 5.
Getting around Chicago
Train (the “L”):
The “L” is the most convenient and affordable way to get from Chicago’s airport to the hotel and it is also a great way to explore the city. There are multiple CTA train stations within walking distance of the Palmer House Hilton, including the Monroe-Red Line station and the Adams/Wabash station (multiple lines). Single-ride passes ($3), one-day passes ($5), and multi-day Ventra cards are available for purchase. Visit transitchicago.com for details, maps, and fare information.
Taxi: Exit the Monroe Street doors of the Palmer House Hilton for the taxi stand.
- Yellow Cab: 312-829-4222
- Flash Cab: 773-561-1444
Bus: The CTA bus system consists of 140 routes that serve nearly 12,000 bus stops throughout the region. For more information on the CTA bus line, visit transitchicago.com.
Area attractions
- Major League Soccer: Chicago Fire FC is excited to extend an exclusive offer to all SABR members for their Major League Soccer matches on Saturday, July 8 and Wednesday, July 12. Click here for discounted tickets.
- The Magnificent Mile/Michigan Ave. shopping: This cosmopolitan, history-packed strip between the Michigan Avenue Bridge and Oak Street leads you from department stores to multi-story megamalls to luxury boutiques to brand name retail chains – all in a row. Click here for more information.
- Navy Pier: This 50-acre playground of entertainment, museums, activities, restaurants, and shops is the perfect place for some family fun time. Click here for more information.
- Millennium Park: With 25 acres of awe-inspiring landscape, breathtaking architecture and an iconic collection of public art (including “The Bean”), Millennium Park is Chicago’s premier green space. Click here for more information.
- Art Institute of Chicago: The second-largest art museum in the country offers outstanding special exhibitions and daily gallery tours. Click here for more information.
- Museum Campus: The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of Natural History, and Adler Planetarium are all conveniently located along Chicago’s lakefront, first-class museums punctuated by breathtaking views of the Windy City’s skyline. Click here for more information.
- Music and comedy: Chicago is famous for legendary blues and jazz, which can be heard nightly in venues throughout the city. And if you like to laugh, you’ve come to the right place. From traditional stand-up to competitive improv to sketch, find it at Chicago’s top comedy clubs. Click here for more information.
Nearby restaurants
Chicago is known for its world-class dining with food for every palate. Click here for a list of nearby restaurants.
For more information on SABR 51, visit SABR.org/convention.
Live Baseball
If you are looking to attend a ballgame before, during, or after SABR 51, there are plenty of options in and around the greater Chicagoland area.
Major League Baseball
- Chicago White Sox – 4 miles south of hotel, easily accessible by public transportation on the CTA Red Line (Sox/35th Street station)
- Home dates: 7/4, 7/5, 7/6, 7/7 (SABR 51 ballgame), 7/8, 7/9.
- Chicago Cubs – 6 miles north of hotel, easily accessible by public transportation on the CTA Red Line (Addison station)
- Home dates: 6/30, 7/1, 7/2.
- Milwaukee Brewers – 94 miles north of hotel
- Home dates: 7/3, 7/4, 7/5, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9.
American Association (Independent)
- Chicago Dogs – Rosemont, IL; 17 miles northwest of hotel, accessible by public transportation on the CTA Blue Line (Rosemont station)
- Home dates: 6/30, 7/1, 7/2, 7/3, 7/4, 7/5. (Click here for map.)
- Gary Southshore RailCats – Gary, IN, 31 miles southeast of hotel
- Home dates: 7/3, 7/4, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9. (Click here for map.)
- Kane County Cougars – Geneva, IL, 42 miles west of hotel
- Home dates: 6/30, 7/1, 7/2. (Click here for map.)
Frontier League (Independent)
- Windy City Thunderbolts – Crestwood, IL, 25 miles southwest of hotel, accessible by public transportation
- Home dates: 6/30, 7/1, 7/2. (Click here for map.)
- Schaumburg Boomers – Schaumburg, IL, 31 miles northwest of hotel, accessible by public transportation
- Home dates: 7/3, 7/4, 7/6, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9. (Click here for map.)
- Joliet Slammers – Joliet, IL, 45 miles southwest of hotel, accessible by public transportation
- Home dates: 6/30, 7/1, 7/2, 7/7, 7/8, 7/9. (Click here for map.)
Baseball Sightseeing
To find nearby baseball-related historical landmarks, statues, gravesites and more, visit the SABR Baseball Map. More than two dozen landmarks in and around Chicago are currently included on the SABR Baseball Map.
For complete information about the SABR 51 convention, visit SABR.org/convention.