Seating at Guaranteed Rate Field

It’s the question we get more than any other: “WHERE SHOULD I SIT?” And our answer is often the same – it depends. It depends on your budget, it depends on your interests, it depends on your options… it just depends.

But, really, the bigger questions you may be asking are:

• Are there any “high value seats” that aren’t obvious?
• Are there any club seats/premium tickets that are worth considering?
• Are there any seats/sections that should be avoided?

Well, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for! Let’s help you figure out the White Sox seating chart so you can make a good ticket buying decision.

Table of Contents

100 Level Lower Bowl

• 100 Level Baselines: Sections 108-156
• 100 Level Outfield: Sections 101-105, 157-159
• 100 Level Bleachers: Sections 160-164
• Wintrust Scout seats: Sections 130S, 131S, 133S, 134S)
• Miller Lite Landing
• Vizzy View Bar
• Fan Deck (Centerfield)

300 Level Seating

• 300 Level Club
• Guaranteed Rate Field Club
• Huntington Bank Stadium Club

500 Level Baselines

Our favorite seats

Lower Bowl Infield
Sec 119-145

Great views, usually reasonable prices, and only about 10 seats per row, so easy to get in and out of.

Our least favorite seats

500 Level Outfield
Sec. 506-512, 552-558

It would have to be a World Series game to even consider it. You’re unnecessarily far away from the action.

Guaranteed Rate Seating Overview

There are three seating Levels to Guaranteed Rate Field: the 100 Level lower bowl, the 300 Club-Level, and the 500 Level upper deck. 

There are also various clubs and bar areas, including: the Miller Lite Landing, Leinenkugel’s Craft Lodge, Vizzy View Bar, Centerfield Fan Deck, Huntington Bank Stadium Club, Wintrust Scout Seats, and the Guaranteed Rate Club.

Important note: The White Sox are the only team in Major League Baseball that prohibits entry into the 100 Level if you don’t have a 100 Level ticket. If you don’t have a 100 Level ticket, you can’t even access the 100 Level concourse for food or just wandering around. There are very limited access points to the 100 Level, and, on certain (but not all) days, the White Sox will gate them off and have staff scanning (or just looking at) tickets before allowing fans into the 100 Level. 

Why, you ask? We assume it’s because the White Sox don’t want fans buying 500 Level tickets and then self-relocating themselves to any of the plentiful empty 100 Level seats. But it’s even more restrictive than just that: even fans holding a 300-Level Club ticket are not allowed access to the 100-Level concourse, which is pretty interesting since a “Club seat” is, by price, more expensive than many lower-level tickets. This is something you need to keep in mind if you have a desire to wander around the ballpark. 

Our advice: If you want to access the 100 Level concourse, then just go ahead and buy a 100 Level seat. For a significant majority of games, the difference in price between the upper and lower level isn’t that great: lower level tickets can often be had for less than $20 on the secondary market, and the White Sox will often offer some pretty solid promotional offers for lower level tickets.

The 100 Level Lower Bowl

100 Level Baselines: Sections 108-156

These are the standard 100 Level general bowl seats. They are all the same: individual seats, each with an arm rest, seat back, and cup holder. Other than the obvious differences in location, the main notes are as follows:

–The top 2-3 rows of Sections 112-153 are covered by the 300 Level overhang. They may be shielded from both sun and/or rain, depending on the time of day, or the position of the sun/direction of rain. If you want to be downstairs AND want to be out of the sun, these will be your best options. The first base side will be the shadier side, but that won’t help until the sun moves behind the ballpark later in the afternoon.

–The corner sections of 108, 109, 155, 156 will have some level of obstruction from the foul poles. That obstruction will be greater in lower rows, and less impactful in higher rows.

100 Level Outfield: Sections 101-105, 157-159

These sections face directly towards the infield, so we’d prefer them over sitting in deep left or right fields, especially since they’re usually cheaper as well. But a few notes:

• Sections 100 and 101 will have varying levels of obstruction to left field because of the centerfield wall. Exercise caution when choosing seats in these sections. Seats with an obstruction should be noted by the team or on resale sites, but sometimes they aren’t. In 100, the view is completely clear in rows 1-8. In 101, it’s Rows 1-11. There will certainly be seats above these rows that have a clear view, but it will depend on what seat number they are. Since Guaranteed Rate Field does not have a 3D Virtual Venue with views from each seat, it will be difficult for you to tell, so we say to stick to these row guidelines, just to be safe.
• Sections 157-158 are right behind the White Sox bullpen, so you can watch the game and the pitchers warming up without even turning your head.
• There are good concessions behind the outfield sections, plus plenty of room to get up and stretch your legs. And if they open the CIBC Fan Deck, you can wander up there for a while for a birds-eye view of the ballpark. On weekend games, the area behind these sections will be buzzing with activity.

The Bleachers: Sections 160-164

This can be a little confusing. Outfield Sections 157-159 and 100-105 are Outfield Reserved seats, which are individual seats with seat backs. However, Sections 160-164 are bleacher sections, with metal benches instead of individual seats. Unlike in some stadiums, these bleacher seats are assigned, not general admission, and they are usually the cheapest seats in the lower level (although on plenty of days you can buy a cheaper individual seat on the secondary market for the same or lower price than the Sox sell bleacher tickets for). 

Bleachers are great if you want a cheap day at the ballpark, or if you’ve got a large group – it’s easier to find a cluster of seats together (or close to together) in the bleachers. Plus, there are good food options right behind the bleacher sections.

TSI TIP: Sections 163 and 164 will have varying levels of obstruction to right field because of the centerfield wall. Exercise caution when choosing seats in these sections. Seats with an obstruction should be noted by the team or on resale sites, but sometimes they aren’t. In 163, the view is completely clear in rows 1-13. In 164, it’s Rows 1-9.  There will certainly be seats above these rows that have a clear view, but it will depend on what seat number they are. Since Guaranteed Rate Field does not have a 3D Virtual Venue with views from each seat, it will be difficult for you to tell, so we say to stick to these row guidelines, just to be safe.

Wintrust Scout Seats: Sections 130S, 131S, 133S, 134S

These four sections make up the Wintrust Scout Seats, one of the two all-inclusive premium sections at Guaranteed Rate Field (these sections should not be confused with Sections 130, 131, 133, and 134, which are standard general bowl sections). 

The club experience starts in the Wintrust Scout Seats club, which is a quick two-minute walk from the seats to the lounge underneath the 100 Level. There you’ll find a sharp looking club area, with plenty of seats, a full bar, and a full buffet that is included with your ticket. There’s a wide variety of foods, including appetizers, entrees, side dishes, ballpark fare, and desserts. The bar is all-inclusive, including liquor, and the Sox have a good selection of specialty cocktails on their menu. The buffet starts when the gates open, and runs through the bottom of the 7th.

The Scout Seats themselves are plush leather seats with side tables, and include in-seat wait service, where you can order from a special in-seat menu of snacks and finger foods, as well as all soft drinks and alcoholic beverages (including cocktails). 

We really like the Wintrust seats. The seats are obviously the best in the house, the quality and selection of foods is very good, and the service is outstanding. If you’re going to do it, make sure to get there at gates open so you can enjoy the full window of eating and drinking (and don’t forget to tip your waitstaff – the food/drinks may be all-inclusive, but the service staff deserves to be tipped for their work).

These tickets are routinely available from the team on Ticketmaster, with prices ranging from $300-$500, depending on the game. But you can almost always find them for less than that on resale sites like Stubhub and Seatgeek. But there aren’t a ton of them available, so if this is something of interest to you, you’ll need to keep an eye on them and jump on them if they fall in price.

Miller Lite Landing

Nestled between Sections 105 and 108, this section includes several types of seating, and the differences are EXTREMELY important to be aware of.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 1

Although not clearly identified on the seating chart, Row 1 is at field level, behind the outfield fencing. These are leather seats with personal TVs and in-seat wait service. Behind these seats is the Leinenkugel Craft Lodge, which is a large bar with a huge selection of craft beers available by the can. 

These seats are a matter of personal preference: some people love the experience of watching the game at field level, and potentially having an outfielder crash into the fencing right in front of you. But it’s a difficult perspective to watch a game from, and some people find it very annoying. These tickets include a $20 pre-loaded food and beverage credit which can be redeemed at most (but not all) concession stands (regardless of how you purchase these tickets – on Ticketmaster OR on resale sites, the food and beverage credit will be attached to the ticket). But note: this credit is not accepted at every concession stand, and, unfortunately, a lot of stadium employees don’t know how to process the credit, so even though it’s there, it can often be pretty annoying to use. But if nothing else, you’ll be able to use it from your seat with your in-seat wait staff.

We should also point this out: the White Sox have not done a great job of maintaining these seats. Some of the TV’s don’t work, and if it has rained the previous day or before the game, these seats will be wet because the Sox don’t cover them (and they don’t dry by wiping them off – the water gets soaked into the leather). So keep these things in mind when you’re deciding to buy them.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-PFR, and the row is G01.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 2

Although also not clearly identified on the seating chart, Row 2 aren’t traditional seats or padded leather chairs — they’re barstools. Behind these seats is the Leinenkugel Craft Lodge, and you’ll have a lot of people who are hanging out in the lodge roaming around the area, often not realizing that these barstools are actually reserved seats.  So if you leave your seat, there’s a decent chance that someone may be sitting in it when you get back. That’s easily solved by asking them to move, but annoying.

Nevertheless, if you’re ok with a barstool and like this view, these seats are fine if you can grab them at the right price. But note: these barstool seats do not include any food/beverage credit.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-SR2, and the row is G02.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 3

Again, you won’t find an accurate description of these seats on Ticketmaster or the team’s website, but these are actually some of the best seats in the stadium! Despite being marked as Row 3, they are actually front row seats, because Rows 1 and 2 are at field level, and these are at section level. So there’s nobody in front of these seats, and we’re always a fan of being in the front row.

These wider leather seats have TVs in front of them, as well as in-seat wait service. And honestly, the price that the White Sox charge for these seats is really quite inexpensive (as low as $102 after fees), and all of these seats also include a $20 food and beverage credit that is attached to the ticket, so factor that into your purchasing decision. (Oftentimes this food and beverage credit will not be identified on secondary ticketing systems like Stubhub, but trust us: the seats in this row include a $20 food and beverage credit). But as we mentioned above, not every concession stand accepts this credit, and some stands have no idea how to apply it, but at least your in-seat wait staff will know how to ring it up.

And we’ll say it again: if it rained in the previous 24 hours, these seats will likely be wet because the Sox don’t cover them and they don’t dry well, and some of the TVs will be broken. If it’s been raining, you may want to bring a seat cushion with you.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-PFR, and the row is G03.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 4

These are the same premium seats as Row 3, but just one row back. But they are elevated above Row 3, so they are outstanding seats, even if they aren’t in the “front row”. We love these seats, and if you can get them for a discount to the Row 3 seats, they are definitely worth it. These tickets also come with the $20 of loaded food/beverage credit. The same warnings do apply to these seats about being wet and the TVs not working.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-PFR, and the row is G04.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 5

These are padded seats, although not quite as deluxe as the seats in Rows 1, 3, and 4. There are also no TVs at these seats, but there is extra leg room and tables between every pair of seats, which is a nice feature. Think of these seats as the “premium economy” seats at Guaranteed Rate Field: not quite business/first class like Rows 1, 3 and 4, but way more comfortable than the other 39,000 economy seats at the ballpark. But… as you get further away from the field, keep in mind: you’re sitting in the outfield. So factor that into your decision if you have the option of these seats or sitting in general seats in the infield. These seats also come with $20 of food/beverage credit and have in-seat wait service, and also are subject to the same problems if it has been raining.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-SEL, and the row is G05.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 6-11

These are freestanding chairs with a countertop in front of them. Now let’s be serious: nobody really enjoys balancing stadium food in their laps, so a countertop seat is, in our opinion, pretty sweet. But again… in order to get this benefit, you’ll have to watch the game from the outfield, and more than a few rows away from the field. Once upon a time these seats were cheap bleacher seats, but the Sox converted them into this more interesting product. So really, it’s up to you. If this is something that you’d enjoy and are willing to make the tradeoff on seat location, then we think you’ll enjoy the experience. These seats include in-seat wait staff, but do not have a food/beverage credit attached to the ticket.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-STN, and the rows are G06-11.

Miller Lite Landing: Row 12-13 — STANDING ROOM ONLY

These are standing room only rows, with countertops in front of them. Think of them as just that: a deluxe version of a standing room only seat. You’ll have a place to lean, a place to put food/beverage, and, more specifically, a reserved/assigned standing room location. If standing is your thing, this is a great option. You’re also right in front of the Miller Lite Landing bar, so it’s easy to go back and forth to get refills. We actually like this spot as an SRO.

TSI TIP:  if you’re buying these seats on Ticketmaster, they are labeled: ML-SRO or ML-SRA, and the rows are G12-G13.

Vizzy View Bar

This is a non-ticketed bar one flight of stairs up from the main concourse in left field. There used to be chairs on the balcony that anyone could sit in, but starting in 2024 they have removed them and the area is now just a standing room only spot. But if you want to be on the 100 level in the shade, this is a great spot to do so, even if you have to stand.

The inside bar area was renovated prior to the 2024 season, and looks very nice.  It’s got some ping pong tables, and a good number of places to sit down and eat. But it’s still an oddly big space with very few people in it, and feels like the new bar in town that wants to be cool, but nobody thinks is cool. Maybe someday it will be cool. But that day isn’t today. For the moment, it’s just a good place to get out of the sun and cool off.

TSI TIP: well, there is ONE more thing that the Vizzy View Bar is good for. It is the only non-premium location that offers the now Instagram famous Campfire Milkshake. But heads up:  these sell out usually by the third inning, so if you want one, get over there early and make it happen!

Fan Deck (Centerfield)

This is a group event space and will sometimes be roped off for corporate events. But if the deck has not been rented out, the White Sox may make the area available to all ticket holders to sit in as a GA area, without any sort of special ticket. When it’s open, it’s usually pretty empty, but there is a ton of space, all of the seats have railings in front of them, and it can be a good space to hang out (especially if you’ve got a small group). But… during day games, it can feel really hot up there.

300 Level Seating

There are three types of seats on the 300 Level: Club seats, the Guaranteed Rate Field Club, and The Stadium Club.

300 Level Club Seats

The 300 Level club seats are wider than the general bowl seats and have more padding. And the views from the 300 Level are great. But while the Club Level is nice and quiet because of how fewer seats there are, it’s also sparsely populated with concession options. While there are tons of food options on the 100 and 500 Levels, the 300 Level, unfortunately, just has a couple of stands with very generic food options. So, unless you’re ok just eating the standard ballpark fare, you may want to reconsider sitting in the 300 Level club seats.

Also, as we mentioned previously, if you have a 300 Level ticket, you will not be allowed to access the 100 Level, even though your ticket is more expensive than many of those seats. We say skip the Club Level and opt for tickets downstairs.

Guaranteed Rate Field Club

Along with the Wintrust Scout Seats, this is the only other all-inclusive premium club at Guaranteed Rate Field. The club is behind home plate on the 300 Level, between Sections 330 and 334. 

Unlike the Wintrust Scout Seats, the club area is directly behind the seating area. That’s where you’ll find the all-you-can-eat buffet, with an assortment of appetizers, salads, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. The ticket not only includes the full buffet, but also comes with complimentary drinks, including beer, wine, and cocktails (including a very solid specialty cocktail menu). The seats are also covered by the overhang from the press box above, which is both good and bad: it means protection from the sun and rain, but it can also be a little dark, especially at night.

Inside the club there are tables you can eat at, along with a full service bar. The club isn’t huge, but it’s big enough to accommodate everyone. 

We think the Guaranteed Rate Field Club is a very good experience. If we were choosing between the two premium clubs, we’d go with the Wintrust Scout Seats if the weather is good, and the Guaranteed Rate Field Club if the weather is more iffy (or if you prefer to be out of the sun). 

Tickets for the club are regularly available on Ticketmaster for around $250-$400 depending on the game, but you can find them for less on resale sites. But like the Wintrust Scout Seats, there aren’t a ton of them, so if you find them at a price that is acceptable to you, go ahead and grab them.

Huntington Bank Stadium Club

The Stadium Club is a large restaurant/bar/club located in the corner of the stadium in right field, on the 300 Level. In order to enter the Stadium Club, you need to have a separate Stadium Club ticket in addition to your game ticket. This is a bit confusing, so pay attention:

A Stadium Club ticket on its own will NOT gain you admission to the stadium. In order to enter the stadium, you need a game ticket on the 100, 300, or 500 Level, and then in order to enter the Stadium Club, you need a separate Stadium Club ticket. 

Stadium Club tickets are not available to the general public for purchase from the White Sox, as the team does not sell them on an individual game basis. They are only sold by the White Sox to season ticket members as an “add-on” to their season ticket package. Having said that, Stadium Club tickets are often available on secondary ticketing platforms like Vivid Seats, and are often fairly inexpensive (less than $15).

If you have a Stadium Club ticket AND a 300 Level ticket, you can enter the ballpark at any gate, make your way to the 300 Level, and then enter the Stadium Club from the 300 Level concourse.

BUT… if you have a 100 or 500 Level ticket and a Stadium Club ticket, the only way you can access the Stadium Club is to enter the stadium from the outside via the Stadium Club designated entrance.

Confused yet? Yeah… so are we. 

Anyway… moving on to the club itself, Stadium Club tickets do not include ANYTHING other than access to the Stadium Club. Once in the club, food and beverages are available for purchase. But the food options do include a $45 buffet (2024 pricing), and for that you’re getting a really decent spread. On the night we were there it included:

Caesar Salad, feta & heirloom salad, Chinois salas, hot dogs, Polish sausages, soft pretzels, a nachos bar, toasted ravioli (take that, St. Louis), a cheese board, plus cookies and brownies.

Oh, and one more thing:  it also includes unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks !

The buffet package runs until 30 minutes after first pitch (so 7:40 for a 7:10 game). Which means if you get in at gates open (90 minutes before first pitch), you have just under two hours to eat and drink yourself into oblivion (we are not suggesting drunkenness — the Sox don’t need that kind of trouble, so try to behave yourselves).

Our opinion: well, it’s a bit of a math problem. $45, plus gratuity (let’s say $10). That’s $55. Then you also have to acquire the Stadium Club ticket, which will cost you between $10-$30 on a resale site. So at the very least, it’s a $65 buffet. Is that worth it? It probably depends on what kind of appetite you have, and how strong your tolerance is. We’ll let you make that determination for yourselves. But this is absolutely a deal worth considering. The downside is that you’ll have no room leftover for general concessions, which we think are really good at GRF. But it’s up to you.

In general, the Stadium Club is sorta dated. But kudos to the White Sox for trying to make something of it with the pregame buffet. If not for the buffet, there’s nothing very exciting going on, and the view from the Club isn’t particularly great, but it’s fine. For us, we think the club has value if A) you want a the pregame meal and you’re planning on getting to the stadium at gates open, B) you specifically are looking to entertain a client and want a nice, quieter setting to be able to talk, or C) it’s cold outside and you’d like an indoor place to watch the game from, without having to spend a ton of money on a Guaranteed Rate Field Club ticket (which is really the only indoor location inside GRF to watch the game from). 

500 Level Seating

The 500 Level is exactly what you’d expect: it’s high. And cheap. High and cheap. If that’s your thing, then great – go right ahead. But here’s the thing: on many game days, the price of a lower level ticket just isn’t that expensive, so we don’t think it’s necessary to sit in the upper deck for the reason of saving money.

But once again, keep in mind: if you have a 500 Level ticket, you will not be able to access the 100 Level. As far as we know, the White Sox are the ONLY MLB team that doesn’t allow upper deck ticket holders to enter the lower-level concourse. There are checkpoints located at the ramp entrances to the 100 Level, and ticket staff scan (or sometimes just look) at tickets to make sure that you are ticketed for the 100 Level. It’s their way of making sure that people don’t purchase cheap upper-level tickets and then just relocate themselves downstairs to an empty seat (of which there are often many).

NOW… you may read a lot of chatter about this online, so let us be clear: 

• Yes, there are some days, particularly weekday games against weaker opponents, or in colder times of the season, where the White Sox don’t staff those checkpoints, and you can walk right into the 100 Level.
• You may not believe this, but even 300 Level club seat holders are not allowed to enter the 100 Level either. That’s right: even with a more expensive ticket, the entrance rules are still the same.

So… if you are hoping to be able to wander around the park and see the 100 Level, you’ll need to purchase a 100 Level ticket, or take the chance that they won’t be checking at the entrances. 

Here’s our opinion: the rules (as questionable as they may be) are that you can’t enter the 100 Level without a 100 Level ticket. And in most cases, a 100 Level ticket just isn’t THAT expensive. 

Therefore, in order to make your life easy and avoid any stress or doubt, if you’d like to be downstairs on the 100 Level, go ahead and purchase a 100 Level ticket. For what it’s worth, we’d much rather be in the 100 Level outfield than anywhere in the 500 Level. No question whatsoever.

Take a look at the White Sox ticket deals page for some great deals on lower level tix.

Bottom Line – where we’d sit

Obviously, if price is not an issue, sitting in the Wintrust Scout Seats behind home plate is a great experience. But not everyone can afford tickets that cost hundreds of dollars. Honestly, we find that sitting anywhere in the infield to the shallow outfield is completely fine at Guaranteed Rate Field, and usually pretty inexpensive on most secondary ticketing sites. 

If you want some shade during a day game, grab seats in Rows 38-41 along the first base side. If you feel like splurging but not breaking the bank, see if there are seats available in either Row 1, 3, or 4 of the Miller Lite Patio section. 

If you are just looking for a cheap night out at the ballpark, look for ticket deals from the team for the bleachers. They’ll often have a deal for a ticket, a hot dog, and a beer for around $20, which is absolutely hard to beat. In general, we’d avoid the 500 Level, and unless you have a specific reason for sitting there, the 300 Level is worth avoiding as well. Stick to downstairs for the best experience at Guaranteed Rate Field.