Where to watch America’s Cup at Navy Pier for free

Navy Pier East End Plaza

Where to watch America’s Cup at Navy Pier for free

When:  June 10 – 12, 2016 Schedule of events. Races on June 11 and 12 are from 1:30pm-3pm.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand

The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Chicago, a qualifying event for the 2017 America’s Cup in Bermuda is coming to Navy Pier.  Ticket prices for viewing from Navy Pier range from $29(standing)- $295(sitting and access to air conditioning). This post may seem premature but tickets are on  sale now and there’s no way to know if they will sell out. Purchase here.

***Update 5/3/16 This was originally posted on Feb. 3. Tickets have not sold out but have gone up in price! Also read below there is now a new option for boaters in Monroe Harbor***

If you don’t want to spend that kind of money to watch a one and a half hour race here’s where you can watch for free.

Navy Pier will be the epicenter of the event. The start and finish line will be in the water right off of the Grand Ballroom & East End Plaza (see below).

It’s not clear Navy Pier will be open to the public that weekend with restricted areas or closed to everyone except ticket holders.

The website says:

Public viewing will be available along the shoreline of Monroe Harbor with the breakwall along the Shedd Aquarium and the Planetarium naturally forming tiered viewing areas.  The race course will be located within the outer harbor breakwater with designated spectator areas for boaters eager to get up close to the action on the water.  Behind all of this, the dramatic skyline of Chicago will stand as an iconic backdrop to the world-class racing.

Watching from the Adler Planetarium or the Shedd will be .85 of a mile from where the boats turn around if the race course map is correct.  You are not allowed to sit on the breakwall.  Your better option if you want to see it for free will be to camp out along the Lakefront Trail between DuSable Harbor and Monroe Harbor (see red line below).  Since this event has never been in Chicago there’s no telling how crowded it will be along the Lake.

Americas Cup Navy Pier Race Course

Anyway if you want to buy tickets they are on  sale now. Purchase here.

• General Admission tickets are now on sale for $29 $35 adult and $15 $19 children 12 and under. General Admission Day Pass which includes access to single day (Saturday or Sunday) only based on selection.
• General Admission Weekend Pass $49 $59 adult/$25 $19 children includes guaranteed access to to events Friday-Sunday.

The “Race Village” is your home base throughout the historic weekend. race village Ticket holders will have access to the following:

• Navy Pier’s East End Plaza and Beer Garden (prime front-row and finish line viewing)
• Grand Opening Ceremony (Friday June 10), Dock Out shows and other programming
• Technical zone with sailing Q&A’s and autograph sessions
• Official ACWS Chicago Fan Zone with food, beverage, rest rooms and interactive displays

• Grandstand Weekend Pass $295 $349. Guarantees seating overlooking the action, admission to indoor air conditioned areas, high-end food and beverages for purchase and “other” exclusive experiences.

Get all the benefits of a “Race Village” ticket, plus unparalleled event access. grandstand ticket holders will have access to the following:

***Update 5/3/16 New option is a Boaters Pass if you own a boat . BOATERS PASS: $149 includes:

• LVACWS Commemorative Boat Flag
• Invitation to America’s Cup BOATERS BASH on Saturday afternoon
  • Raft-up along the Race Course Boundary in South Monroe Harbor
  • Entertainment throughout the day and into the night
  • Floating Main Stage with DJs and JUMBOTRON TV SCREEN to watch the race
  • Floating bar with drinks available for purchase
• Registration in SKYLINE DASH hosted by Chicago Yacht Club on Sunday morning
  • Tour your boat around the America’s Cup Racecourse
  • Start o the Chicago Light House and nish on the O cial America’s Cup Finish Line at Navy Pier
  • Power and Sailboats between 22’ – 75’ welcome, with multiple section breaks
  • See O cial Notice of Rally for more details
• Two (2) tickets to the opening ceremony Friday, June 10 at Navy Pier
• Commemorative photo of your boat finishing SKYLINE DASH at Navy Pier
• Printed Viewer’s Guide

And now per DNAInfo there will be a “Boater’s Bash” taking place in Monroe Harbor on a 100-foot-long, 26-foot-wide barge with a DJ and video screens.  Boaters who want to raft off the barge will have to pay $50 per day or already have an America’s Cup ticket.  Rafting off positions will be on a first come first serve basis.  The barge can accommodate 100 boats.  So good luck if you get there early and want to leave early.  It will be BYOB.  You can invite guests to your boat and they will have to take a $15 tender to the barge.  Uninvited guests will be returned to shore.

Picture DNAInfo

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Americas Cup Navy Pier Amenity Locations

Chicago will make maritime history with Lake Michigan chosen as the first freshwater venue to host America’s Cup racing in the event’s 164-year history.

Six teams will be competing for the Cup including USA, Sweden, Great Britain, Japan, France, and New Zealand. Coverage will be seen live on NBC Sports Network.