Wheel of Fortune in Chicago 3/7-3/9

[TraderRob]

I have tickets for Wheel of Fortune at Navy Pier in March.  As I expected, they are general admission, first come-first serve tickets.

For anyone who has attended an on-location taping in the past, is this the type of event that will require us to be standing in line 8 hours before the doors open?   Or is a few hours ahead of time sufficient?  It's the last taping on the last day.  

A bunch of us sent in ticket requests and 3 of us managed to get 4 tickets apiece for a total of 12.  Makes me wonder if we just got lucky or if they're sending tickets to anyone that requested them.

Rob

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'177952\' date=\'Feb 15 2008, 07:08 PM\']For anyone who has attended an on-location taping in the past, is this the type of event that will require us to be standing in line 8 hours before the doors open?   Or is a few hours ahead of time sufficient?  It's the last taping on the last day.  [/quote]I don't know if the situation has changed, but I was in the queue at 4:30 for a 6 or 7p start time. We had one person saving our spot so everyone could grab food or a restroom pit stop.

[cmjb13]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'177952\' date=\'Feb 15 2008, 10:08 PM\']
I have tickets for Wheel of Fortune at Navy Pier in March.  As I expected, they are general admission, first come-first serve tickets.

For anyone who has attended an on-location taping in the past, is this the type of event that will require us to be standing in line 8 hours before the doors open?   Or is a few hours ahead of time sufficient?  It's the last taping on the last day.  

A bunch of us sent in ticket requests and 3 of us managed to get 4 tickets apiece for a total of 12.  Makes me wonder if we just got lucky or if they're sending tickets to anyone that requested them.

Rob
[/quote]
Having attending the NYC Wheel shows, I think 4-6 hours may be a good idea to get decent seats.

[vtown7]

While I realize they aren't wheel... just by experience:

I saw Canadian 5th Grader in Toronto last October and was the first in line for a 5pm taping at 2.30 pm.

A bunch of us went to see J! at the Congreff (that's the right term, correct?) in 2005 and we got there just in time, and sat in the back row at Sony Studios.

Same week I saw price, stayed in line all night, was 12th in line.

So basically, common sense says the earlier you get there, the better

Good luck!

Ryan

/I'd comment on Wheel, but I kind of got the VIP treatment...

[mathwhiz]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'177952\' date=\'Feb 15 2008, 10:08 PM\']
A bunch of us sent in ticket requests and 3 of us managed to get 4 tickets apiece for a total of 12.  Makes me wonder if we just got lucky or if they're sending tickets to anyone that requested them.
[/quote]

I would say you got lucky as I sent in a request too - but got a "sorry" letter back.

Rich

[wheelloon]

I would say get there 2-3 hours before your scheduled tape time. The shows I have been too have ranged in both how long the lines were and how many people they let in (which of course, naturally, depend on the size of the venue, as well), but for the best seats, I would go with others' thoughts with the 4 hours early range. Most recently in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center, we arrived 2 hours before our taping time, and we got in without a problem. We were about at the halfway point in the line as well, IIRC, though our seats were a bit nosebleed-ish.

In related WOF "on-the-road" news, next season, they'll be returning to my favorite on the road spot for them, Hawaii! Sajak makes a brief mention on his website:

http://www.patsajak.com/news.php?view=up

[TraderRob]

Thanks for everybody's help on this.

My other question is about the No Cell Phones rule.  Does that mean no cell phones completely or just that we are not to use cell phones during the production.  I have a group of 15 people that I'm going to be trying to get together and I'll be taking public transportation downtown so I'm going to HAVE to have my phone with me.  I was planning to shut it off once everybody was accounted for.  If they do say no cell phones, can we check it and claim it after the taping like a coat check?   I'm just thinking back to a Bears game I went to at Soldier Field a few years ago and it was raining that day. We weren't allowed to bring in any umbrellas so we had to leave them along the side of the building by the entrance.  When we exited, all the umbrellas had been thrown away.  I'd hate to give up my cell phone and not get it back.

[lobster]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'179673\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 11:32 PM\']
Thanks for everybody's help on this.

My other question is about the No Cell Phones rule.  Does that mean no cell phones completely or just that we are not to use cell phones during the production.  I have a group of 15 people that I'm going to be trying to get together and I'll be taking public transportation downtown so I'm going to HAVE to have my phone with me.  I was planning to shut it off once everybody was accounted for.  If they do say no cell phones, can we check it and claim it after the taping like a coat check?   I'm just thinking back to a Bears game I went to at Soldier Field a few years ago and it was raining that day. We weren't allowed to bring in any umbrellas so we had to leave them along the side of the building by the entrance.  When we exited, all the umbrellas had been thrown away.  I'd hate to give up my cell phone and not get it back.
[/quote]

at the Dallas taping they did have metal detectors .. not sure if they were just looking for weapons or if they were scanning for cameras and other such contraband as well because I didn't go through security but I did see that they were checking people for something

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'179673\' date=\'Mar 2 2008, 09:32 PM\']
My other question is about the No Cell Phones rule.[/quote]
I can see them asking you to keep them turned off, but anybody holding an event in a public forum in 2008 expecting all attendees to leave their cellphones at home just isn't being realistic.

[cmjb13]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'179673\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 12:32 AM\']
Thanks for everybody's help on this.

My other question is about the No Cell Phones rule.  Does that mean no cell phones completely or just that we are not to use cell phones during the production.  I have a group of 15 people that I'm going to be trying to get together and I'll be taking public transportation downtown so I'm going to HAVE to have my phone with me.  I was planning to shut it off once everybody was accounted for.  If they do say no cell phones, can we check it and claim it after the taping like a coat check?   I'm just thinking back to a Bears game I went to at Soldier Field a few years ago and it was raining that day. We weren't allowed to bring in any umbrellas so we had to leave them along the side of the building by the entrance.  When we exited, all the umbrellas had been thrown away.  I'd hate to give up my cell phone and not get it back.
[/quote]
I'm pretty sure Radio City had signs for no cell phones, but lots of people had them inside. Same goes for cameras.

[TenPoundHammer]

To TraderRob: Wonder if I'll see you there.

I'll be going to Chicago on Wednesday in hopes of attending at least one taping myself. This will be sort of an early 21st birthday present for me, since I turn 21 on 3/10.

[TraderRob]

[quote name=\'TenPoundHammer\' post=\'179723\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 02:29 PM\']
To TraderRob: Wonder if I'll see you there.

I'll be going to Chicago on Wednesday in hopes of attending at least one taping myself. This will be sort of an early 21st birthday present for me, since I turn 21 on 3/10.
[/quote]

Happy early birthday - we're going for my best friend's birthday - he will be 36 on 3/10.  Good luck getting a ticket because I know they gave out all their available tickets for all 6 of the taping sessions.  If you happen to be there Sunday early afternoon, look for the loud, obnoxious group of 16! :-)

Rob

[TraderRob]

Well it turned out to be a fun day, even though I was probably there earlier than I needed to be.

My group arrived at 12:50 for the 4:30 taping and they were still pushing people in for the 12:00 ticket.  Turns out that you only get to see one show as an audience member.  They take the first 3200 or so, put 'em in the audience, tape the show, kick them out, and then bring the next group in.  I was expecting to get to see 2, if not 3, shows get taped.  On the flip side, my hands were already tired from clapping so much, so I'm guessing they wanted fresh enthusiasm.

The only other gripe I had was that there were so many "VIPs" and "family and friends of contestants" that they took up most of the front rows.  Even though we got in early, we ended up sitting in the bleacher section in the far back of the audience.  Even though it was further back, it was better because each row was raised so you had a clearer (and higher) shot of the puzzle board and wheel, while those on the floor were all at the same level.

I guess after 25 years in syndication they know what they're doing because those shows were taped in real-time and there were no stops for anything other than the commercial breaks.  The set was fantastic, with the Chicago "L" train cars running in the background!!!  

Unfortunately I was too high up to be seen on camera, but the show I watched will air on May 15th, and it's a goody!

Rob

[lobster]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'180726\' date=\'Mar 10 2008, 09:34 AM\']
The only other gripe I had was that there were so many "VIPs" and "family and friends of contestants" that they took up most of the front rows.  Even though we got in early, we ended up sitting in the bleacher section in the far back of the audience.  Even though it was further back, it was better because each row was raised so you had a clearer (and higher) shot of the puzzle board and wheel, while those on the floor were all at the same level.
[/quote]

At the Dallas taping they left the front two rows in the center empty and reserved, and I didn't understand why since I was front row off to the side where the family was, until they brought in this clan of PrettyPeople™ and sat 'em all right smack in the center front.  They all seemed to be about 19 and model-icous and certainly not your average WOF watcher... surrounding audience members kinda chuckled at it when they got seated.. I guess they wanted purrty folk when they did those crane sweep shots ..  did you notice them doing that in Chicago?  Or does Friedman think all DFW people are just ugly?  :p

/home of the dallas cowboy cheerleaders [];

[lobster]

[quote name=\'TraderRob\' post=\'180726\' date=\'Mar 10 2008, 09:34 AM\']
The set was fantastic, with the Chicago "L" train cars running in the background!!!  
[/quote]

yeah, see, that's actually cool stereotype imagery that's accurate and representative about the city of Chicago..  I was very disappointed to see their Dallas set be filled with wagon wheels, cow skulls, rope and barbed wire, and even a freakin' "General Store" porch ..  why Hollywood insists on making the implication to America that this very modern metropolis with 7 million people and full of billionaires, Fortune 500 companies and enormous skyscrapers is somehow stuck in 1890 is beyond me.  I was waiting for the tumbleweeds to roll across the stage as they announced the final spin.. so embarrassing..

/going back to my BBQ brisket sandwich