Cubs tickets, like hopes, plummet

Spendthrifts -- and Diamondback fans -- likely are the only ones celebrating the two Cubs losses in Arizona.

They caused ticket prices for today's games to start tanking Friday.

Seats behind home plate were a dirt-cheap bargain at $1,659, down from $2,140 before Thursday's loss, said Jennifer Swanson, of the online broker TicketsNow. And you suddenly could get into the park for a mere $150, if you didn't mind standing.

Tickets behind home plate that were listed at $1,500 the night before at StubHub, were down to $945 by Friday afternoon.

If you're planning to actually use those tickets, bring plenty of cash.

Parking should be off the charts if the pre-game ads are any indication.

Finding a space is tight during regular season night games because vehicle permits are required in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. When you add on the masses who'll be there tonight without tickets just for the ambience around the field, you'll be lucky to park anywhere within a mile for under $50.

Ads popped up on CraigsList Friday for spaces as high as $115.

"I bet they'll get it," said Jamie Lust, who opted simply to double his regular season rates from $20 to $40 for three spots attached to his Wrigleyville condominiums .

Within minutes of posting a parking space ad on CraigsList, the phone at his business, Fremont Place of Chicago started ringing. It didn't take long to sell out all three spots for today's game and the potential game tomorrow.

"My neighbors all spend a lot of time waving cars down (for parking). We just post it on CraigsList and don't have to do anything else," Lust said.