CHICAGO Will Be Blue!

Join us for the Chicago Anomaly on May 25th 2024
RESISTANCE FTW

Chicago anomalies always make history. This May, join old friends and new in the Windy City for the battle of a lifetime, as we face the ENL and seek another victory! This will take place on the anniversary of our historic win of Abaddon Prime Anomaly, which sealed our dominance in the Osiris Series!

United Chicagoland Resistance, our local Ingress Resistance team, welcomes you to the heart of Chicago on May 25th, 2024. Bask in the confident Chicago vibe, five years to the day since our epic last victory, and enjoy the hospitality of the third biggest city in the USA.

This anomaly weekend offers a fantastic opportunity to experience the Jewel of the Midwest at its best, with Mission Day, GORUCK and other surprises. As the anomaly unfolds, you’ll fight alongside your teammates and witness the resilience and pride of Chicago’s Resistance.

This city is a rich cultural hub. While strategic gameplay takes center stage, take a break and explore Chicago’s world famous pizza, towering skyscrapers, and lakefront attractions!


About Chicago

Why Chicago?

Niantic’s selection of anomaly cities is a mystery, but we are thrilled that Chicago was chosen as one of the 2024 anomaly sites and can’t wait to welcome you!

How do I get to Chicago?

Getting here by plane

Chicago is home to two international airports conveniently located in the center of the country, with thousands of daily inbound and outbound flights to more than 240 destinations.

Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Multi-award-winning, environmentally conscious O’Hare (ORD) is one of the largest airports in the world. It lies just 16 miles from downtown Chicago and boasts four terminals — three domestic (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and one international (Terminal 5).

Chicago Midway International Airport
Midway (MDW) is the nation’s premier point-to-point airport, offering value-oriented leisure and business travel to over 60 destinations. It’s located only 11 miles from downtown Chicago.

Gary/Chicago International Airport
A member of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is a full-service airport used for private aviation. Located just 25 miles from downtown Chicago, it’s a convenient location for corporate and weekend flyers entering the Chicago metropolitan region.

REAL ID
All Americans traveling by air will need a REAL ID or another accepted form of identification to board a flight within the U.S. on and after May 7, 2025. A traditional driver’s license will no longer be accepted through airport security. Domestic travelers may use:

  • REAL ID (generally marked with a star in the upper portion of the card)
  • U.S. passport or passport card
  • U.S. military ID
  • DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • Enhanced driver’s licenses (offered in MI, MN, NY, VT and WA. Generally marked with U.S. flag)

Learn more about REAL ID and how to get one.

Transportation to/from O’Hare and Midway
Both O’Hare and Midway are within easy reach of downtown Chicago.

Flight resources

Getting here by car

Chicago’s central location and its position as a hub for the nation’s major interstates make it a convenient drive from anywhere in the country. Chicago is accessible via several major interstates and highways: I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), I-55 (Stevenson Expressway), I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), and I-294 (Tri-State Tollway).

View an interactive parking map of downtown Chicago to search for public parking lots and garages by address and points of interest.

Want to pay for parking in advance? Find the perfect Chicago parking spot by comparing price, location, and amenities. Reserve your spot now with Parking.comiParkitMillennium Garages, or SpotHero.

Find average drive times to Chicago. And find traffic and road conditions from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Getting here by bus

Total Charter Bus Chicago
If you’re headed to Chicago from a Midwestern metropolis like Detroit, Indianapolis, or St. Louis, catch a leisurely ride on a private charter bus. Charter buses include free WiFi, reclining seats, panoramic windows, and plenty of legroom. Find a private charter bus.

Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Greyhound has five Chicagoland locations, including two 24-hour stations and 20 express routes to major U.S. cities. Find Greyhound stations.

Megabus.com
Megabus is a budget-friendly, city-to-city service. Find Megabus stations and rates.

Getting here by train

Chicago’s iconic Union Station serves both Amtrak and Metra, the city’s commuter rail service. Originally designed by Daniel Burnham and completed by Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Union Station is a glowing expression of Chicago’s status as a national railroad hub, and remains a treasured part of the city’s history.

Additionally, the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center in downtown Chicago serves the three commuter rail lines of Metra’s Union Pacific District, which approach the terminal elevated above street level. There are also two Metra stations in the Loop: Millennium Station on the Metra Electric District line and Lasalle Street Station on the Rock Island District Line.

Amtrak
With 21,000 miles of routes across the United States and Canada, Amtrak offers more than 300 high-speed trains to more than 500 destinations daily. Find Amtrak routes and fares.

Metra Rail
The high-speed Metra commuter rail train connects outlying suburbs to downtown Chicago, and is a fast and easy way to travel to the heart of the city. Find fares and route maps.

South Shore Line
South Shore Line serves Chicago through Northern Indiana to the South Bend Airport. Call (219) 874-4221 ext. 245 for group rates. Find South Shore Line routes and fares.

Where should I stay in Chicago?

There are may options to choose from, from hostels to boutique hotels to AirBnBs. Register to find out where your friends will be staying!

How do I get around in Chicago?

Driving and Parking 

Driving to and from Chicago is relatively easy but beware of Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. It’s brutal, and yes, even commuting into Chicago is rough during Friday’s rush. Plan for delays. If you’re not an iPass/EZ-pass user, consider getting one to assist you with any toll routes you may encounter.  You can even set it up to your plate so you don’t have to get a reader for your vehicle.

Check out the iPass here: https://www.getipass.com/  

You can also pay your missed tolls online here: https://www.illinoistollway.com/tolling-information/unpaid-tolls  

If you plan to park on Chicago public streets with paid parking, check out the ParkChicago app. Note that most of these pay-to-park spots in Chicago are 2-3 hour blocks. Most blocks are free after 9 p.m., but double check the signs on every block. https://parkchicago.com/  

Also check out the Spothero app to help you find and reserve parking: https://spothero.com/ 

Intro to Chicago Public Transportation 

In this section you will learn the basics of public transportation throughout Chicagoland, and our different systems (CTA/RTA/Metra). 

How to Use Ventra 

First, get acquainted with Ventra at https://www.ventrachicago.com/howitworks/  

Ventra is used to pay fares for any Chicago city bus, suburban Pace bus, L train/subway and the suburban heavy commuter rail (Metra). Having one card & companion app (Google & iOS) for the entire system makes it easy and convenient to travel around the city and reload on-the-go or at stations. 

Ventra is very simple to sign up for and use. You can set it up online and have a card delivered to your home ahead of time (SWEET!). Create an account, get your name on it, and link funding so you can instantly add $5-$10 as needed. There’s an app available to make that all even easier for you. (During the anomaly, we suggest turning on autoload to reduce inconvenience). 

If you don’t get your card ahead of time, that’s OK. You can buy a Ventra card at any CTA rail station https://www.ventrachicago.com/how-to/vending-machines/, including the ones at O’Hare and Midway airport, or some retail locations: https://www.ventrachicago.com/how-to/retailers/ . There you can pre-purchase certain amounts of funds, activate it, and later link your bank account to it directly to add more. 

CTA – Chicago Transit Authority

You now have a Ventra card! Congrats, you can now travel all over Chicagoland worry-free. Now, where are you coming from, and where are you going? Well, chances are you have a web-enabled Google Maps app. It’s great. Take it out, tell it where you’re going, and hit the train icon for public transportation. It will give you the fastest route via our trains and buses, as well as additional options if you find you want to use a different route to get unique portal visits or captures (UPV/UPCs). 

You can also visit http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/  for maps of the entire system. 

CTA is the city of Chicago’s rail and bus system, which is most likely the main system you’re going to use. Our rail lines are all color-coded based on region, which makes it easy to figure out where you need to go. Most of the rail lines stop running around 1:00 am and start back up again around 5:00 am. 


The Blue Line starts at O’Hare Airport and goes through The Loop (the core part of our business-focused side of downtown), ending in Forest Park. This line runs 24 hours

The Orange Line starts at Midway Airport and goes to The Loop. 

The Green Line starts in Oak Park and travels through The Loop, ending in the South Side. 

The Red Line travels mainly North/South along Lake Michigan, starting in Rogers Park and ending in the South Side. Along the way are Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field (Formerly known as The Cell). This line runs 24 hours

The Purple Line picks up where the Red Line stops, to take you into Evanston. This line will also travel into The Loop on weekday rush hour only, but it runs Express to bypass stops on its way to the loop. It is only recommended you use this line if you need to travel into Evanston. 

The Yellow Line also picks up where the Red Line stops and will take you to Skokie. 

The Brown Line parallels the Red Line for a while and then travels west into the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood/Albany Park neighborhoods. 

The Pink Line starts in Cicero and runs to the loop. 

Metra

Metra is the commuter railway for the Chicagoland area. The Metra stop closest to the proposed playbox is Union Station. There are many lines, some of which go as far as Indiana & Wisconsin. You can buy tickets at many Metra stations, from a conductor on board the train (a convenience fee will be applied), or by using the Ventra app on your smartphone. Trains generally run from around 5 am until about midnight daily to most locations. See https://metrarail.com/  for further information, particularly this section: https://metrarail.com/riding-metra/new-riders  

Lyft and Uber 

Our two most common ride-sharing apps are Lyft and Uber. They are great low-cost alternatives to taxi cabs. Download their apps, and start sharing rides where you’re going. 

What to do in Chicago?

Chicago offers abundant attractions to suit anyone’s taste and interests. Please check out our Visitor Guide for just a few of the most popular ones!


About the Anomaly

What is an Ingress Anomaly?

An Anomaly is a FREE city-based Ingress event hosted by Niantic and passionately supported by our dedicated local organizing team. Anomalies have been taking place all around the world since 2013, and we’re thrilled to announce that Chicago will be hosting one in May 2024. The main anomaly event is scheduled for Saturday, but there will be related activities and gatherings happening throughout the weekend.

The Chicago Anomaly event itself will span approximately 3 hours, encompassing 3-4 hours of exhilarating walking or biking gameplay. Following the anomaly, there’s also an optional social meetup at a Resistance afterparty to celebrate a day of intense competition and camaraderie.

Whether you’re a seasoned anomaly veteran or a new agent eager to learn the ins and outs of Ingress, there’s a place for you with the Resistance at the Chicago Anomaly!

Our dedicated Resistance organizers are working tirelessly to ensure that every agent’s needs are met. We’ve curated assignments for both fast-moving teams and those who prefer a slower, more strategic approach.

No matter your preferences, you’re a vital part of our team, and we value your participation!

The Resistance organizers are here to assist with travel and accommodation advice, party planning, merchandise, and coordinated strategies for Resistance players. Our goal is to make your anomaly weekend an unforgettable and immersive experience!

Anomalies offer a multitude of unique opportunities, including:

  1. Exploring the vibrant city of Chicago through the lens of an Ingress event.
  2. Hacking numerous unique portals and adding impressive banners to your agent profile.
  3. Meeting and celebrating with hundreds of fellow Resistance teammates.
  4. Building new friendships with agents from around the world while reconnecting with old acquaintances.
  5. Engaging in a strategic virtual battle like no other.
  6. Earning or advancing your badges, including the coveted Chicago Anomaly badge.
  7. Exploring the arts & local restaurants, while trading a plethora of swag and, of course, indulging in delicious food and refreshments.
How does it fit in with the global battle?

Apart from being a great reason and opportunity to explore new places and meet awesome people, Ingress Anomalies are competitive virtual battles between the Resistance and the Enlightened. Anomalies are typically part of a series, with wins for either faction determining the ultimate victor.

Why is there an anomaly in Chicago?

Niantic chooses anomaly locations based solely on their own decision process.

We are excited about the opportunity to host a great event for all the Resistance agents in the wonderful city of Chicago and can’t wait to make it a successful and fun day for everyone!

What type of gameplay challenges will there be?

We do not yet have official rules for the Chicago Anomaly, but will post them here once they are released. Gameplay will likely consist of a combination of Battle Beacon and Shard play.

What do I do on the day?

In anomalies, we play in teams. This can be you and your friends, or we will assign you a team optimized to your speed and experience. Your timetable will depend on your team’s assignment. Playing in a coordinated group helps us to coordinate everything on the day, and is the only way we can win the anomaly.

Once you register, we will explain the whole Anomaly and everything you’ll need to do on the day in detail.

Do I have to register with Niantic?

No, Niantic has changed how this works. You no longer need to register with Niantic to earn the anomaly badge. We are not certain of the requirements for the Chicago Anomaly badge but if 2023 is any indication, it will be awarded once you have performed certain interactions with Niantic deployed battle beacons. (We will update you on the rules once they are released.)

Just be sure to register with the Resistance so that we can help make your experience and our chances of winning the best possible!

Can I be on a team with my friends?

In most cases, yes, you will be able to be on a team with your friends! There are occasional exceptions but we will do our best to accommodate you!

(It’s OK if you don’t know anybody yet. We will assign you to a team that matches your speed, language, physical capabilities and experience.)

What time does the anomaly take place?

The Chicago Anomaly will take place on Saturday, May 25th, 2024, in the afternoon, with exact times to be announced closer to the date.

However, your team will be likely to meet up earlier in the day so that everyone can get to know each other.


General FAQ

Will there be a Resistance pre-party / after-party?

Yes, of course! There will be multiple opportunities to catch up with other agents of our wonderful faction, make new friends & chat with old ones, and exchange some swag – this can’t be missed!

Find all the information about Resistance-only events after registering!

Will there be a Mission Day?

Yes! We welcome you to explore the city guided by missions that will showcase Chicago’s unique atmosphere and increment or earn your Mission Day badge!

Will there be GORUCK?

Yes! GORUCK has confirmed that Stealth, Urban, and Operation Clear Field will all take place in Chicago!

Register for Stealth

Register for Urban

Register for Operation Clear Field

Will there be NL1331?

While we do not yet know if the actual van will be in Chicago, there will be a NL1331 portal you can visit to increment your NL1331 Meet Up badge!

Will there be swag?

Yes! As usual, the Resistance will have fantastic swag! Please stayed tuned for the Swag Shop to open.

Will there be a Niantic afterparty and official swag?

We currently do not have any information regarding Niantic’s plans for their participation during the Chicago Anomaly.

We will keep you updated once we know more!

I have specific mobility needs. Can I still participate?

You can absolutely still participate in the event! It is helpful to let us know your mobility needs when you register so we can help you find a team that meets your needs.

Can I bring my kids?

Of course! If they want to participate they can either sign up with our registration themselves, or if you are not comfortable with that, you can always tell our Team Builders and your Team Lead about it.

Please make sure to follow the Ingress Terms and Conditions.

Can I still support my team if I find I cannot attend?

Yes, you can provide them with gear like ultrastrikes and shields, set up farming events prior to the anomaly, hold onto keys and other items for them, and tell other people about the anomaly and where to sign up.