Wrigley Field Reviews (Chicago, Illinois)

Cubs game and stadium tour

Stephenville, Texas

February 4, 2013

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Best of IgoUgo By far the highlight of the trip. I married into a baseball family and my now 8 year old son loves baseball just as much. So being that I am surrounded around lots of baseball this was a real treat to me. Its one of the oldest original ball parks ...Read more By far the highlight of the trip. I married into a baseball family and my now 8 year old son loves baseball just as much. So being that I am surrounded around lots of baseball this was a real treat to me. Its one of the oldest original ball parks still used for Major league baseball.

We went to a Sunday afternoon game. We arrived early and shopped the stores around the ballpark. We heard that it is best to get there when the gates open because kids can go out on the field to watch batting practice if they are one of the first 50. It was pretty impressive how many people show up 2 hours before game time, although for us that is nothing new. We watched as they rolled open the metal gates and rushed right in with everyone else.

The first stop we made was to get my son his little certificate that said it was his first time at the park. After that we headed down to watch batting practice. Since Wrigley is one of the older stadiums you are able to get very close to the field and see the players us close. After a few minutes of soaking up the stadium we headed down to homeplate when the let the kids down on the field. They slapped a sticker on my son and down he went. This was such a neat experience for him. He was up close and got to watch batting practice from the field.

After BP was over we headed up to our seats. Now Wrigley is so small that every seat in the house was a good seat. We had lower level seats that were in the shade, a good thing too, because it stormed pretty bad and caused a 2 hour game delay, then it was super sunny and hot. We really had great seats.

Now Wrigley is the only stadium that still has a hand changed score board. There a a few men that work the score board for the entire game. During the tour our guide said it can get extremely hot up there and all they have is a hose and a bucket. You can image how gross it must be up there. Oh and NO bathrooms!!!

The bleacher seats were truly a sureal experince, You could almost feel the histroy that came with sitting in those seats. I think the bleachers were my famovirte part of the whole experince. There are so many stories and so much history that goes with them. After the game was over the crowd sang a traditional song, it was so cool beacsue the game was sold out and everyone one was up and singing.

After the game was over we got to take our son down to run the bases. Then we waited by the cubs locker room to watch the players leave. We even got one guys autograph. As we left the stadium we walked around the entire outside as to make sure we did not miss anything. There are several statues that represent some of the history from the stadium.

I highly recommend a trip to Wrigley either in the form of a game or a tour, both if you have the time. It is an experience you won't forget!! Close

From journal Blown away by the Windy City

Great atmosphere, Great Location

by c_reich

Elmwood, Illinois

November 27, 2011

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I very much enjoyed visiting Chicago and watching a baseball game from this park, what makes it ironic is that I am a cardinals fan. Even as a loyal cardinals fan I thought the atmosphere of this ballpark made the game even better to watch. There ...Read more

Home of the Chicago Cubs

by chuckie_css

chuckie_css@hotmail.com, Illinois

April 26, 2010

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This is the home of the Chicago Cubs and is the second oldest Baseball stadium in the country behind Fenway Park.

Cubs May Not Win, but Wrigley Is a Winner!

by NiceGinna

Evanston, Illinois

July 28, 2009

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It's been 100 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series. You would think that no one would even go to see them, but you would be wrong! Or do we go to see Wrigley Field? Built in 1914, it's one of the few remaining old-fashioned ...Read more

Wrigley Field

by RoBoNC

Indianapolis, Indiana

July 22, 2009

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Best of IgoUgo Being married to someone who is a Cubs fan can sometimes scare you. Although Chicago has two baseball teams, the other being the White Sox, it is probably better to just refer to them as the other team. Every time I say White Sox, it almost looks ...Read more Being married to someone who is a Cubs fan can sometimes scare you. Although Chicago has two baseball teams, the other being the White Sox, it is probably better to just refer to them as the other team. Every time I say White Sox, it almost looks as if my wife is about to turn into Linda Blair from the Exorcist. Cubs fans in general are like this. Although they haven’t won a World Series title since 1908, they are some of the most passionate fans in all of baseball. The Cubs have come close such as in 2008, but nothing compared to the pain felt when their cross-town rival won the World Series in 2005. Cubs fans are quick to remind you of 1908 and with every new season bring new hope.

The Cubs ballpark is Wrigley Field, named after William Wrigley, the chewing gum magnate who once owned the team. Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second oldest ballpark in baseball behind Boston’s Fenway Park. It is also one of the few ballparks that haven’t given in to corporate America. Ballparks are changing their names to acquire more revenue as the White Sox did by changing Comiskey Park to US Cellular Field. The fact that the Cubs haven’t sold out even when its owner, the Chicago Tribune, was trying to get rid of it to generate some more revenue is impressive.

Wrigley Field is located in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Most Chicagoans can even tell you the exact address of Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison, by heart. In the movie The Blues Brothers, Elwood even listed his address on his Illinois driver’s license as 1060 W. Addison. Recognizing Wrigley Field is easy even if you have never been to Chicago. Countless movies and television shows have used the famous marquee from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Perfect Strangers.

Other noticeable aspects of Wrigley Field are the ivy covered outfield wall. As the season progresses, the ivy grows so fast that the wall is completely covered. It is not uncommon for a baseball to get lost in the ivy thereby forcing the umpire to declare a ground rule double. There are also many high-rise buildings surrounding Wrigley Field. On the rooftops, there are bleachers to accommodate more seating. These seats are privately owned and are not regulated by the Chicago Cubs.

A good tip is to buy tickets well in advance. When the Cubs play the White Sox or their other big rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, tickets are gone within minutes of them going on sale. Another good tip is to avoid driving to Wrigley Field. Parking is sparse and the cost of parking is expensive. A better option is take the "El" train as the Red Line stop at Addison is about a block away from Wrigley Field. After the game, grab a beer at one of the many bars surrounding Wrigley.

My first game here was with my wife when they played the Baltimore Orioles, who I have been a fan for since I was a kid. With my wife decked out in her Chicago Cubs shirt and me in my Orioles jersey that left only my son. Sure enough, he was sporting his Cubs overalls. Although we were a house divided that day, I took pride in the fact that my team won 7-5.
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From journal Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Chicago Cubs

by stvchin

Tustin, California

October 20, 2007

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Best of IgoUgo This is stop #2 of my quest to see a game in all 30 MLB ballparks. I arrived via the CTA Brown Line (the El train) among the masses of Cub fans.The Chicago Cubs are considered one of the storied baseball franchises, along with the Yankees and Red ...Read more This is stop #2 of my quest to see a game in all 30 MLB ballparks. I arrived via the CTA Brown Line (the El train) among the masses of Cub fans.

The Chicago Cubs are considered one of the storied baseball franchises, along with the Yankees and Red Sox. One thing I really have to say is that the Cubbie fans, even though it'll be at least 100 years since their last World Series Win in 1918, the fans are very loyal and enthusiastic. From young kids, to college students, to the seniors who have undoubtedly been Cub fans for generations, all headed towards the entry gates into Wrigley. You can definitely feel the excitement in the air.

In a city like Chicago where public transportation is readily available via bus and train, there really aren't any parking lots for Wrigley Field. There are a few private parking lots, but that's about it.

There are all sorts of activities right outside Wrigley Field before the game. Vendors selling Chicago Cubs attire and paraphernalia, people taking pictures, fans shouting for extra tickets, people frequenting the bars and restaurants surrounding Wrigley Field.

I already purchased my ticket earlier, and once inside the ballpark, things calmed down. I was able to find my seat quickly. Unfortunately it was behind a support column. I had Section 218, Row 8, Seat 1. Seat 1 is behind a foot wide steel support beam. I had forgotten that Wrigley is an older ballpark with support columns. No wonder my ticket was so cheap. Once the game started, I was able to move a few seats over to an empty seat and had an excellent view!

Being an older ballpark, Wrigley Field doesn't have digital billboards or banners, no jumbotron for replays and advertisements. There was a manually operated scoreboard, where workers peered behind the openings that the hit and run placards were hung. The only thing automated was the ball, strike, and out counter. In this day and age, while manual scoreboards appear hokey and outdated, this was definitely the charm of Wrigley Field.

The entire ballpark is an experience in itself. While some of the concession stands are run by large food service companies, there were a few independently run food stands, which adds to the charm and appeal. There are also the walking vendors, who peddle beer, hot dogs, pretzels, ice cream, soft drinks, and all sorts of other goods in the stands.

Across the outfield, the property owners of the apartment buildings across the street erected bleachers and some billboard advertising. I chuckled at that, but it's still part of the charm behind this beloved ol' ballpark.

The Cubs won against the Pittsburgh Pirates today. One of the fun things to do after the game is to goto the bars and restaurants across from Wrigley and celebrate with the rest of the fans. Whether you're a baseball fan or not, a Cubbie game at historical Wrigley Field is a must do in Chicago! Close

From journal Windy City Cubbie Trip

Wrigley Field

by pj1465

Chicago, Illinois

January 8, 2007

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Best of IgoUgo I like to call Wrigley Field Chicago's largest beer garden. Indeed, it is a popular spot to spend a summer afternoon despite the Cubs' less than stellar performances in the last, oh, 99 years. In fact, the Cubs haven't won a World Series since ...Read more

From journal Great Finds: Chicago

Chicago Cubs Wrigley

by keval010

Bartlett, Illinois

August 24, 2006

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The game was very boring. Until the 6th inning, the Cubs were doing good, but then...of course, two grand slams out of nowhere from the NY Mets. Such BS. Never watch the Cubs...go to the CHISOX game :-)

From journal Family Day in Chicago

Wrigley Field

by Iono

Durham, North Carolina

August 3, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo Cubs games are another defining part of the Chicago experience. Cubs games are pretty regular (during the regular season), and tickets are easy to get. They can cost anywhere from $10 to $50 depending on what seat you get. Inside the Wrigley ...Read more

From journal My Times in Chicago

The Friendly Confines

by RichyRich10IM

Indianapolis, Indiana

November 3, 2005

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Watching a Cubs game is nice, a little piece of heaven. If you love baseball, or for that matter, even if you don't, the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field is a great place to be. The atmosphere is amazing all around, from the smell of ...Read more

From journal Getaway

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Cubs game and stadium tour

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