Wrigley Field | Ballpark Info

Wrigley Field | Must Do

Take a Mini Tour of the Statues Outside of the Park

Take a lap around the outside of Wrigley, and you’ll find 4 statues of Cubs legends. We recommend starting in center field at the corner of Sheffield and Waveland. A statue of Harry Caray, the Cubs beloved announcer, is located near the bleacher gate (gate 10). From there, head south to the right field gate, where you’ll find a statue of Billy Williams on the corner of Sheffield and Addison. Next to Billy Williams is Ron Santo’s statue. From there you can turn right on Addison and end your mini tour at the main marquee gate. Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks is located on the corner of Clark & Addison directly across from the ticket windows, about halfway down the third base line. Keep walking down Clark and you’ll find yourself at The Park at Wrigley.

The Park at Wrigley (Now “Gallagher Way”)

If you’ve completed the mini tour listed above, this is a great place to hang out before the gates open. You’ll need a ticket to the game to enter, but once there you’ll find tons to do. Stop by one of the restaurants for a beer, play lawn games, and visit the Trophy Room, where you can see the 2016 Wold Series Trophy.

Snap a Photo with the Main Entry Marquee

When most people think of Wrigley Field, the first image that pops into your head is the iconic red marquee outside of the main gate (gate 3). Stop there for a few moments to read the messages before heading inside.

Sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”

Singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch is a tradition at every ballpark. But it is nearly a religion at Wrigley Field. In 1982, announcer Harry Caray began the now long standing tradition of singing the song during the stretch. Now, many important and famous folks sing the song, so keep your eyes on the press box to see who is leading the tune the day you’re there. If the Cubs are down in the game, you’ll probably hear the rallying cry of “Let’s get some runs!” at the conclusion of the song.

Stay to Watch the Flag and Hear “Go Cubs Go” (Hopefully)

One of the cool traditions about Wrigley is the way they fly a flag over the scoreboard to telegraph the result of the day’s game. This is one of the traditions that has stuck with the Cubs for years. If a white flag (with a blue W) is flying on the left field side of the scoreboard, the Cubs won! If a blue flag (with a white L) is flying on the right field side of the scoreboard, it was a loss. This is why at the conclusion of a win, you’ll often hear fans yell “FLY THE W!”

Another win tradition is “Go Cubs Go”, which is a catchy tune written by Steve Goodman. The song is played over the PA with fans joining in as the Cubs players follow the post game ritual of high fives on the field.

The area immediately surrounding Wrigley transforms into Wrigleyville during Cubs games. Chicago actually blocks a lot of the streets in the area to ensure that fans can walk the area safely. It’s great once you make it into Wrigleyville, but it can make getting there a bit of a hassle. If you can avoid driving into the area, we recommend it.

Official Wrigley Field Parking Lots

The Cubs offer a handful of official lots near the ballpark. Toyota is an official sponsor of the Cubs, so all of the official lots will be named after their vehicles. Parking is pretty limited, so you’ll want to get there early if you’re planning on getting a space. If you’re not a season ticket holder, you have two options for official lots — The Camry Lot (cash only) and the Irving Park lot.

Off-Site / Free Parking Options

There is plenty of street parking to be found around Wrigleyville. The Cubs actually run a shuttle between Wrigley and their official free parking lot across the river. Keep in mind it isn’t open for weekday daytime games. Get directions here.

Many residents around the ballpark will rent out their spots to third party spot finding services like:

• ParkWhiz
• Spot Hero
• Parking Panda

We recommend selecting your parking lot ahead of time and driving straight there to avoid the stress of trying to find a place on your way into the ballpark area.

Public Transportation

Hands down, the easiest way to get to Wrigley Field is to take the L to the Addison stop. Regardless of which line you are on, you’ll need to transfer to the Red Line and get off the train at the intersection of Clark & Addison. You’ll see the ballpark immediately after exiting. Many of the Chicago Transit Authority stations have $4 or $5 parking lots where you can safely leave your car.

Uber & Lyft

In the last few years, the city of Chicago has really tightened the reins on rideshare services, especially in high traffic areas like Wrigleyville. In fact, you most likely won’t be able to find a rideshare car until you’re several blocks away from the ballpark. It’s still a good option for some folks. Just be aware that you may have to take a walk when getting dropped off or picked up.

If you’re new to Uber, you can use this link to get a discount on your first few rides.

Wrigley Field | Best Seats

Best Seats for Cubs History

Wrigley Field is a designated national landmark, so technically any seat will be historic. If you want to get the most old timey feel of the park, we recommend the bleachers. The centerfield bleachers are known for Babe Ruth’s “called shot” during the 1932 World Series. Like most bleacher sections at ballparks, this section can get a little rowdy. If you’re looking for a place to sit with your family, this is not it.

If you want to relive one of the most painful moments in Cubs history you can purchase a ticket to sit in the Steve Bartman seat. On October 14, 2003 Bartman deflected a foul ball away from Cubs left fielder Moises Alou in the top of the eighth inning of a game that would have sent the Cubs to the World Series. The wheels fell off over the next 1.2 innings, and the Cubs would go on to lose the NLCS. On that day, the seat was in Section 4, Row 8, Seat 113. Following some of the changes made to the seating bowl in 2017, the number was changed to Section 2, Row 8, Seat 108. Bartman’s life was essentially ruined after the 2003 NLCS debacle. However, when the Cubs won it all in 2016, they gifted Bartman his own World Series ring.

Best Seats for Game Views

The 300 level and 400 level seats are our pick for the best views in the house. “400” makes it seem like you’ll be miles away, but you’ll be much closer to the action than you initially think. From this covered level, you’ll see the whole field from this level, and get a great view of the ivy and the get a great view of the sky rises in the outfield. Since they’re higher up, you’ll also save a few dollars over the 100 level seats which will put you closer to the action, but disrupt your ability to see the outfield corners, and leave you exposed to the elements. Just be sure to do research on your exact seats since there are quite a few obstructed views on the upper levels.

Tip: Attending opening day at Wrigley is amazing. One thing you may not think about (we didn’t, that’s for sure) is that early in the season, the outfield ivy will still be dormant. Check out the photos below to see what we mean.

Where not to sit

Due to its age, Wrigley will have some obstructed views from the columns that support the upper deck overhangs — there are 49 poles to be exact. As long as you’re not sitting directly against these, you shouldn’t lose too much of the view of the field. The biggest gamble for obstructed views at Wrigley will be in the 200 level, with some obstruction in the 400 level as well. When purchasing tickets, aim for the middle of the section. Rateyourseats.com has an excellent article showing the location of every single support column in the ballpark. Take you time, do your research, and then select your best option.

Best Seats for Shade

Wrigley was the longest holdout for adding lights to the park, which they finally did in 1988. So if you’re looking for the authentic Wrigley experience, you may want to attend a day game. In that case, you’ll be looking for shade.

Avoid the bleachers if you don’t want to sit in the sun. During a day game, the sun will mostly be directly behind home plate. This means that almost any seat in the 300 or 400 level will be shaded. Avoid the lower levels closest to the field. The further back in the 100 or 200 levels you sit, the more likely you are to enjoy shade from the upper deck overhangs. Keep in mind that the sun will move down the third base line as the game goes on, so seats down that line, particularly further back in the lower sections, or higher up, are your best bet.

Best Seats for Foul Balls

Looking to snag a foul ball at Wrigley Field? According to foulballz.com, your best chances will be in sections 111-115 on the 3B side, and sections 130-133 on the 1B side.

The Must Have: Hot Doug’s Sausages or Giordano’s Deep Dish

Doug Sohn owned a very successful restaurant in the city, but closed it several years ago. Now, the bleachers section of Wrigley is the only place you can find these player themed sausage dogs. Unfortunately, you’ll need a ticket to the bleachers to enjoy this Chicago tradition, so not everyone can partake. Platform 14.

If you’re not sitting in the bleachers, you still have a chance to get a Chicago staple — Giordano’s deep dish pizza. Order it by the slice or the as a personal pie. You can find Giordano’s in sections 102, 112, 126, 420, and in the bleachers.

Something Special: Buona Beef

Italian beef is another classic Chicago fare. The original beef sandwich features thinly sliced meat. Get it topped with sweet peppers and ask for it “Baptized”, which means they’ll dunk it in extra au jus. Find it in sections 112 – 115, 420, and bleacher platform 14.

The Challenge: Big Slugger Helmet Nachos

Everything else on our list has been Chicago focused, but the Cubs offer classic ballpark fare as well. And lots of it. These nachos are served in an adult sized Cubs helmet and are piled high with all the fixin’s, just order it “fully loaded”. Big enough to share, or a personal challenge to take on by yourself. Keep the helmet as your souvenir. Sections 105, 140, and bleacher platform 14.

Vegetarian and Vegan Options at Wrigley Field

You do have a few vegetarian and vegan options at Wrigley Field. You can find both vegan and vegetarian offerings at the Chicago Dogs stands in sections 115 and 119. Veggie burgers and Impossible Burgers are available in sections 110, 129, and bleacher platform 14. The Marquee Classics Stand in section 117 offers both a roasted cauliflower sandwich, and a rotating vegan option.

Wrigley Field | Surrounding Area

Bars and Restaurants

We believe that in order to fully experience a ballpark, you should spend some time in the nearby area. We’re also big believers that pre and post game rushes are awful. We suggest you spend some time at these local establishments instead of sitting in traffic or rushing to the train.

Murphy’s Bleachers | 3655 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
This place is a must if you are in Chicago for a Cubs game. Historic, charming, and loud, come to Murphy’s Bleachers with your party pants on ready to have some fun! It boasts a great game-day atmosphere, friendly staff, good food (try the 1/4lb Angus beef hot dog, served Chicago style) and it’s just across the street from Wrigley’s Budweiser Bleacher Gate entrance.

Cubby Bear | 1059 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613 | Website | Menu |Click to Call
The Cubby Bear is a local favorite dive bar in the heart of Wrigleyville where you will find many a Cubs fan convening to celebrate or commiserate after a game. Or get there early, grab a beer and some garlic fries and take in the view of the iconic Wrigley Field sign directly across the street. If you find yourself strolling around Wrigleyville when the Cubs aren’t playing, this place is also known for their awesome live music, check out their schedule here.

PR Italian Bistro | 3908 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
Just a couple walkable blocks north of Wrigley you’ll find this authentic, award-winning casual Italian restaurant. We’d recommend the pizza or the gnocchi and one of their delicious specialty cocktails. It is a great place to have a proper sit-down meal before or after a Cubs game and it’s family friendly so the kids can join.

Chicago Diner | 3411 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657 | Website | Menu | Click to Call
Traveling with a vegetarian or vegan? You have to try the Chicago Diner, where comfort food abounds and you may not even be able to tell the Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef seitan. Order one of their vegan shakes (all of them are delicious!) and then walk it off in the 10 minutes it takes to get over to Wrigley Field.

Local Attractions

If you’re traveling with a family or just trying to make the most out of your trip to Chicago, here are some recommended nearby attractions.

Chicago River Cruise | Website
If you’re only in Chicago for a short time, a river cruise is the best 90 minutes you’ll spend and one of the coolest ways to see the city. You’ll learn all about Chicago’s history and architecture on the guided tour and get tons of Instagram-worthy photo ops. The tickets run about $40 per adult/$18 per kid and you can book in advance if you have your schedule nailed down, or just walk up to their kiosk to buy one if you decide to go on a whim.

FYI: There’s usually a bar, clean restrooms and an enclosed bottom deck (for inclement weather) on every boat.

City Mini Golf | Website
Who doesn’t love a good game of mini golf? And this course is unlike any other, located smack dab in Maggie Daley Park, featuring Chicago-themed obstacles and awesome city views. General admission is $11, kids 4 and under are free, and they are open 7 days a week mid-April through late October.

Tip: When you’re done, head across Columbus Dr. and explore Millennium Park, where you’ll find the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture (aka “the bean”) and Crown Fountain.

Belmont Harbor | Website
If you are staying in the area right around Wrigley Field, Belmont Harbor is a great place to spend the day and it’s in walking distance to the ballpark. Rent a sailboat, play a round of golf at the scenic waterfront Sydney R. Marovitz golf course or just take a long stroll along Lake Michigan before heading to Murphy’s Bleachers before the Cubs game.

Skydeck Chicago | Website
Willis Tower is the highest building in western hemisphere. Most people will remember it as Sears Tower. On the 103rd floor, you can stand inside of a clear observation box and see as far as four states! General admission is $25 for adults (over age 12) and $17 for children.

Submit a Tip