Wrigley Field Overview
It’s been here since 1914, sitting in the middle of this north side Chicago neighborhood that has literally grown up around it. In a 2024 world, you’d sooner expect to find a public park with a Sandlot-esque baseball diamond on this spot rather than an MLB ballpark. And yet here it is, wedged into this community of row houses, apartment buildings, bars, restaurants, bus stops, a fire station, a subway stop, and a residential neighborhood — Wrigleyville, which quickly took the name of its anchor tenant over a century ago.
Today, Wrigley Field is one of those places that is absolutely what you expect it to be: a throwback in time, a glimpse into the past, an escape from the world. Yes, we added some jumbotrons a few years ago as part of a massive (and fantastic) renovation, but honestly, they haven’t changed the fact that Wrigley reminds people of a world that most of us never knew. To walk up the steps from the concourse and into the seating bowl, to see the blue skies, the green grass, the brick walls, and the ivy … it’s why Wrigley is one of the world’s most iconic stadiums. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or the 100th time, the allure never fades.
Oh … did we mention that it’s also home to the Chicago Cubs? And that on a freezing cold day in April it will still probably outdraw 75% of the other ballparks on a summer day? That it’s a place where a bleacher ticket can cost more than a general bowl ticket, where 1:20 afternoon games on a Wednesday are packed, and where nobody cares about how terrible the food is, because that’s not why they’re there. They’re here for this team, in good times and bad. And they call it the “Friendly Confines,” because that’s exactly what it is. Come on in … you’ll see.
In this five-part guide, we will show and tell you everything you need to know about visiting Wrigley Field, including:
- Travel: How to get to Chicago
- Lodging: Where to stay to visit Wrigley
- Local Transit: How to get around the city, including to/from the ballpark
- Ticketing/Seating/Premium: Where to sit, how to buy, and the secret gems
- Gameday: What to do before, during, and after the game
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Why you should visit Wrigley Field
The Ivy
It looks great on TV. It looks even better in person.
The Marquee
Everyone should have their picture taken in front of Wrigley Field.
The Scoreboard
They still operate it by hand. And it’s fun to watch.
Wrigleyville
There are 40 bars and restaurants within three blocks of the ballpark.
Old Style
Outside the park, I’d never drink it. But inside the park, it’s the best!
How many games should you see?
Please … if at all possible, see three. Come for a Friday 1:20, when tens of thousands of fans blow off work and head for an afternoon of beer and baseball. Catch a Saturday 1:20 when Wrigleyville will be completely jammed and alive. Catch a Sunday 1:20 which will be more laid back as many opposing fans leave town and are replaced by local families. See a game in the bleachers, see a game in the general bowl, and if you can find a deal, see a game from one of the premium clubs. If you love baseball, and love ballparks, do what you can to spend as much time as possible here.
When should you go to Wrigley Field?
Well, let’s see: do you enjoy watching baseball with 15 layers of clothing on? Well then, come visit us in April! Or if seeing baseball with just six layers of clothing is more your speed, then come visit us in May!
Seriously … if you come to Chicago in April, you’ll be praying for one of those rare spring-like days that are too few and far between. In May you can get luckier, but it’s still a gamble. But come Memorial Day, suddenly winter turns into summer. So if you can choose, wait until then. Because summer weather in Chicago is fantastic. And for that matter, summer in Chicago is fantastic, and there’s a ton to see and do beyond baseball.
In terms of opponents, Cardinals games are always packed, especially on a June/July/August weekend. And, of course, Yankees and Red Sox games when they’re on the schedule. And let’s face it … Wrigley is usually pretty full. But there’s no question that weekday games are much easier (and cheaper) to find tickets for than you may think. So don’t worry about tickets being a problem. If you’re coming in for a big series, or for a team that is only here every other year, sure … keep an eye on tickets a little earlier. But there are often deals to be had, and we’ll tell you all about the high-value/lower cost sections of the ballpark in our Seating chapter.
Where Wrigley Field is located
Wrigley is located about five miles north of downtown Chicago in “Wrigleyville,” which is an unofficial carve out of the Lakeview area. It’s right on the Red Line of the Chicago subway system, and also right on a major bus line that runs directly from downtown. Most fans will take public transportation to get there, as parking is a real pain in the a**, but a lot of locals will also walk. Wrigleyville is a residential neighborhood full of pricey homes, three-story flats, restaurants, bars, and retail, and is very safe (especially when games are happening, as the police presence is everywhere).
About your Wrigley Field Insider
My name is Mike, and not only am I your Stadium Insider for Wrigley Field, but I’m also the founder of The Stadium Insiders. I started this company for two reasons: because a hundred people a year ask me for advice on visiting Wrigley, and I ask a hundred people a year for advice on going to other stadiums that I haven’t been to. So one day I decided that there had to be a better way.
I moved to Chicago in 1998, and while I won’t say that my first visit to Wrigley Field in 1996 was the reason for my relocation, I also won’t say that it wasn’t a reason. I’ve been to over 250 games at Wrigley (plus concerts), have been a season ticket holder since 2013, and there’s just no place I’d rather be on a summer day or night than Wrigley Field. I’ve sat in every part of this ballpark: every level, every premium club, the rooftops, the bleachers, and I’ve eaten just about every single food item that this ballpark sells. And yet I still discover new things from time to time that remind me that you can never really know everything about this place. But I do know that sharing this ballpark with visiting friends is one of my absolute favorite things to do, and I hope that this guide helps you plan a memorable trip to the Friendly Confines and the Windy City.
How to support The Stadium Insiders
The Stadium Insiders is an independent media company and is NOT paid by the teams to explore their stadiums. We do, sometimes, accept sponsorships from various ticketing companies, hotels, restaurants, or other merchants, but only for products and services that we are independently willing to endorse.
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