Seating at Wrigley Field

“Where should I sit at Wrigley Field?” It’s probably the question I’ve had asked of me more than any in my entire life. And I get it – because, after Fenway, it’s probably the second most confusing ballpark in the country to figure out. And if you’re gonna spend thousands of dollars to travel to Chicago for baseball, you don’t want to get it wrong.

But not to worry – that’s why we’re here. We’re going to break down this ballpark, zone by zone, to make sure you understand how to pick a seat that works for you. You’ll definitely discover some surprises along the way, but in the end you’ll know exactly what you’re doing.

So let’s dig in!

Table of Contents

Premium Seating

• American Airlines 1914 Club – Sections 13-22, Rows 1-7
• Maker’s Mark Barrel Room – Sections 27-29, Rows 1-7
• The W Club – Sections 3-5, through Row 12
• The Catalina Club – Sections 315L – 318R
• The Executive Club

General Reserved Seating

• Club Boxes – Sections 3-32
• Field Boxes – Sections 101-134
• 200 Level Terraces – Sections 202-233
• 300 Level Upper Boxes
• 400 Level Upper Reserved Seats
• The Bleachers
• Standing Room Only
• The Rooftops

Our favorite seats

200 Level Infield, R3-6

Also some of the best budget seats at Wrigley. Lower level, great view, but way less expensive than the seats in front of them. Also shaded and covered from rain.

Our least favorite seats

The Rooftops

Formerly great, but now just obstructed seats with average food – only good for corporate events if you don’t care about the game.

Premium seating options at Wrigley

I mean, who wouldn’t like to hang out in a premium club at Wrigley? I’ve been in them all, and I can tell you – it’s quite a nice experience. But it can be hard to figure out what these clubs are and how to buy them. But we’ve got all the details.

American Airlines 1914 Club – Sections 13-22, Rows 1-7

Hands down, these are the best seats at Wrigley Field. And as someone who has been to most of the premium clubs in every MLB ballpark, I’m going to tell you something else: it’s not quite as crazy of a price tag as you might imagine.

First, here’s what it is: the 1914 Club is Wrigley’s flagship premium seating offering. This is an all-inclusive ticket, with all food and beverages – including beer, wine, and liquor – included in the price of your seat. Once you’re in the club, the only thing you’ll need to take your wallet out for is gratuities (and please – make sure to do that. The staff is outstanding and works really hard. If you have found your way to this spot in life, then you shouldn’t be thinking twice about tipping properly).

The inside of the club looks like an early 20th century speakeasy. Once upon a time, this was nothing but dead space under the 100 Level seats. But as part of the Wrigley renovation that ended in 2019, they built this absolutely amazing space that almost transports you back in time. The beautiful bar and fantastic staff serves up an entire menu of specialty cocktails with names like “The Natural” and “The Cactus League.”

On the food side of things, the club has multiple buffet stations with a wide variety of foods. There’s appetizers, salads, fruits, a selection of entrees and side dishes, pizzas, sliders, brats and hot dogs, nachos, and there’s always a carving station offering something like prime rib, steak, or fresh turkey.

On top of that, there are grab-and-go snacks like peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jack, soft drinks, etc., and to top it all off, there’s a great dessert stand, with a variety of treats, including an ice cream station where the staff will make you a custom sundae. Our advice? Have them put a chocolate chip cookie in the bottom of the cup before they put that ice cream in there!

The seats are located just up the stairs from the club – less than a two minute walk. Once you’re there, you’ll find padded seats that are a little wider than the seats in the rest of the stadium, and every seat is within seven rows of the field. 

There’s in-seat wait service, where they can bring you a fresh beer or a variety of snacks (hot dogs, popcorn, etc). If you want a cocktail, you’ll have to go back into the club, so our advice is maybe grab two while you’re there.

All in all, it’s an absolutely amazing experience. And you must be thinking “Yeah … I’m sure. And probably a billion dollars.” Nope. 

So you can’t buy these tickets directly from the Cubs for single games – they are only sold as season tickets. But they are almost always available on resale sites like Seatgeek and Stubhub. Want even better news? The price is not as crazy as you might think.

No, they aren’t cheap. But … on many days, particularly during the early part of the season or on weekdays, you can easily find them for prices between $200-350 (more during the summer and on weekends). Is that a lot of money? Yes. But when you think about what you get: the food, the drinks, the seat location – it’s not out of line, especially at the lower end of that price spectrum. And when you consider that similar home plate clubs at the Yankees and Dodgers cost twice as much, but don’t include any alcohol, you start to realize that this is not such a crazy price.

So … we don’t tell people how to spend their money. We just tell them what they can expect, and what we think. And here’s what we think: if you are someone who loves going to the ballpark, and is visiting Wrigley, and wants to have a really memorable experience, and has the means to splurge on a ticket like this, then the 1914 Club is one of the best places in all of MLB to do so. You’ll be talking about it for a long, long time.

TSI TIPS

–Be sure to check prices on both Seatgeek and Stubhub. They are the best sites for finding these tickets, but they will usually have different inventory available. You could find a great deal on either site.

–Sometimes the resale sites don’t clearly mark these seats as being club seats, nor do they state that they include food and drinks. But trust us: every ticket in Sections 13-22, Rows 1-7, is a 1914 Club ticket, and will come with all of those benefits.

–With the pitch clock shortening game times in MLB, we don’t love purchasing these tickets too last-minute for the club, because you’ll miss too much of the game trying to scarf down a full buffet. Ideally you should want to get into the club at least 30 minutes before game time. If you’re going to arrive much later than that, you should think twice about spending too much money on a club ticket.

Maker’s Mark Barrel Room – Sections 27-29, Rows 1-7

The Maker’s Mark Barrel Room is made up of Sections 27-29, Rows 1-7, as well as the club space behind these sections, underneath the 100 Level seats. If you’re shopping for these seats, and you see anything listed in Rows 1-7, they are Maker’s Mark Barrel Room seats, whether they say so or not.

The theme of this club is … a whiskey room. The decor is old world with wooden walls and a classic bar, but modern with a wall of TVs lining an entire side of the club. There’s plenty of table seating to go around, and every ticket includes a full buffet, as well as the all-inclusive bar, including all beer, wine, and craft cocktails featuring – of course – Maker’s Mark. 

The buffet in this club is much smaller than the one in the 1914 Club, but completely fine. It will have a couple of entrees and side dishes, fruit, ballpark fare, and a carving station. There is a dessert station with pastries (mostly cookies and brownies, but some other rotating options), but no ice cream stand (boo!). There’s also grab and go snacks like popcorn, peanuts, and Cracker Jack.

The seats are just up the stairs, and it takes just a minute or two to get there from the club. Once in your seat, there’s in-seat wait service for beer and water (you’ll have to go back to the club to get other drinks).

What we like about the club is the seating location: while not as good as the 1914 Club seats, these are right at field level, just beyond the visitors dugout. Obviously we prefer Section 27 over 29, as the view to home plate is noticeably better. And if you’re someone who likes whiskey based cocktails, then this is probably the club for you.

Interestingly, even though this is a lesser club than the 1914, it can be much harder to find a ticket here. The Cubs don’t sell them as single game tickets, so you’re limited to resale options, and the supply is often pretty thin. And prices don’t seem to fall on these tickets as much as they do for the 1914 Club.

So, given that, if you really want to do this club, you may have to pay a bit more. At a comparable price we would choose the 1914 Club over Maker’s Mark every day, but if you can find a ticket for the Maker’s Mark Club that works for you, we think you’ll enjoy it.

The W Club – Sections 3-5, through Row 12

This is the Cubs’ sports-themed all-inclusive club. Located in left field, these are the seats in the first 12 rows of Sections 3-5. But it can be a little confusing to know which of these are premium seats and which aren’t, particularly because this is where the brick wall starts to rise from the field. In Section 5, the club is Rows 1-12. In Section 4, it’s Rows 4-12. And in Section 5, it’s just three rows: 10-12. (In Sections 4 and 5, it starts with those higher rows because those are the front rows of the sections due to the wall.) 

And here’s the other confusing thing: on many resale sites they are not labeled correctly. So trust us: if you’re purchasing seats in Sections 3-5, row 12 or lower, then you are buying W Club seats.

TSI TIP: but be careful. For some reason the Cubs left two rows (13-14) at the back of these three sections as just regular Club Box seats. That’s one of the reasons why this is so confusing. Sections 3-5, rows 13 and 14 are not part of the W Club. Don’t make that mistake by purchasing them and expecting club access!

The W Club itself is right behind these sections, just a quick walk and down a flight of stairs. As you walk in, there’s an entire wall of beverages and snack foods that are included in your ticket. When you head downstairs, it will look like a sports bar, with a wall of TVs and both low and high top tables. The buffet in the W Club is, for the most part, identical to that of the Maker’s Mark Barrel Room: some appetizers, salads, entrees, ballpark fare, and some desserts. 

The big difference between this club and both Maker’s Mark and 1914 are:

1. Beer and wine are included, but liquor is not. You’ll have to pay for mixed drinks.
2. The view

While the other two clubs have really amazing views, this one … not so much. Now, you’re definitely close to the field, which is cool. But you’re a long way from home plate. So this is definitely a limitation to this club.

But the flip side is – the price. Once again, these seats are not available for single game purchase through the Cubs, but they are often available on resale sites. And you can very regularly snag them for less than $200 (and sometimes as little as $125-150, if there are still tickets available). So, for the right price, we think it can be worth it. But we would definitely caution you: if this is your first time at Wrigley (and especially your only time), we think it would be better to purchase a general bowl seat in a better location, and then just buy yourself whatever food you’d like.

But if you’ve got multiple games here, and feel like a modest splurge, this is worth considering.

The Catalina Club – Sections 315L – 318R

And now for one of our favorite spaces in the building – The Catalina Club. This one is located on the 300 Level, and before you think to yourself “who would want to sit in an upper level premium club,” the answer is … US! 

This club includes Sections 315L – 318R, which are all behind home plate, and all rows in these sections are premium, whether the ticket site you’re looking at says it or not.

This is also the only club that has an outdoor patio. The patio doesn’t face the field, but rather faces out onto Clark and Addison Streets, right over the Wrigley marquee. If you get there early and grab a table (which are very limited), you can hang out in the sun watching the buzz around Wrigleyville while you pregame with your food and beverages.

And what do you get for food? Well, it’s pretty much the exact same menu as in the Maker’s Mark and W Clubs: appetizers, entrees, side salads, ballpark fare, and some desserts. And there are grab and go snacks here as well, including peanuts, popcorn, and chips. And, like the W Club, only beer and wine are included with your ticket here – liquor will cost you extra. 

But this club, unlike the others, isn’t underground. It’s bright and airy, with windows that open to the field, and the back patio that basks in the sun. There’s not much inside seating here – inside there are some high top tables without seats, so you can stand there and chow down. And if you want, you can find yourself a spot along the rail and watch the game while standing there as well. 

As for the seats, they are padded, so slightly nicer than the standard club seats, and they include in-seat wait service. Yes, they are upper level, but this is a great view of not just the field, but the entire ballpark. And the price? You can often find these tickets on resale sites for $125-$170, and let us tell you – we think they are well worth it.

The only thing to note: these seats are in the shade, and if you’re here for a cold-weather game, these seats are COLD. Really cold. Freezing. So keep that in mind. If you’re gonna do these in April or May, make sure to dress appropriately. 

We love the Catalina Club. It’s the bargain club of the group, but still delivers high value and a great experience.

The Executive Club

This is a little known club hidden on the suite level in left field, next to Suite 7. These were originally individual suites, but they were combined together to create a premium club. Of all the clubs, this is probably the least interesting visually – it’s fairly generic, but still perfectly nice.

The food is exactly the same as the W/Maker’s Mark/Catalina Clubs: appetizers, entrees, side salads, ballpark fare, desserts, and grab-and-go snacks. But, this club does include mixed drinks along with beer and wine, so if you’re a mixed drinks person, this may be a better option than the W or Catalina Clubs. 

The seats are outside the club, located underneath the 300 Level overhang, so they will be 100% shaded.

You can’t buy these tickets for single games from the Cubs, and they are very infrequently available on resale sites. But occasionally they’ll pop up, and when they do, they’re a decent option, as long as the price works for you.

General Reserved Seating

Ok … so here’s where Wrigley seating starts to get complicated. You’ve undoubtedly heard that Wrigley is old, and has poles where you’d rather they not have them. And yes, they can obstruct your view. For the most part, the Cubs are good with labeling their obstructed seats as such. But on resale sites, it can be more hit and miss, and the chance that you could end up in a seat with an obstruction is higher than it should be. And even though you can call and complain to Stubhub or whatever other site you’ve bought your ticket from, that may not help you right then and there with seeing the game.

So we’ll do our best to help you navigate this, but keep one big tip in mind: when selecting tickets, be sure to use the Cubs’ 3D Virtual Venue. It will show you the actual view from every single seat in the ballpark, and is incredibly accurate. And if the seats you’re looking at on a ticket site don’t have seat numbers listed (and they are in the 200 or 400 levels), either call the ticketing company and ask for them to disclose the seat numbers to you, or don’t buy them.

And now … on to the seats!

Club Boxes – Sections 3-32

These are the seats closest to the field, except where the premium clubs are – in those sections, they are only the rear rows (Sections 3-5, 13-22, 27-29). While the Cubs identify these seats as Club Box Home Plate, Club Box Infield, and Club Box Outfield, there’s no difference between them other than their proximity to home plate. 

Obviously the closer you are to home plate, the better your view. A few pointers:

• All of these sections have ushers stationed at the top of them to check tickets throughout the game. So no sneaking down there or coming to visit friends.
• Sections 3-5 and 30-32 are angled towards home plate, which is a nice perk. So we’d rather sit in Section 5 than 6, and Section 30 than 29 (excluding the Maker’s Mark seats).
• In the sections that are right on the wall, there will be some seats with extremely limited leg room. Specifically:
• Section 3, Rows 10-14, the lowest seat in each row
• Section 4, Rows 4-9, the lowest seat in each row
• Section 5, Row 2, Seat 8
• Section 30, Rows 1-3, the highest seat in each row
• Section 31, Row 4, seats 1-2
• Section 31, Row 5, seats 4-5
• Section 31, Row 6, seats 7-8
• Section 31, Row 7, seat 10
• Section 32, Row 8-15, the highest seat in each row
• Now keep in mind: those seats right on the wall have the benefit of being right on the wall. If you stand up, you’re literally looking down onto the field. But we don’t think it’s worth it – these seats are simply too uncomfortable, even for a child.
• The first base line will be in the sun, and the third base line will be in the shade. The closer to the field you are, the more sun you will get.
• There are zero visual obstructions in these sections. No poles.

Field Boxes – Sections 101-134

These are the next set of seats from the field, but since the Club Boxes in front of them are only 14 rows deep, and these sections are only 15 rows deep, any Field Box seat will be no more than 30 rows from the field, which is consistent with the lower level of pretty much any ballpark. Having said that, depending on the game, the price difference between Club Boxes and Field Boxes can be substantial, and we would suggest going with the Field Boxes at a better price every time. We would especially suggest an infield Field Box over an outfield Club Box.

Some pointers about these sections:

• In Sections 104-131, there is a walkway in front of Row 1 that separates the Field Boxes from the Club Boxes. And there will be constant traffic walking through those lanes, and you will NOT like it. Our advice: avoid Rows 1, 2, and even 3 in those sections. This is one of those times when sitting in a low row is the wrong idea.
• The sections along the wall will also create problems with leg room, because they will be jammed right against the wall. Those seats are specifically: 

• • Section 101, Rows 7-12, the two lowest seats in each row
  • Section 102, Rows 1-6, the two lowest seats in each row
  • Section 133, Rows 1-9, the highest seat in each row
  • Section 134, Rows 10-12, the highest seat in each row

• The first base line will be in the sun, and the third base line will be in the shade. The closer to the field you are, the more sun you will get.
• Sections 101-104 and 130-134 are angled towards home plate, which is a nice perk. So we’d rather sit in Section 104 than 105, and Section 130 than 129.
• There are zero visual obstructions in these sections. No poles.

200 Level Terraces – Sections 202-233

Ok… this is where it starts to get confusing.

The Cubs have broken the 200 Level sections into seven different zones: Boxes, Reserved Preferred, and Reserved, which are based on row numbers, and then zones based on how far they are from home plate (outfield, infield, home plate). But here’s what you need to know.

• The only sections where you have a 100% chance of not being affected by poles are 202 and 233. All other sections will have seats that are obstructed that you’ll have to make sure to avoid.
• From Sections 205 to 229, the poles are very reliable: they’re in the sixth row. Which means that every seat in Rows 1-6 will have NO obstructions (but some of those row 6 seats will have poles next to them. This is not a particular problem, but it’s worth mentioning.)
• Once you move past Row 6, there may be obstructions … or not. The closer you are to Row 6, the fewer obstructions there will be. The higher you go from Row 6, the more seats will have some obstruction.
• But … the closer you are to a pole, the more significant the obstruction is likely to be. The further away from the pole you are, the less impactful the obstruction (but, if that obstruction happens to be between you and home plate, the pitcher’s mound, or a base, the more annoying it will be).

But here’s the thing: not only will the majority of 200 Level seats be unobstructed, many of them will actually be fantastic seats. For example, a Row 7 seat with a clear view will probably be available at a discount to rows 1-6, because that’s where the Cubs have a price break for season tickets. And the view from that seat will be excellent (and really high value for price-to-view). It’s just a matter of making sure that you’re not sitting behind a pole.

So we’re not telling you to avoid the 200 Level entirely. But how will you know which seats are ok, and which aren’t?

Well, the Cubs have a fantastic 3D Virtual Venue on their site. This will show you the exact view from every seat in the ballpark.

But here’s the thing: while tickets sold on Cubs.com always include the seat numbers, tickets sold on resale sites often don’t. And the obstruction can be completely different from one seat to the next. So … if you find seats in the 200 Level behind Row 6 and want to know if they are ok, check them against the virtual venue if they have seat numbers, and if they don’t, call the customer service line for the ticketing company and ask them to disclose the seat numbers. Oftentimes they will. Check them against the 3D chart, and if they look ok, go ahead and buy them.

Obstructions notwithstanding, here are the other things you need to consider when buying 200 Level seats:

• All of these seats are underneath the 300 level awning, except for sections 201-203 (204 is mixed, covered and uncovered) and 231-232. 
• In the front rows they’ll feel airy and open. But once you go past Row 10 or so, it’ll start to feel darker. And by the time you get to Row 17, these seats will feel cocoon-like. You won’t be able to see the sky, you won’t be able to see the ball in the air, and from some spots, you won’t even be able to see the entire scoreboard. If you want to see the sky, you should sit below Row 13.
• When you’re at a cold-weather game, these seats will be FREEZING. The wind whips through the 200 Level, and even on a day that is in the 60s, these seats will feel 10-15 degrees colder. 
• But … they’ll also keep you protected from snow or rain. When the forecast is bad, a 200-Level seat between Rows 5-15 can be absolutely perfect.
• There is a main walkway between the 100 and 200 level sections with constant foot traffic. Even though the 200 level seats are a few steps up from the walkway, seats in Rows 1 and 2 are still subject to having people walking into your view. If you’re sensitive to this, you should start your search with Row 3 seats. (Which means the real sweet spot for 200 Level seats is rows 3-6)

So we realize that this isn’t a 100% guide to selecting a specific seat. And if you’re someone who wants a 0% chance of having an obstruction, you can either stick to 200 Level seats in Rows 1-6, or just skip the 200 Level completely.

300 Level Upper Boxes

While others are worrying and wringing their hands about picking a 200 Level seat, the smarter fans are buying a great seat in the 300 Level. Remember: this is an old ballpark, and they didn’t quite build them as tall in 1914 as they do today. So the 300 Level, which is the lower part of the upper deck, just isn’t as far away from the playing field as the upper deck at most ballparks.

If you’ve got a seat in a low row in the infield, then I’m telling you – you have a spectacular seat. And you also have a great view of the ballpark at large. And these tickets are almost always less expensive than any of the seats downstairs, including the 200 Level.

Some notes:

• Row 1 seats have a railing in front of them. If you’re really tall this won’t be an issue, but for everyone else, it’s possible that you could be looking right into the railing depending on your height and line of sight. If you think this is something that would bother you, we’d suggest starting your ticket search in Rows 2 or 3.
• These sections are pretty steep, and there are no handrails going down these stairs. So if you are someone who is challenged on mobility, these may not be the seats for you.
• On the other hand, seats in Row 10 are one step down from the concourse, so if you can handle that one step, you’re good. And these are still very good seats.
• Obviously seats in the infield are better. Seats in the outfield are not angled towards home plate, so you’ll be craning your neck the whole game to watch the action (but no more so than you would be in similar sections downstairs).
• There are NO obstructions in the 300 Level. No poles – every seat has a clear view.
• As part of the renovation, elevators were installed that can take you to the 300 Level. And it’s also quite the climb on the walkways to get up here, so if walking isn’t your thing, head for the elevator.

The bottom line: these are great seats. Our rule at Wrigley is to go up before you go out. We would much rather sit in 300 Level infield seats than 100 or 200 Level outfield seats, even if they were the same price. Sure, it’s nice to be closer to the field, but trust us – this is the better call.

400 Level Upper Reserved Seats

A lot of our commentary about the 200 Level would apply here. There are poles. The lower you sit, the less likely you are to be affected by them. The higher you sit, the more likely. There’s always a walkway between the 300 and 400 Levels with tons of foot traffic, which may bother you if you’re in Row 1 or 2 of the upper reserved sections. Oh … and it’s also very windy up here. When it’s cold, these seats will be freezing. 

There will be shade on these seats pretty much 100% of the time, but not necessarily protection from rain (it would depend on whether the rain is falling from behind the section. If so, you’d be more protected).

Our advice: once again, check the Virtual Venue to see if the seats you’re looking at have a clear view. If you’re unsure, don’t buy them. But our best advice is to spend a few extra bucks and buy seats in the 300 Level instead, where you’re guaranteed to have no obstructions, plus a much better view.

The Bleachers

Please: spend one day in the bleachers. It’s just a blast. Yes, they are metal benches with no seat backs, and no cup holders. And yes, they are general admission, which means the later you get to the ballpark, the worse your seats are going to be. But I’m telling you – it’s a memorable experience unlike any in MLB.

The bleachers are split into two areas: lower and upper. We definitely think it’s better to sit in the lower bleachers. 

Some notes for you about the bleachers:

–The bleachers have a separate entrance on the corner of Sheffield and Waveland, across from Murphy’s Bleachers (the bar). If you don’t have a bleacher ticket, you can’t enter through this gate.

–For pretty much every game, there will be a line to get into the bleachers before they open. Why? Because people want to get into the front row. And if you want to be in the front row, you may need to get there early too. On weekends and for bigger opponents during the summer, those lines will be longer.

–But … you really don’t need to be in the front row. Your goal should be to sit in the lower part of the bleachers, and you don’t need to show up 90 minutes early to do that. And even if you show up later and the lower bleachers look full, take a closer look: there are often gaps that you can slide into. Just ask people to move down a bit. When the game starts, they won’t be able to occupy as much space as they’re occupying before the game.

–Here’s a really important note: YOU CANNOT ENTER THE BLEACHERS WITHOUT A BLEACHER TICKET, including from inside the ballpark. Unlike other stadiums where the bleachers are the cheapest, crappiest ticket that people don’t want to sit in, the bleachers at Wrigley are a huge fan favorite. There are checkpoints on both sides of the bleachers that connect to the general seating bowl, and they are staffed with attendants who will ask to see your ticket. If you don’t have one, you won’t be admitted.

–You can, however, go from the bleachers into the rest of the stadium if you want to roam around. They’ll scan you out at the Bleachers checkpoint, and then will scan you back in when you return. This is so people don’t pass tickets back and forth to try to get in.

–Here’s another really surprising note: even though we think Wrigley is one of the worst food ballparks in MLB, the food in the bleachers is the best in the building. They have local vendors here that aren’t in the rest of the concourses, including local favorites Hot Doug’s (hot dogs and brats), and Small Cheval (burgers and shakes). So unlike the general bowl, where we would strongly suggest not eating at the ballpark, in the bleachers, we definitely think you can and even should. (TSI TIP: Small Cheval has a full restaurant right on Clark Street/Waveland Avenue, and not only will the food be better there, it will be 35% cheaper. And you can even bring food into the ballpark with you. So if you want to have a burger, stop and get one at the restaurant and bring it in with you).

–The bleachers will always be in the sun. On cold days, they’re the warmest place in the ballpark during a day game (and highly recommended). But during summer day games, they’ll be very toasty. Plan your wardrobe accordingly. You can duck into the covered concourse for some relief, but there’s no place to watch the game where you’ll have shade, with the exception of the last row of the upper bleachers, underneath the scoreboard.

–For the last few seasons the Cubs have designated bleacher Sections 501-502 as “Good Sport Sections,” which they say are for those who “prefer a more casual vibe to watch the game.” I guess that means they want people to be on better behavior. Our advice: don’t count on it. If you don’t want the party that is the bleachers, then don’t sit in the bleachers.

–Having said that, they call Wrigley “The Friendly Confines,” and they are just that. Sure, you may have seen some random Insta videos of some fights out there, but I promise you: those are exceptionally rare (and you can’t stop assholes from being assholes all the time, no matter where you are). But the Wrigley bleachers are the best type of party: people looking to have a great time, good natured fun, and, as you’d expect from the midwest, friendly people being friendly. You shouldn’t need to sit in a special section, but if you do want to, go right ahead.

–To be closer to food and bars, opt for the right field bleachers (but this isn’t a dealbreaker).

–For the earliest shade, sit in left field. Right field faces west, and will get the setting sun even into the early evening.

–The Hornitos Hacienda is at the front of Sections 501-503, but it’s a private group space that is not available to bleacher attendees, even if it’s not being used. If you’re interested in these for a group, you can contact the Cubs with inquiries.

If you sit in the bleachers for a game, years later you’ll be talking about that time you sat in the bleachers at Wrigley. Just do it!

TSI TIP: if the entrance to the Bleachers is too long, try entering the ballpark at the Addison/Sheffield entrance. You CAN enter the ballpark at any gate with a bleacher ticket, and if you enter the ballpark at Addison/Sheffield, it’s the closest point to the bleachers other than the Bleachers gate. If the lines at Addison/Sheffield are short, you can hustle your way over to the bleachers to try to get a low-row seat while others are standing in line.

Standing Room Only

Technically there is only one “official” Standing Room Only location in the ballpark, and that’s the space behind the last row of the 200 Level. For sold out games, the Cubs may make actual SRO tickets available, but for other games, you’re welcome to stand there if you’d like. But this is not a good experience. We’ve already told you that the high rows of the 200 sections are terrible seats, and these are even behind those. They are also on the other side of the walkway, so people will be walking in front of you. You absolutely can’t see the sky, you can’t see the scoreboard… seriously, these suck. If you’re going to be at Wrigley, you should buy an actual seat to sit in.

The Rooftops

Once upon a time, the rooftops were one of the coolest experiences at Wrigley. Yeah, they were far away from home plate, but they were giant parties. You could hang out with friends, watch the game from the deck, watch the game from the rooftop bleacher seats – it was great.

But when the Cubs renovated the ballpark, they installed two gigantic jumbotrons which obstructed the views from the rooftops. So now, the only reason you would do the rooftops is if you were invited to a company event, and you didn’t care about seeing the game. But if you do care about seeing the game, you should avoid the rooftops.

Bottom Line

See – that wasn’t so hard, was it?

Our advice: this is a great ballpark to splurge at. If you can find tickets for the 1914, Maker’s Mark, or Catalina Clubs, treat yourself to an amazing experience. If you’re here for more than one game, sit in the bleachers for sure. For a third game, buy the best tickets you can afford, either in the Club Boxes, the Field Boxes, the first six rows of the 200-Level infield, or a 300 Level infield seat. Unless you’re just on a strict budget, avoid the higher 200-Level rows, and the 400 Level as well.