Guide To Wrigley Field
WRIGLEY FIELD FACTS/HISTORY:
Address
1060 West Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 404-2827 (CUBS)
Box office phone number and hours:
800-843-2827 (individual tickets)
773-404-2827 (group tickets of 20 or more)
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Wrigley Field is the current home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs. Originally known as Weeghman Park, Wrigley Field was built in 1914 on grounds once occupied by a seminary. The ballpark, which had a seating capacity of 14,000, served as the home for Chicago's Federal League ballclub (known as the Federals and the Whales) and was the property of Charles H. Weeghman.
On April 20, 1916, the first National League game was played at the ballpark when the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 in 11 innings. Four years later, in 1920, the park became known as Cubs Park after the Wrigley family purchased the team from Weeghman. It was officially named Wrigley Field in 1926 in honor of William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate and the club's owner.
In 1937, Wrigley Field's iconic bleachers and scoreboard were constructed when the outfield area was renovated to provide improved and expanded seating. The original scoreboard remains intact today. Also in 1937, Wrigley Field's trademark outfield vines were purchased and planted by Bill Veeck.
Fifty-one years later, Wrigley Field added lights and played its first game after dark on Aug. 8, 1988 – which was promptly rained out after 3½ innings. The first official night game took place the next evening, on Aug. 9, with the Cubs defeating the New York Mets 6-4. The most recent major Wrigley Field renovation took place following the 2005 season when the Cubs expanded the bleachers to increase the ballpark's seating capacity to 41,159.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Driving in from the North:
Take 94 East to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn left (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field.
Driving in from the Northwest:
Take 53 North or South to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn left (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field. OR Take 90 East to Irving Park Rd. east to Clark. Turn right (south) and Wrigley is a few blocks ahead. OR Take 290 East to Lake Shore Drive. Take Lake Shore Drive to Irving Park Rd. Head west to Clark. Turn left (south). Wrigley Field is ahead on the left (east).
Driving in from the West:
Take 290 East or 55 North to Lake Shore Drive. Take Lake Shore Drive to Irving Park Rd. Head west to Clark. Turn left (south). Wrigley Field is ahead on the left (east). OR Take 88 East to 294 North to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn left (east) on Addison and travel three miles to Wrigley Field or take 88 East to Interstate 290 east to 90/94 north to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (east) on Addison. Wrigley Field is three miles ahead.
Driving in from the Southeast:
Take 94 North to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (west) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field. OR Take 94 North to Lake Shore Drive. Head north to Irving Park Rd. Head west to Clark. Turn left (south). Wrigley Field is ahead on the left (east).
Driving in from the Southwest:
Take 80 East to 294 North to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn left (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field OR Take 80 East to 57 North to Interstate 90/94 north to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field. OR Take Interstate 55 north to Interstate 90/94 north to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to the ballpark. OR Take Interstate 55 north to Interstate 90/94 north to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to the ballpark.
Driving in from the South:
Take Interstate 57 north to Interstate 90/94 north to the Addison Street exit. Turn right (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field. OR Take Interstate 57 north to Interstate 90/94 north to Lake Shore Drive. Head north to Irving Park Rd. Head west to Clark. Turn left (south). Wrigley Field is ahead on the left (east). OR Take 294 North to 90 East to the Addison Street exit. Turn left (east) on Addison and proceed three miles to Wrigley Field.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
CTA "L" Trains:
• The CTA's Red Line stops at the Addison Station just one block east of Wrigley Field.
• For more information, visit to www.transitchicago.com or call 836-7000 (from any Chicago-land area code).
CTA Buses:
• The No. 152 bus lets off at the ballpark, while the Howard/Dan Ryan "Red" rapid transit line lets out one block east of the ballpark.
• For more information on CTA buses, visit to www.transitchicago.com.
Metra Trains:
There are multiple Metra rail lines that connect the suburbs to downtown Chicago. These rail lines exit downtown at five stations:
• LaSalle Street Station exits on LaSalle Street between Van Buren Street and Congress Parkway.
• Union Station exits on Canal Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard. Patrons can take the #128 Soldier Field Express buses, which board on Jackson Boulevard east of Canal Street and begin leaving Ogilvie two hours before the game until 30 minutes after
• Ogilvie Transportation Center exits on Madison Street and Canal Street. Patrons can take the #128 Soldier Field Express buses, which board on Madison street and begin leaving Ogilvie two hours before the game until 30 minutes after
• South Shore Line runs on the Metra Electric Line from South Bend, Indiana to downtown Chicago, serving the southeast portion of Chicago and northwest Indiana. Exit at the McCormick Place stop at 18th Street and walk one block north to
Soldier Field.
• Millennium Station exits on Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue.
• For more information regarding schedules, locations, and fares, visit www.metrarail.com or call 836-7000 (from any Chicago-land area code).
Pace – Wrigley Field Express Buses:
Fans in the northwest and west suburbs can take Pace's Wrigley Field Express Route non-stop to Wrigley Field. Trips costs $4 each way per person (exact cash fare is required on the bus). The routes operate during all evening, weekend and holiday games, as well as to every game in June, July and August. The buses depart from the following locations:
• Northwest Transportation Center picks up at 1730 Kimberly Drive at the corner of Martingale Road in Schaumburg.
• Yorktown picks up at 138 Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard.
PARKING:
Street parking around Wrigley Field is limited, although there are numerous private lots available. The Cubs also operate a shuttle and parking service at the DeVry University campus located off Addison Street and Western Avenue for all weekend and night games. For $6, fans can park their vehicle and ride the shuttle free to and from the ballpark.
FOOD & DRINK AT THE BALLPARK:
• Food and beverages are available throughout the ballpark at concession stands and carts managed by Levy Restaurants.
• The Captain Morgan Club, located at the corner of Addison Street and Sheffield Avenue and open daily to the public, features 8,000 square feet of indoor space. The menu features a collection of salads, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and a full bar with many premium options, as well as a rotating selection of specialty cocktails on tap.
NEIGHBORHOOD:
Wrigley Field is located in Chicago's lively Wrigleyville neighborhood which offers an enormous array of bars and restaurants within just feet of the ballpark. Check out this link from chicago.cbslocal.com for dining and drinking options near Wrigley.
GO CUBS!
Dave Wischnowsky / 670 The Score
