Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs, Chicago

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again like what I've said, when visiting Chicago, you must include Wrigley Field in your things to do as it is one of the revered institutions in Chicago and the home of the chicago cubs since 1916 and I hope they win a pennant hopefully (Our San Francisco Giants finally had a Pennant this year in the World Series). Also include wrigleyville, the area around is as it is full of bars, restaurants, sports merchandise shops, pubs and hole in the wall places. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales. It was called Cubs Park between 1920 and 1926 before being renamed for then Cubs team owner and chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley, Jr.. Between 1921 and 1970, it was also the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines, a phrase popularized by "Mr. Cub", Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. The current capacity is 41,160, making Wrigley Field the 10th-smallest actively used ballpark. It is the oldest National League ballpark and the second oldest active major league ballpark (after Fenway Park on April 20, 1912), and the only remaining Federal League park. Wrigley is known for its ivy covered brick outfield wall, the unusual wind patterns off Lake Michigan, the iconic red marquee over the main entrance, and the hand turned scoreboard

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the location of the World Famed Chicago Cubs Arena of Wrigleyfield and the area around it. Wrigleyville is the neighborhood directly surrounding Wrigley Field along North Clark and West Addison streets. Actual boundaries are undefined, with some sources citing Wrigleyville as spilling into adjacent enclaves such as Lakeview East and North Halsted. Wrigleyville features low-rise brick buildings and houses, some with rooftop bleachers colloquially called Wrigley Rooftops where people can purchase seats to watch baseball games that, while generally more expensive than tickets for seats within the park itself, come with all you can eat and drink service. Wrigleyville bars and restaurants (particularly on North Clark Street) feature the sports culture with sports-oriented themes, and some mix the LBGT from themes from nearby Lakeview East and sports themes. Bars such as Slugger's, Murphy's Bleachers, The Cubby Bear and John Barleycorn host the Cubs crowds near the Wrigley Field intersection of North Clark Street and West Addison Street. Las Mañanitas, a gay Mexican restaurant, is located on North Halsted Street just two blocks away from the park and the area becomes very crowded especialy if there is a Chicago Cubs game with die hard fans! This area also has been a staging ground for a number of Hollywood movies.

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Despite growing up several hundred miles away, I've been a Cubs fan since I was 14 and have seen them play in three different stadiums. But never at Wrigley --until 2003 when I made my second trip to Chicago and again in 2009. The field is Heaven for a baseball fan. Tons of tradition. Grass. Bricks. Ivy. Manual scoreboards. Stands that make you feel you're in another era. And very knowledgeable fans. You can almost see the old Cubs like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Ryne Sandberg out there again. This is where I want to be buried.

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Wrigley field is the second oldest ball park and it really like walking into history when you walk into the stadium. At the stadium dont expect your normal advertisements everywhere and huge jumbotrons. I am however not recommending to route for the cubs (Go CARDINALS).

We also attending the NHL Winter Classic here, which is the best sporting event I have ever attended!!

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Wrigley Field during a Cubs game is the sports fan's "must do" while in Chicago! The history, passion, and smell of baseball just seem to surround the stadium and the energy is almost palatable during a game. Every seat in the stadium has a great view of the action and even the surrounding buildings have put up stands on their roofs so they too can offer patrons a viewing spot for every game.

We attended opening day at Wrigley in 2001. Nothing like the atmosphere and electricity around the ballpark at the start of a new season. Stayed downtown, but took the El straight to the stadium. Bleacher seats, Row 2.

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The most beautiful baseball park around! Yes I'm a life long Cubs fan and may be a little biased but Wrigley Field is beautiful. I've been to many different baseball stadiums and this one far and away is the best. The seats are right on top of the action. The field was built in 1914 and is the 2nd oldest in the Major Leagues (Fenway is the oldest, built in 1912). The Chicago dogs are wonderful and you can get your fill of Old Style beers. Tickets are very cheap during the week days. On weekends the prices are usually doubled. For all baseball fans this is a must! It is truly a gem.

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We took a drive North, along the Lake while we could, through neighborhoods where we couldn't be next to the lake. It's so interesting how the neighborhoods transition from one type to the next. We past through a hispanic zone where everything was in Spanish and sidewalk vendors sell ethnic specialties. Then we were in a mostly black neighborhood, and gradually you could see where it became more alternative stores and shops and restaurants and gentrification started to take over. I saw a burger joint that said "Wrigleyville" and said, "Hey, we must be near Wrigley field!" The girls said "Gee, you think?" I was in the back seat and couldn't see the huge ball field a block in front of us. Let me make that the big FULL ball field. And just as we came adjacent to it the crowds roared! Someone obviously hit a home run. As we circled the stadium the entire crowd sang "Take me out the ballgame" in unison. It was the most amazing experience. On the roofs of the buildings across the street from the stadium are bleachers filled with more people. People hang from windows and balconies of the surrounding buildings. It was a huge kick. We drove around a couple more times and then got out of there just before the game ended.