Wrigley Field - Chicago Cubs, Chicago

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Baseball. Everyone knows of it. Well here it is again. Its best when ya go with a group of friends. Its even better when ya get to drink. Its like a expensive bar with the game right there! Sometimes its can be boring, sure someone will hate, but hey ... I got to goto 2 Cubs games within a week period! All for the best price, FREE!! Both times the seats were pretty good. One was between home plate and 1st base, the second was a little past 3rd. The crowds always talkitive, specialy if drinking, and well the food... not to shabby. Its a great time and can be a pricey day/night, but well worth the experience.

The best ballpark in the world. Drink beer, admire the bricks and greenery, and belt out the seventh inning stretch. The trough urinals in the men’s room offers the ultimate male bonding experience.

   And heckling, don’t forgot to heckle! The WGN cameras caught me once. Here are some timehonored classics:

Fee Fi Fo Fum, (player’s name) is a ******* bum!

   Is there a player on the field with a history of spousal abuse? Sing this one to the scumbag:

(to the tune of “Camp Down Races”)
(Jerk’s name) beats his wife, do da, do da.

It’s great if you’re within earshot; a friend of mine got the evil eye from Wil Cordero, but the crowd loved it!

   And the ultimate umpire heckle:

Blue, if you grew a new eye you’d be a Cyclops!

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During the baseball season (end of March - beginning of October), going to a Cubs game is THE thing to do in Chicago. Especially on a Friday, where the game usually starts around 1pm. Tickets are sold all over the internet but I recommend buying them in advance on the official Cubs website. Also, sit in the bleachers: it's the most fun area where you can really meet tons of cool people. Get yourself a Chicago hot dog and curly fries with melted cheddar, and a couple of frozen Mai Tais and just enjoy the game! After the game, it's a tradition to continue the festivities by going "pub crawling" in the many bars of the neighbourhood.

Beware: When you're having fun and drinking cold drinks, you don't realise it but.... hello, sunburns! Therefore bring a cap/hat and wear sunscreen!

Extra: Buy a Cubs tshirt or a Cubs cap before heading to the game (there are merchandise stores inside Wrigleyfield, too) so you can fit in and join the fun. It will also be a nice souvenir.

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Wrigley is one of the last standing monuments of Major League Baseball, along with Fenway and Yankee Stadium. Built in 1914, it is the second oldest of the Major League ballparks. It was purchased in 1920 by the Wrigley family and renamed Wrigley field in 1926. The famous ivy was planted in 1937, and Wrigley was the last major league park to add lights for night games in 1988. The official seating capacity is 41,118.

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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.

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team.
It is a unique, and historic stadium, located in a historic neighborhood. The outfield wall is brick and covered with ivy. The views from the upper deck are magnificent, as you can see the Chicago skyline.

Bring a visit to a baseball match at Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs (sorry White sox fans).
It seems to be this stadium has the most amusing atmosphere. At it is famous for it's 'Take me down...' song at the seventh inning.
There is no agressive atmosphere between the cubs and the opponents, it goes in a friendly way.

I was lucky enough to take in the second game of the home opener and although everyone warned me I would freeze to death, I was lucky enough to have a warm spring day. I went by myself and had no trouble making friends to have a beer with. Sit out in the bleachers for the full experience. Tip: the bleacher seats are the most popular (or so it seems) and you can purchase them somewhat cheaply. You do need to enter through the back though, not the main gates.