Wrigley Field

The park opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for a Federal League club, and the Cubs moved in two years later. The ivy was planted on the outfield walls in 1937, the same year the manual scoreboard went up, and both remain in service. Wrigley was the last major league park to install lights, holding out until 1988, which is why day baseball is still more central to its identity than anywhere else in the sport.

Transit summary

The Red Line runs to Addison station, which is directly outside the ballpark and about twenty minutes from the Loop. This is one of the best transit connections of any American sports venue and it is what almost everyone uses. The Brown Line and buses cover the wider North Side, and Wrigleyville itself is entirely walkable.

The club runs ballpark tours covering the clubhouse, the dugout, the bleachers and the press box, operating year round with a reduced game day schedule. It is a good tour because so much of the original building is still in use. Book ahead in summer.

Planning a visit to Wrigley Field

• Take the Red Line to Addison. It stops at the ballpark and beats driving comfortably.
• Day games are the signature experience here and the reason the park is what it is. Choose one if the schedule allows.
• The wind off Lake Michigan genuinely changes the game. Blowing out makes for a hitting day, blowing in makes for a pitching one, and locals check it before they leave the house.
• The rooftop seats across the street are a separate ticket sold by separate operators, not by the club. They are a legitimate and distinctive way to watch a game.
• Wrigleyville is a serious drinking neighbourhood on game days and hotel rooms nearby are loud. Stay in the Loop if you want a quiet night.