MLB
Stadium Guide
·
Chicago, Illinois
Opened
April 23, 1914
Capacity of
41,649
Best way there
CTA Red Line to Addison
2-minute walk from the train to the gates.
Tickets
Mobile only, in the MLB Ballpark app
The park is fully cashless, too.
Arrive by
Gates open 90 min early
Two hours early on Saturdays.
Bag policy
16" × 16" × 8" max, no backpacks
Clear backpacks aren't allowed either.
Food & water
Yes: sealed water and a small bag of food
Factory-sealed plastic bottles only. No glass, cans, or alcohol.
Parking
$30–$50 nearby, or free remote lot
Free shuttle from 4650 N. Clarendon for night and weekend games.
Nearest airport
O'Hare (ORD) · 14 mi
About 35 min by car, 60–75 by train.
Best value seats
300-level Terrace Reserved
Mid-infield, with fewer pole obstructions.
Wrigley Field is one of the most storied ballparks in American sports, having been home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Built in 1914, it's the second-oldest active MLB stadium and has barely lost a step — the ivy-covered brick outfield walls, the hand-operated manual scoreboard, and the famous marquee out front make it feel genuinely irreplaceable. It seats just over 41,000 and sits in the middle of the Lakeview neighborhood, fully integrated into the surrounding city blocks.
Wrigleyville — the neighborhood immediately around the park — is one of the best gameday destinations in baseball. Bars like Murphy's Bleachers, the Cubby Bear, and Sheffield's fill up hours before first pitch, and the rooftop clubs along Waveland and Sheffield Avenues offer an unusual way to watch the game from outside the park. The Red Line CTA train stops at Addison, right outside the front entrance, making it one of the most transit-friendly ballparks in the country.
From O'Hare, take the Blue Line to the Loop, then the Red Line north (60–75 min). From Midway, take the Orange Line to the Loop and make the same Red Line transfer.
Accessible parking is in the Cubs' Gallagher Way lot (west side), plus ADA spaces in nearby garages. Accessible drop-off is on Waveland Ave. For accommodations, call the Cubs at (773) 404-2827.
Almost no on-site parking, and street spots fill fast with permit limits. Private lots 5–10 min away run $30–$50. Take the Red Line instead.
No real tailgating scene. The bars on Clark and Addison are the pregame, packed hours before first pitch.
Addison drops you at the marquee, 2 minutes from the gates. Trains run every few minutes, with extra game-day service. The best way in.
Staying in Lakeview or Wrigleyville? Walk. It's flat, well-lit and lined with bars the whole way.
Game-day bike corral on Waveland Ave. The Lakefront Trail and city bike lanes make it an easy ride from Lincoln Park, Lakeview or Uptown.
Factory-sealed plastic bottles only. No glass, cans, alcohol, thermoses or hard coolers.
A personal amount of food in a small disposable bag is OK.
Up to 16" x 16" x 8", including purses, fanny packs and soft coolers. No backpacks (clear ones too) or hard coolers. Medical and diaper bags are OK.
Near the Cubs dugout with clean infield sightlines and no pole obstructions. Worth it for a big trip.
Higher up and much cheaper, with a full view of the field and none of the lower deck's pole problems.
Iron support columns block views in much of the outer lower deck. Check for an obstructed-view tag before you buy. Upper corners are steep with sharp angles.
On day games, the sun hits right field and the first base lower deck most of the game. Third base and left field bleachers shade by mid-game. Bring sunglasses anyway.
No roof. Spring nights can need a real jacket, and summer bleachers get hot. Wind off Lake Michigan can make a warm day feel cool.
Sections 102-104, 112-115, 126-127, 420, Upper Bleachers - Chicago-style deep dish, a South Side original since 1974
Bleacher Platform 14 - Italian beef from a local chain, a Chicago staple
Bleacher Platform 14 - Creatively topped hot dogs and sausages
Sections 307, 327 - Fritos topped with chili, nacho cheese, pico and pickled jalapeños
The red hand-lettered sign at Clark & Addison has been the ballpark's welcome mat since 1934. It's one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks.
The outfield walls at Wrigley are covered in ivy — and it's not just for looks. A ball lost in the vines is a ground rule double.
Still updated by hand every inning, Wrigley's centerfield scoreboard is one of the last of its kind in the majors — and it's never been hit by a ball.
Every 7th inning, Wrigley's entire crowd stands and sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" together. It's been a tradition here longer than most stadiums have existed.
The outdoor plaza just west of the stadium has statues of five Cubs legends, a giant video board, local food, and the 2016 World Series Trophy.
Gallagher Way: The plaza between the park and Clark St has open lawn, summer fountains, a big screen showing the game and its own concessions. A good break if a kid needs space.
Clark's Crew: The Cubs' free kids club, with a fast pass to run the bases and a free ballpark tour. On Kids Sundays, the first 1,000 kids 13 and under run the bases after day games. Follow Clark the Cub on Instagram for appearances.
Nursing: Mamava Pod inside the Gallagher Way Gate (near Gate 4, left field concourse), lockable with a pump outlet, open all game. A second nursing room is at the First Aid station behind home plate.
Changing tables: Five family restrooms: main concourse near Sections 113 and 128, 300 level at 307L and 326R, and the upper Budweiser Bleachers.
Strollers: Check large strollers free at the Bike Valet near the Addison Red Line entrance.
Tip: Grab a free child ID wristband at either Fan Services booth, behind home plate or at the Budweiser Bleacher Gate.
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