Wonderful Wrigley Field

Official Review by Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey Co-Founder

Wrigley Field is one of those places that every fan has to have on their "must visit" list. The Friendly Confines is the second oldest ballpark in professional baseball, built in 1914. There have been many changes in recent years, and the argument can be made that other than the quality of the product on the field, this may be the best time in the history of Wrigley Field to go and see a Cubs game.

Food & Beverage    4

There have been substantial changes to the menu at Wrigley Field since the Ricketts family took control of the team after the 2009 season. Wrigley Field may never be able to offer the expanse of food options that other new modern stadiums can, but the selection has gotten better.

The star of the show here is the encased meat. My personal favorite is the Bison dog ($6.50), but on my most recent visit I tried the Buffalo Style Dog ($6.50), and it is quickly one of my favorite treats. It's a hot dog served with Frank's Hot Sauce, blue cheese slaw and a bit of celery salt. It's pretty awesome, and you can also find it in a foot long size! If you want to keep it classic, then there are also Polish dogs ($5), brats, and Vienna Beef hot dogs ($4.50).

There are strong Chicago options, including personal sized deep dish D'Agostino pizzas ($6.50), which I tried and thought was rather tasty. They also have thinner styled slices ($4.50) if that's more your style. Don't forget about the Italian beef sandwich ($7.50) for one last Chicago classic.

Beer options are rather limited. There are a few stands that offer "premium" options, but for the most part your choice is between Old Style, Budweiser, or Bud Light ($7). I personally go with Old Style when I'm at Wrigley Field because it is a Chicago beer.

Your soda option comes from Pepsi with a regular or souvenir size ($3.75 or $5).

Overall, the quality was solid and the prices were very acceptable.

Atmosphere    5

The magic definitely starts long before you enter the ballpark. The neighborhood (more on that below) is, of course, part of the draw. You would be remiss if you didn't take a lap around the exterior of the park before entering. The statues of Harry Caray (corner of Waveland and Sheffield), Ernie Banks (Clark & Addison), and the newer statues of Billy Williams and Ron Santo (Sheffield & Addison) are all popular meeting places, and photo opportunities. You may also want to bring your glove as you walk along Waveland to try and snare a batting practice home run. You will have competition however, as there are always a smattering of fans looking skyward before and during the game.

Once you enter Wrigley, you feel a bit like you've entered the catacombs. It is somewhat dark, but ballpark smells begin to emanate around you. As you walk the concourse, you can peer up toward the daylight of each aisle. I sort of enjoy delaying the gratification of finally peeking out on to the field to see the majestic green of field and ivy against the blue of the sky. Needless to say, your first gaze at Wrigley Field will be something you will always remember.

The Cubs are one of the few MLB teams with no mascot, although the five-piece band that makes its way around the stadium (consisting of a baritone, banjo, trumpet, clarinet, and trombone) does a good job of providing in-game entertainment.

The 7th inning stretch is, of course, a time honored tradition at Wrigley Field. Harry Caray's memory is well preserved, even if the guest conductor thing has become a bit played out. There's still a chance for some celebrity sightings, which appeals to the tabloid-reading instinct in all of us.

When deciding where to sit at Wrigley Field, the options are distinct. The bleachers are where you should go if you're feeling a bit rowdy and want to get your drink on. Sometimes the actual viewing of the baseball game can be negligible out there, but you will certainly have fun. You may want to bring a spare baseball just in case you catch a tater from the opposition. More times than not, those balls will be switched out before being propelled "back" on the field of play. One downside of the bleachers is that they are detached from the rest of the park, so you're kind of stuck out there. IF you are someone who likes to wander through the park a bit, then the bleachers may not be for you.

There are some obstructed view seats at Wrigley Field and some of the obstructions can really hamper the experience. For the most part you will find the posts in the 200 and 500 sections. If you choose those seats, then try to find a place near the aisle and in the first few rows. The best place to sit at Wrigley Field is in the 400 section directly behind home plate, or as near as you can get. It gives you a great perspective on the game, is below the concourse to limit fans blocking your view, and also gives you a great look at the 7th inning stretch conductor. If you want to get a sun tan, then the 100 or 200 sections down the right field line are your best bet, just be sure to bring your sun block.

Wherever you choose to sit, just take your time at Wrigley Field. There aren't many places in the United States where you can see a nearly 100 year old stadium. Every time you go, it is a special privilege.

Neighborhood    5

There are so many great options around the Wrigleyville neighborhood that it's impossible to cover everything here. Everyone has their personal favorites, so again, this relies mostly on personal preference. Slugger's, the Cubby Bear, and Murphy's Bleachers are the more large scale and well-known bars. They each have their place in the pantheon of establishments, and may be worth the visit, but they aren't my first choice.

I like Goose Island on Clark for the great burgers and overall good food, as well as the local brews that are all tasty. It's fairly big and can get crowded like the rest, but it's slightly less well-known than the three I mentioned above, so you have a better chance to get a table.

Probably my favorite establishment in the immediate vicinity is the Gingerman Tavern. It doesn't get real full with Cubs fans either before or after the game, so it's the place where I will typically meet up with folks for a drink or two. They have a good selection of beers.

Off the beaten path a bit is Hot Doug's, the perfect start to a Cubs day game. They open at 10:30am and usually have a line out the door that will last a half hour or more. Plan to be there at 10:15am, and maybe even park your car in the area for the game. Then have the best encased meat experience of your life! Hot Doug's is about 2 miles from Wrigley Field, so your best bet is to walk north to Addison to catch a bus to the game. Believe me, this is a great way to start your trip, but you will never look at hot dogs the same way again.

Finally, if you're taking the Brown line to the game, there are plenty of fun places along Southport, which is about a half mile from Wrigley Field. I like Toons for their good food, table top shuffleboard, and pool table, but there are plenty of options here to try that are just as fun, but less obvious than the choices in Wrigleyville proper.

Fans    4

The fans often get a bad rap for being too yuppie, or on the phone too much, or for generally just caring more about being at Wrigley than the actual result on the field. It is curious that we will criticize some fan bases for being "fair-weathered" when they don't come watch their team when they are playing poorly, but the same is not applied in reverse when Wrigley Field continues to draw during a bad season (see 2011 for an example). I think that many of the criticisms of the fans are valid to a point, but ultimately it takes a lot to endure over a century of non-Championship baseball and still come out to root on the team. Granted, some of that is due to the allure of Wrigley Field itself, but the Cubs fans should still be given their due for coming out year after year.

Access    4

On the one hand, there is very little parking near Wrigley Field, and the parking that is available can be expensive, especially if you get stuck in a lot where they stack the cars a few deep and you get stuck. If you are absolutely committed to driving to the game, then see what you can find in advance on Gotta Park .

My recommendation in most cases is to arrive either via the Red line (Addison stop) or the Brown line (Southport stop). The red line will drop you right at Wrigley Field so it is probably the fastest, but it is also a bit crowded. I like the Brown line and the 1/2 mile walk as a way to build up to the Wrigley experience and also ride a little more comfortably. Park your car near a more northern stop on the Brown line and take the train from there to reduce the hassle.

Once inside, the concourses can be a bit congested, but they're passable. Bathrooms also get crowded so if you don't want to miss any action, then anticipate the last out, or look for possible pitching changes to make your dash to the restroom. Being quick out to the aisle during peak periods will save you minutes of waiting in line.

Return on Investment    5

A trip to Wrigley Field is both expensive, and worth every penny. Tickets are not cheap. The least expensive seat is $18 and not where you want to be sitting anyways. The upper deck box seats, which I recommend, will cost you $54 each. Even so, you can get reasonably priced (ballpark) food and drink, and ride the train to cut the parking cost. Plan on $70 at minimum for one person for the in-park experience of a game, transportation, food, and one beer. Still, this is a fair price for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ticket deals can certainly be found to lessen that cost, including our partners at ScoreBig. Sign up as a member of Stadium Journey to enjoy that membership bonus.

Extras    5

There are so many extras at Wrigley Field that I won't be able to list them all. The ivy itself is unique, as well as that daunting brick wall that sits behind it. Many brave outfielders cower when their feet hit the warning track at Wrigley Field.

The hand operated scoreboard in center is an absolute gem, and you will be amazed at how quickly they keep that thing updated.

Down each line you'll see the retired numbers of Cubs greats flying. The retired numbers of Ron Santo (#10), Ernie Banks (#14), Ryne Sandberg (#23), Billy Williams (#26), and Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux (#31 retired in honor of both pitching greats) fly proudly.

Those rooftops that surround the park are certainly a unique element of extra fandom. Be sure to check out the "Eamus Catuli" (Go Cubs in Latin) sign on the rooftop in right field as it continues to count the years since the last playoff appearance, World Series appearance, and World Series victory.

Final Thoughts

It is arguably the must-see destination for any sports fan, Wrigley Field. Anyone who loves to travel to see sports stadiums has an incomplete to-do list until they make it to the corner of Addison & Sheffield.