Opening Day: Cubs Magnet Schedule
vs Washington Nationals · Mar 26
CHICAGO CUBS
Wrigley Field
Chicago, ILEst. 191441,649 seatsMLB
The second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and the most famous urban stadium in the world.
PHOTO: Kathy (kthypryn) · CC BY 2.0
Architecture & History
Wrigley Field opened on April 23, 1914, as Weeghman Park. It is the second-oldest active MLB ballpark and was the last to install permanent lights, adding them in 1988.
The ivy-covered outfield walls, manually operated center field scoreboard, and surrounding rooftop seating on Waveland and Sheffield Avenues create an atmosphere unlike any other in sports.
Build specs
- OPENED
- April 23, 1914
- ARCHITECT
- Zachary Taylor Davis
- COST
- $250,000 (1914)
- RENOVATION
- $575M 1060 Project (2014-2019)
Statues & Exterior
STATUES & MONUMENTS
Ernie Banks Statue
Mr. Cub - Let's Play Two
Outside the main entrance
Depicts Banks in mid-swing. The inscription reads his famous quote: "It's a beautiful day for a ballgame... Let's play two!"
Harry Caray Statue
Holy Cow!
Outside Wrigley, Addison & Sheffield
The legendary broadcaster in his signature pose, leaning over with microphone, leading the 7th-inning stretch.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Ivy-Covered Walls
Outfield
Planted by Bill Veeck in 1937 — Boston Ivy and Japanese Bittersweet. Balls lost in the ivy are ground-rule doubles.
Manual Scoreboard
Center Field
One of the last hand-operated scoreboards in MLB. Numbers are changed by hand from inside the board during games.
Names & History
1914–1920
Weeghman Park
Original name when built for the Federal League's Chicago Whales.
1920–1926
Cubs Park
Renamed when the Cubs moved in after the Federal League folded.
1926–present
Wrigley Field
Named for chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., who owned the Cubs.
Also known as
The Friendly Confines
The Food
MUST TRY
Chicago-Style Hot Dog
A Vienna beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, dragged through the garden: yellow mustard, bright green relish, onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt. No ketchup. Ever.
SIGNATURE
Italian Beef Sandwich
Buona Beef, Section 218
Thin-sliced seasoned beef on Italian bread, dipped in jus with giardiniera. Order it dipped.
LOCAL
Elote Corn
Section 134
Mexican street corn with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime.
The Beer
Wrigley InstitutionLocal Only
Old Style Lager
Pabst Brewing
Served at Wrigley since 1950. The single most identified brand with Cubs baseball. The bleachers run on Old Style.
Local CraftLocal Only
Goose Island 312
Goose Island Beer Co.
312 — Chicago's area code. Clean, light, drinkable. The correct choice when you want craft without complexity.
Chicago CraftLocal Only
Revolution Anti-Hero IPA
Revolution Brewing
Chicago's largest independent craft brewery. Their flagship IPA at specialty stands.
Sun & Weather Guide
Day Games (1:20 PM)SUN
Bleachers (Left & Right Field)
The famous bleacher seats face south and get hammered by sun all afternoon.
Day Games (1:20 PM)MIXED
Upper Deck Third Base Side
Third base upper deck gets shade from the press box and upper structure by mid-game.
Night Games (7:05 PM)MIXED
All Sections
Evening games are comfortable — sun drops behind the grandstand quickly.
Insider Tips
01
The One Thing
Get to the bleachers — specifically the left field bleachers — and buy an Old Style. The Bleacher Bum culture, the ivy wall 20 feet in front of you, the W flag, and the manual scoreboard above center field are Wrigley.
02
The Rooftop Option
If you can't get good tickets inside, the rooftop buildings across Sheffield and Waveland Avenues offer clear views of the field and a full bar service.
03
Arrive Early
Get in during batting practice and walk the perimeter of the lower concourse. Wrigley's quirks — the angles, the ivy, the brick wall, the scoreboard — reveal themselves at close range.
04
Stay Late
After the last out, buy a Garrett's Chicago Mix on the way out and walk north on Clark or Sheffield to any bar in Wrigleyville. The neighborhood post-game is its own event.
05
Parking Reality
There is minimal parking near Wrigley and what exists is expensive. Take the Red Line to Addison — the station is one block from the park.
06
Best Value Seat
Upper deck along the first base line — Sections 220–227. Genuine shade in afternoon games, good sight lines, the lowest tier in the park's price structure.
2026 Promotions at Wrigley Field
Cubs Puffer Vest
vs Washington Nationals · Mar 28
University of Illinois Chicago Cap
vs Los Angeles Angels · Mar 31
Pilgrim Stops Near Chicago
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
giant_thing
Gemini Giant Wilmington
A 28-foot spaceman on Route 66 since 1965. The drive-in still serves burgers.
+ 10 min detour
historic
Chicago Water Tower
One of two buildings left standing after the fire that destroyed four square miles of Chicago.
+ 20 min detourFREE
natural
Indiana Dunes National Park
Where the word 'ecology' was coined, on the dunes 50 miles from Chicago.
+ 45 min detour
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Chicago and beyond.
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