Wrigley Field

State: Illinois. Type: historic Major League Baseball ballpark, home of the Chicago Cubs. Location: 1060 West Addison Street, in the Lakeview neighborhood ("Wrigleyville") on Chicago's North Side. Opened April 23, 1914 (originally Weeghman Park; renamed Cubs Park, then Wrigley Field in 1927). Architect: Zachary Taylor Davis. Capacity: about 41,649. Second-oldest MLB park after Boston's Fenway Park (1912). Designated a Chicago Landmark (2004) and a National Historic Landmark and National Register site (2020). Nicknamed "The Friendly Confines."

Wrigley Field is one of the most storied ballparks in American sports, a century-old venue that has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Built in 1914 for the Chicago Whales of the short-lived Federal League and originally called Weeghman Park, it took the Wrigley name in 1927 after chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. gained control of the Cubs. The ballpark is beloved for features that have become baseball icons: the ivy-covered outfield brick walls planted in 1937, the hand-turned center-field scoreboard from the same year, and the red art deco marquee over the main entrance installed in 1934. Sitting in a dense residential neighborhood, its outfield is famously overlooked by rooftop bleachers on the buildings across Waveland and Sheffield avenues. Wrigley was the last MLB park to install lights, holding out until August 1988, and much of its early-20th-century character survived a major 2014-2019 renovation that modernized clubhouses and amenities while preserving the historic bowl. Beyond Cubs games from spring through fall, the ballpark hosts concerts and special events and offers year-round guided tours, making it a destination even on days without baseball.

Wrigley Field is at 1060 West Addison Street in the Lakeview community area on Chicago's North Side, in the area popularly known as Wrigleyville. It sits within a dense grid of residential streets, bars and restaurants a short distance inland from Lake Michigan. The ballpark is bounded by Addison Street, Clark Street, Waveland Avenue and Sheffield Avenue, with the adjacent Gallagher Way plaza on its west side serving as a gathering space and the starting point for public tours.

Chicago has a hot-summer humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers (June-August) are warm and humid; July, the warmest month, averages a high around 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and hot days can reach the low 90s. Winters are cold and often snowy, with January, the coldest month, averaging a high near 32 degrees and lows in the teens. Spring and fall bring a mix of cool and warm days. Lake Michigan moderates temperatures near the shore, and lake breezes can offer relief on hot summer afternoons. The MLB regular season runs spring through early fall, so most games fall outside the coldest weather, though April and late-season games can be chilly.

For a game, the baseball season runs from spring (late March/April) through early fall, with summer offering the warmest, most reliable weather. Day games are a Wrigley tradition and a good choice for first-time visitors who want the classic daytime ballpark atmosphere. For ballpark tours without a game, the milder spring and fall months are comfortable, and tours run in rain or shine since they include outdoor stops. Weekday games and tours are generally less crowded than weekend dates.

Wrigley Field opened on April 23, 1914, as Weeghman Park, built for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Whales of the Federal League and designed by architect Zachary Taylor Davis, who also designed the Chicago White Sox's Comiskey Park. When the Federal League folded, Weeghman bought the Cubs and moved them into the park in 1916. William Wrigley Jr. gradually acquired control of the team, and the ballpark was renamed Cubs Park and then Wrigley Field in 1927. Two of its most famous features arrived in 1937 under club executive Bill Veeck: the outfield ivy and the manually operated center-field scoreboard, both still in use. The red marquee at the Clark and Addison entrance dates to 1934. Wrigley resisted night baseball far longer than any other MLB park, finally installing lights and playing its first official night game on August 8, 1988. A comprehensive renovation from 2014 to 2019 modernized the ballpark's infrastructure. Wrigley was named a Chicago Landmark in 2004 and a National Historic Landmark, along with a National Register of Historic Places listing, in 2020.

The signature experience is catching a Chicago Cubs game, ideally a daytime game to soak up the classic atmosphere in the ivy-walled outfield setting. On non-game days, the ballpark offers 75-to-90-minute guided tours that take visitors through areas such as the seating bowl, bleachers, press box, visiting clubhouse, dugout and, on non-gameday tours, onto the field. Gallagher Way, the plaza on the west side of the ballpark, hosts events, outdoor screenings and seasonal programming. The surrounding Wrigleyville neighborhood is packed with sports bars and restaurants that come alive on game days, and the ballpark also hosts concerts and other special events throughout the year.

Within and around the ballpark, look for the iconic red art deco marquee at the corner of Clark and Addison, the ivy-covered outfield walls, and the historic hand-operated center-field scoreboard. The bleachers are a distinctive Wrigley experience, and the rooftop seating on buildings across Waveland and Sheffield avenues is a only-at-Wrigley tradition. Gallagher Way, the adjacent open-air plaza, is worth a stop before or after a visit. Statues honoring Cubs greats such as Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams and broadcaster Harry Caray stand around the ballpark's exterior.

Wrigley Field is well served by public transit: the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line's Addison station is directly adjacent to the ballpark, making the train the easiest way to arrive on game days when parking is scarce and expensive. CTA buses also serve the area. By car, the ballpark is a few miles from Lake Shore Drive and area expressways, but neighborhood parking is very limited. Chicago's two airports, O'Hare International (ORD) to the northwest and Midway International (MDW) to the southwest, both connect to downtown and the North Side via CTA rail and road.

Game times vary by the published MLB schedule and include day and night games during the season, which runs from spring into early fall. Guided ballpark tours are offered on a schedule that is released and updated throughout the year; tour availability and times should be checked and booked in advance at cubs.com/tours. Confirm specific game and tour dates and times on the official Cubs website before visiting.

Game ticket prices vary widely by opponent, date and seat location and are sold through the Cubs/MLB ticketing system. For ballpark tours, as of research the Cubs listed educational tours (weekdays, groups of 30 or more) at $15 per person plus tax and private tours for groups up to 50 at $2,000 plus tax; standard public tour pricing is available through online booking at cubs.com/tours. Confirm current prices on the official site before booking.

A Cubs game typically takes about three hours, though many fans arrive early and linger in the neighborhood, making it a half-day outing. A guided ballpark tour runs roughly 75 to 90 minutes.

The Wrigleyville and Lakeview neighborhoods around the ballpark offer boutique and chain hotels within walking distance, including a hotel directly across from the ballpark at Gallagher Way. A much wider range of lodging, from budget to luxury, is available in downtown Chicago (the Loop and River North), a short train ride away on the CTA Red Line. Booking well ahead is wise for popular game dates and summer weekends, when neighborhood hotels fill quickly.

Wrigleyville is dense with sports bars, pubs and casual restaurants that are especially lively on game days; the blocks along Clark and Addison streets and around Gallagher Way concentrate much of the action. Options range from classic Chicago bar food and pizza to a variety of casual dining. Inside the ballpark, concessions serve traditional stadium fare. For a broader dining scene, the wider Lakeview neighborhood and nearby downtown Chicago offer everything from ethnic eateries to fine dining.

Wrigley Field sits on Chicago's North Side near the lakefront, with Lake Michigan beaches and the lakefront trail a short distance east. The Lincoln Park neighborhood, with the free Lincoln Park Zoo and Lincoln Park Conservatory, is nearby to the south. Downtown attractions such as Millennium Park, the Riverwalk and the Museum Campus (Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium) are a straightforward CTA ride away.

The CTA Red Line's Addison station sits immediately next to the ballpark and is the primary transit access point. CTA bus routes also serve the area. Metra commuter rail and Chicago's O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) airports connect the wider region, with airport-to-neighborhood links via CTA rail and road. Given very limited neighborhood parking, public transit or rideshare is strongly recommended on game days.

Wrigleyville is a busy, generally well-trafficked area, but game days bring large crowds, so keep an eye on personal belongings and be patient with congestion around the ballpark gates and CTA station. Standard big-city precautions apply: stay aware of your surroundings, especially late at night when the bar scene is busy, and keep valuables out of sight if you drive and park on the street. Follow ballpark security and bag-policy rules, which are posted by the Cubs. For any emergency, dial 911.

Bring a valid mobile or printed ticket, a light jacket or layers since evenings and early/late-season games can turn cool near the lake, and sun protection for day games. Check the Cubs' current bag policy before you go, as clear-bag and size restrictions are common at MLB parks. A charged phone for mobile tickets and transit apps, and a refillable water bottle where permitted, are useful.

Take the CTA Red Line to the Addison stop rather than driving, since neighborhood parking is scarce and pricey on game days. Arrive early to enjoy Gallagher Way and the neighborhood atmosphere before first pitch. If you can't get game tickets, the guided ballpark tour is an excellent way to experience Wrigley's history up close. Buy game and tour tickets in advance through the official Cubs channels, and check the schedule for day-versus-night games depending on the experience you want.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. For ballpark tour and fan-service inquiries, the Cubs list a phone line of 773-388-8270 and email fanservices@cubs.com as of research; confirm current contact details on the official site.

Chicago Cubs / Wrigley Field - https://www.mlb.com/cubs/ballpark

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This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.