Wrigley Field
 

I'm going to Chicago for some work training at the end of May.
I really would like to catch the Cubs-Cards game on Sunday May 23. My questions are:
1. Do the games sell out quick? Should I get tix right away?
2. I will be staying in Schaumburg and want to take the train. Can anyone give me an idea how much it will cost and how easy/difficult this is?
Thanks for your answers in advance!

I can't help you with the train, but I can pretty much guarantee there are no tickets left for that game. My sister lives there and most of the games sell out within days of when tickets go on sale. If you just want a single ticket, you might have a chance, otherwise I hope you know a good scalper.

You can ebay for tix, but that will be expensive. You can get tickets from the brokers day of game, but that's really the only way to go, and the seats aren't always great, but... you can get them.

Yeah, you might get lucky with some Cubs/Padres tix or something like that, but getting Cubs/Cards tix is next to impossible. The Cubs set a record this year with pre-season ticket sales, and I bet that the Cubs/Cards games went first. If you want those tix, you will have to pay for them dearly.

Check out my same question on Travel thread. I searched e-bay and found tickets 33.00 a piece. You can wait a little while and see if they are still winning. Also depends on who they are playing of course. If they start loosing the tickets go down quite a bit or so I've heard.

Park just past O'hare airport. The blue line L has a parking lot at the station there. Costs under $5.00 to park and $1.50 to take the train in.

I'll be there on the 25th of April. Tickets do sell fast and I am not familiar with the train,sorry.

Last week in the Chicago Tribune (parent company owns the Cubs) there was a front page article stating that the entire year is nearly sold out!!! Had to cut back on group sales to accomodate season ticket orders. Obviously weekend games have been long sold out. Check ebay or take your chances w/ scalpers outside Wrigley. Also you might get lucky and find a ticket turned back to the ticket office on game day. I've picked up some that way on game day.

Go early and stay late. Plenty of great bars in the neighborhood. Murphy's Bleachers just across the street from the bleachers entrance. A ton of grate bars just south of the front entrance. Start with the Cubby Bear and head south on both sides of the street.

Good luck - go Cubs!!!

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for your input! I secured a ticket on ebay today! 35.00 + 15.00 shipping (shipping is kinda pricey)
But, I'm excited! It will be my first mlb game ever. I'm an Orioles fan, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to Wrigley!
Thanks again!

OK, you can take the train down from Schaumburg, and it will dump you off at the Citibank building. You'll have to walk about 12 blocks east (towards downtown) to State Street. You can catch the Red Line there, and it will take you to the Addison stop.

It should cost you in the neighborhood of $5 for the Metra train downtown and then $1.75 each way for the El. Beers are now about $5 at Wrigley.

Cubs/Cardinals games are the most well-attended games after the White Sox series. Be prepared for lots of people and lots of drunks. I'll probably be on of the latter.

Have fun!

Thanks The_Jazz, actually it looks like I'm going to rent a car now, so if you can give me any ideas for parking, I would appreciate it.
I'm thinking I'd like to hit a few joints near the park first and then go to the stadium. I understand they're letting the first 5000 fans out on the field before the game. Any idea what time I should get there for that?

Ideas for parking? Take the EL. Wrigley's parking is non-existent. You will pay 20-50 bucks for something within a couple of blocks to the stadium, and the chances of you being double or triple parked are pretty good.

I travel often, and I've been to many sports stadiums/arenas... Wrigley is the best in my opinion. I took the EL from downtown Michigan ave. no problem what's so ever. The atmosphere in and around the stadium is second to none.. it's as American as it gets. I'm from NY and people rant and rave about Yankee Stadium but I think it's a dump... Wrigley is Baseball.

Drive your rental car to the O'hare/Cumberland exit off the Kennedy (90 tollway) coming from Schaumburg towards the city. There is a "Kiss and Ride" or something like that where you park your car and get on the EL which will take you right to Wrigleyville. You may have to take the EL into the loop downtown and then transfer to the EL which goes North to Addison. You can check the map at the station and it will be clear on which EL to take. Do not attempt to park anywhere near Wrigleyville and besides, you don't want to drive after drinking all those $5 beers.

Once again, thank you for all your info fellow tfp'ers! This forum is truly the best around!

I once again ask all the knowledgeable tfp'ers for advice. Before the cubs game on Sunday, they're allowing the first 5000 fans with camera's on the field. Any advice on what time I should get there to be able to do this? The game starts at 7. Thanks again!

Find out what time the gates open ~ two hours ahead of game time, maybe? www.cubs.com might tell you.

good luck - and there's a photography section here for you to share your work with us.

Thanks Craven!

I hope you had fun, GO CUBS ALL THE WAY CHI-TOWNERS!!!

i am a sox fan as well...werd

I hope you missed the game. I wish I had. The Cards got their asses handed to them. Edmonds error and three strikouts. Ouch.

Fellow TFP'ers, Had a great time at the game. Sat behind the St. Louis bench under the boxes (lower terrace). What a great experience! The only thing that sucked was I got there at 4:30 because they were letting the first 5000 fans out on the field, waited in line, almost got to the point where they were letting people out, and got turned away! I wish I had just gone to the friggin bars! Oh well... I tried! It was truly a hallowed experience being in the great Wrigley. The people were great, I ate a Chicago style dog, and even choked down a couple Old Style's!
Thanks for all the info, folks. I drove my rental to Cumberland, took the red line to Addison, and took the bus to the game. It worked out real well. Thanks again folks... The TFP is truly the place to be!