First trip to Wrigley, need help desperately

by bluesweatergirl on Jun 27, 2007 1:38 AM CDT Comment 10 comments

My husband and I are planning to go to our first game at Wrigley July 13th (Friday). We're taking a road trip from St Louis to South Dakota, so we decided to go out of our way and hit a cubs game. We have a few questions, so I decided to post this diary.

What is the best way to get tickets? We are students, so we are not willing to spend tons of money. I would prefer to sit in the bleachers, so what is the best way for us to buy tickets? Through cubs.com?? Any advice is appreciated.
I do not want to drive in Chicago, but would prefer to park at a train station and take public transportation in to the ballpark. We will be coming from St Louis and after the game taking I-90 towards Minneapolis after the game. Where should we plan on parking our car?

Thank you for any help you can give us. I am currently in Greece, so it is difficult for me to research these things.

Email is the easiest way for me to receive information right now, but I will be checking on comments tomorrow.

Thank you again,
Jen

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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The best way to buy tickets is either the night before the game on cubs.com. They seem to have more tickets avaliable the night before for some odd reason. Or another way to get tickets is here at BCB. Posters sell tickets here I believe.
Usually at Wrigley I park in the McDonalds parking lot across the street from Wrigley but I know there are shuttle bus services around the suburbs and city for like $10. There is one in Schaumburg I know.

by gocubs40 on Jun 27, 2007 1:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

About tickets...

... I will soon make a post for ticket exchanges for the homestand after the All-Star break. You can access it by clicking "Ticket Exchanges" under "Sections" on the left sidebar (Yes, I've moved it -- in case you thought it was missing).

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jun 27, 2007 3:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I always

park downtown, at Grant park or somewhere around there. Its right on Lake Shore Ave. so its easy access in and out. You then catch the red line train up and it drops you off right at Wrigley. If you park at Wrigley, your going to be there for a while after the game.

2007 is the year, I can feel it in my bones.

by indytaz on Jun 27, 2007 6:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Northwest suburbs

You can park at O'Hare and take the train in to town. Or, park in the Schaumburg area and take a shuttle bus.

You could also park on the north side in Skokie at the train station. If you arrive early enough, you can ride the red line all the way to the ballpark.

Check out the CTA website for information.

The call of the Cub fan, c. 1893: "one long, ravaged, derisive yell...a cyclonic whoop!"

by zambranofan on Jun 27, 2007 8:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Skokie Swift

Usually when I go to Wrigley, I take the Skokie Swift (Yellow Line) which drops you off at the Howard St station. From there you transfer to the Red Line and go down to the Addison station. It can be a long ride (~20-30 min) on the Red line if you miss one of the express trains. If you're going to a night game, keep in mind that the last train on the Yellow line is at 10:30 PM.

To get there take the Kennedy (90-94) to the Edens (94), exit east on Dempster (IL 56, a couple of miles north of the Kennedy-Edens junction). Head a couple of blocks east on Dempster until you get to a railroad crossing. Immediately after the RR X-ing, turn right into a parking lot. Sometimes the lot is full, so you might have to park on one of the side streets.

Google Map link

You're in Greece? Hope you're staying cool. 115 in Athens, yowza!

I was saying Boo-urns.

by jrm78 on Jun 27, 2007 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The budget night parking option is to park

at DeVry at Roscoe & Western and take the CTA express bus to the park.

If a day game, street parking can be found west of Southport with a 4 block walk to the park.

by N Oakley on Jun 27, 2007 8:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I should mention

it is the Cub Night game parking lot and well marked as night game parking.

by N Oakley on Jun 27, 2007 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

when I'm coming

from the N suburbs I used to park at the Cumberland stop (which is right off of 90) and take the blue line to Addison and then the bus to Wrigley

my friend is a big fan of the Linden stop on the purple line, its an easy transfer to the red line (you get off the train at howard wait for the redtrain get back on) and that takes you straight to Wrigley

both have parking for up to 24 hours for $2, at Linden just make sure you have quarters

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Jun 27, 2007 8:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Coming from the near west suburbs --

You can park at the L terminus off Des Plaines Av in Forest Park, off the Eisenhower Expressway, (I-290) and take the train in from there. (You have to make one train switch)

When I was a kid, the CTA ran bus service from the L which terminated in Westchester. If that exists, you could even park on the street (in the suburb I grew up in) and bus to the DesPlaines terminus.

Don't know if that bus line exists, but 2 years ago I still saw the bus stop/signage in Westchester.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jun 27, 2007 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Let me help

Tickets...follow the instructions above....

This is going to be a full day....and since the game is at 1:20 you better have plenty of time be in Chicago no later than 10 AM! You have not experienced congestion and unforgiving drivers and Friday afternoon is the worst as Chicago attempts to get out of town.....traffic will be brutal so plan time accordingly!

Suggestions: First if you park your car in the city (be it at Irving Park and I-90 as suggested or downtown you are going to deal with 1 1/2 hour to 2-hour traffic delays getting out of the metro area towards Rockford...and that will not let up since you are traveling on a Friday evening when Chicago goes to Wisconsin for the weekend. Traffic will be tough all the way through Madison WI and beyond Portage....I do not know construction delays either....normally the drive from Chicago to Minneapolis is about 7 hours I say it will be 9-10 hours leaving at 4PM on a Friday in the summer putting you in Minne around midnight.

Your best options:

1) Park at the Cumberland or River Rd park and ride off the Kennedy (I-90) just east of I-294 and take the EL Blue line take that to the Addison Street station and then get a bus (152) at the station to Wrigley and back to the EL Blue Line.

This will save you TIME and money...it will be a big city adventure too. Bring lots of quarters, you will have to pay to park...($2.00?) and pay to get on the EL and the bus...

(If parking lots are full at 10 AM, you have time to drive into the O'Hare complex park in the daily lot and find the El stop in O'Hare...it will cost you at least $12.00 to park maybe $15.00 or $20.00 but it is assurd.

Cheap option, Park in the Rosemont Convention Center lot, cheaper and walk to the Cumberland station about 4-6 blocks, this why you need time!)

Option two: Park at the Skokie Swift (yellow line) off of I-94 and Dempster in Skokie. You will have assurd parking there if you get there by 12PM. The yellow line then connects you with the Red Line at Howard St and you transfer to get off at the famous Wrigley (addison) stop.

Getting there is a bit of a problem since you will have to get off of I-294 at Dempster (US 14) and go east about 6 miles through a suburb (four to six lane road) and then return the same way to I-294 but go south to I-90 and out to Rockford and beyond.

Option Three: Take the Shuttle bus at at the Yorktown Center (Shopping Center) at (11:30 AM). This will probably save you the most money and ultimately time but you are limited to being there for a one time departure.

To get to all three: Take I-55 to I-355 north (tollway) if going to Blue line or yellow line...then exit I-88 East (tollway) to I-294 north (tollway). For Blue line then exit I-90 east to Cumberland (first exit) and follow the signs. If lot is full make decision, park in Convention Center parking and walk, go west to River Rd parking or all the way to O'Hare (getting back on I-90 into the complex).

For Yellow line take I-294 north to Dempster (US 14) east...go east over I-94 and then take a left on Gross Point Rd. follow the auxillary signs for parking at the Skokie Swift there will be parkinng. get there by 11 AM is best.

For Schaumburg Shuttle take I-355 to Butterfield Rd. exit and take a right...the mall (yorktown Center is on your left after you pass Highland Av. You will need to contact 'PACE' and find the Cubs Roundtripper for details but it appears to be cheap (7.50) and when you get back you can get on I-355 to I-90 and continue on your way.
http://www.pacebus.com/sub/news_events/special_events/cubs_roundtripper.asp

http://www.metrarail.com/

http://www.transitchicago.com/

Milw-09-24-98--Brown in for defense--bases loaded--flyball--HE DROPPED THE BALL!!!NO NO NO, cubs lose 8-7

by Ivy Walls on Jun 27, 2007 11:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs