Wrigley Bleachers - User's Guide needed

by vonde6 on Jun 12, 2009 10:41 AM CDT Comment 32 comments

In one week, the game against Cleveland on June 19, I will be sitting in the Wrigley field bleachers for the first time in over 20 years. I live in California, and have family members in downstate Illinois. We are all meeting up that day, in 7 bleacher seats. My questions:

- How early should we get there to get good seats? (...the earliest we should get there)

- How early should we get there just for the 7 of us just to sit together? (...the latest we should get there)

- How early do the bleachers open, so how much time do you have to spend waiting in line?

- Any other tips that you could give for enjoying the bleachers experience would be much appreciated.

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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Try this post on for size.

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2006/7/10/131346/885

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jun 12, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks, nice link

I wonder if the recommended arrival times are the same in 2009 as in 2006, though.

by vonde6 on Jun 12, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

they won't be

any less.

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jun 12, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions

You are going to want to get there when the gate opens

If all 7 of you arent around, what I have done in the past with a similar sized group.. is bring extra tshirts or hats or something and put them in spots where you are saving for your friends/family. It worked for me last year, I used the giveaway Cubs hats they gave and saved aout 5 seats until my friends arrived….

Also, if you get there when the gates open you might be able to get some balls from batting practice, and put down a couple beers before the lines get long and the game begins.

Don't assault me and I won't assault you, because you don't know what I will, or won't, do. I'm going to end it with that. - Milton Bradley 2003 to Paul Lo Duca

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jun 12, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

i usually got there around 11 and that worked out great!

Don't assault me and I won't assault you, because you don't know what I will, or won't, do. I'm going to end it with that. - Milton Bradley 2003 to Paul Lo Duca

by SouthsideCUBSfan on Jun 12, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I usually

wait for the line to almost fully go in, then go in. You get a nice view of this happening while sipping on a cold one at Murphy’s. If you go in as the line starts to wind down, you’ll still get nice seats and should have no problem getting 7 together.

by paulucla on Jun 12, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Now this

is the kind of news that I can use! I think that we have one minor in the party, but I don’t like waiting in line, I do like quaffing a cold beer, and I don’t have to have the best seats in the bleachers.

by vonde6 on Jun 12, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Bleachers I wait to get prime seats

of course then again, I haven’t been back to the bleachers since Neifi Perez bunted with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. I figure thats God’s way of saying he doesn’t want me in those seats anymore.

"You just don't know understand how frustrating this is"- Kevin Borseth

by TkGoUWGB on Jun 12, 2009 11:56 AM CDT reply actions

with Wood and DeRo in town

the earlier the better

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jun 12, 2009 12:00 PM CDT reply actions

Who?

by CubsWin!Oregon on Jun 12, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

If it's hot and sunny...

If it’s hot and sunny, take a break now and then by going up to stand under the scoreboard. You get shade, a nice breeze, and still have a good view.

by MN exile on Jun 12, 2009 12:18 PM CDT reply actions

I know they did renovations on the bleachers a few years back but does anyone know
if they added wheelchair seating out there…

I’m in a chair and I have always wanted to sit in the bleachers but thought it was impossible…

- Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
- Germans?
- Forget it, he's rolling.

by Endrick on Jun 12, 2009 12:48 PM CDT reply actions

Yes.

There are two wheelchair sections. One is behind the bleacher boxes in RF, one is in CF, though the CF one is almost always empty.

You should have no problems coming in with your chair. There’s now an elevator right near the main entrance to come up to the seating level.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 12, 2009 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Bring LOTS of sealed water

You can get it at the 7/11 across the street. In fact if possible buy some the night before and freeze it. Also bring in soda & food. You will save a FORTUNE over buying stuff in the park.

PS I will be there sitting in Al’s section in the FAR LF corner. Come by and say Hi

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 12, 2009 1:50 PM CDT reply actions

Say

So your seats are in the same section as Al? If so thats cool, if I would have known last time me and the misses were in Chicago I would have said Hi. I tracked down Al but had no idea you were there also.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jun 12, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Jessica does sit with us in the bleachers.

Seats aren’t reserved out there, as you probably know.

To answer the original poster’s questions, for a game like that if you want to get good seats (your choice), you’ll probably have to get there at least 30 minutes before the gates open at 11:20. Trust me on this one.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 12, 2009 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I guess I meant to ask if she normally sits in your area.

"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"

by StevenABQ on Jun 12, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

When she's in the bleachers, yes, she sits with our group.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 12, 2009 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

This how I end up losing all those bets on Big Gulps

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 12, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Which reminds me.

Do you still owe me one?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 12, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions

No I think we are even until I make another stupid bet

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 12, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions

We can work on that next weekend.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jun 12, 2009 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Right about the at least 30 minutes before the gates open

And if you want to sit in the front row, you need to get there a lot sooner than that. My nephews wanted to sit in the front row so they got in line about 4 hours or so before the gate opened and my brother and I sat at Murphys lol… Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

by LT on Jun 12, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I can say from first hand experience, that if you get in line at 7am, you'll be alone in line for about 2 hours.

In other words, you’ll BE the line…

Plan accordingly…

Go Green! Go White! GO STATE!
King Leonidas: Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans: HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!

by Zeke on Jun 13, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

I am almost afraid to ask

But how would I identify a “Doggie Stalker”?

by vonde6 on Jun 12, 2009 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Well

It would not be uncommon to find one wearing a Maddux T shirt ( have maybe 6 different ones) but I am sure Al would suggest looking for someone reading a paper when it looks like the other team might score but I am getting better). Outside Wrigley just
walk by WITH a dog and Doggie Stalker will FIND YOU.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 12, 2009 7:46 PM CDT up reply actions

lol

Too bad you weren’t there for the Dodgers series. I would have like to have met you too.

by LT on Jun 12, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Well

I have been in the bleachers about four times, I think, and it was always in the left field. I was considering trying the right field this game (you know how it is when you get older), but I will definitely try to find the BCB regulars (or is it irregulars?).

by vonde6 on Jun 12, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Just look for oldest , non beer drinking , scorecard obsessed group you can find.

They kind of stick out like a sore thumb among the drunken yuppies who don’t even know the score.
Either that or look for a balding guy with a REALLY big umbrella.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 12, 2009 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions