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I’ve been on the soapbox for many years saying that the city of Chicago (and Ald. Tom Tunney) ought to let the Cubs play a handful of Friday night games at Wrigley Field coming off of road trips.
Next week, they’ll be able to do just that:
#Cubs vs Brewers on Sept. 8 will now be a 7 pm CT game at Wrigley
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) August 31, 2017
The Cubs have a four-game, one-city road trip to Pittsburgh next week to play the Pirates. The Thursday game in Pittsburgh is a night game at 6:05 p.m. CT, which would make for a very quick turnaround for a 1:20 p.m. start Friday, September 8.
According to this Sun-Times report, this is a one-time exemption:
The “one-time exception” to the ban on Friday night games at Wrigley will take place on Sept. 8 after the team completes a four-game series in Pittsburgh with another night game against the Pirates.
Local Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) said he and Mayor Rahm Emanuel agreed to waive the ban on Friday night games to help the Cubs in their stretch-run to the playoffs.
This should be less of a problem in 2018 and beyond, as the new MLB/MLBPA collective-bargaining agreement will mandate more afternoon games on getaway days.
So, if you’re going to the game Friday, September 8, mark your calendars for a night game instead of a day game.