First Cubs Game. Anything I Should Know? [ANSWERED BY CECIL]

My wife and I will be traveling to Chicago to attend our first game at Wrigley. We will be going to the Saturday, April 18 game against the Cardinals. We’re just going for the day, but are looking to get the full Chicago baseball experience. Any tips for enjoying ourselves before, during, and after the game?

ETA:I don’t know if it matters, but we’re Cardinal Fans.

I’d figure to arrive early and leave late - home Cubs games are always an occasion for a neighborhood-wide party, and the joints up and down Clark St. are usually packed. April weather is chancy but if it’s anywhere near decent the bars will have the windows open, the drummers and peanut/souvenir guys will be out in force, and you can just stroll around and check out the scene. If you’re wearing red you may get razzed some but the crowd is usually pretty good natured and it’s not like you’ll be the only Cards fans on hand. There are some B&Bs and such within walking distance; worth checking out so you won’t have to fight crowds on the Red Line (although this can have some entertainment value). Just don’t try to drive to the game unless you feel like paying an exorbitant amount to park in someone’s (you hope it’s his) garage or driveway.

Speaking of Red Line – yes, I agree with Ed that you SHOULD NOT DRIVE TO THE GAME. If you MUST drive, park in Andersonville – it’s easy to park up that way for free – and take the Red Line from Bryn Mawr or Berwyn south to Addison.

And…Cubs fans – especially drunk ones – can get…well, pretty violent (I’m one of the non-violent ones who actually doesn’t get drunk :slight_smile: )…when it comes to the Cardinals, so you might want to keep your Cardinals fandom on the DL for your own safety – just as we Cubs fans have to keep our Cubs fandom on the DL when we go to St. Louis. :slight_smile:

One more thing…I went to my first Cubs game last year, and…well, I’m not in the greatest shape in the world, and I found that, well…let’s just say that I found that the seats at Wrigley aren’t designed for fat guys. :slight_smile: If you’re big, you might find that you have to do a little bit of contortion to sit comfortably.

Oh, come now, you’ll scare the poor fellow. Violence against Cards fans is greatly exaggerated. Most Cubs fans reserve their deepest animosity for followers of the White Sox. Speaking as a White Sox fan, I understand this. In 2007 the White Sox plastered the North Side with billboards saying, “We haven’t won the Series since 2005. Time to end the drought.” This was uncalled for. Was it funny? Yes. Frankly, it was fricking hilarious. But it wasn’t nice. And now, with the White Sox controlling in the White House … I’m telling you, it’s not going to be pretty up there in Wrigleyville. But I think you Cards fans will dodge the worst of it. Enjoy the game.

My advice for an early-season game is DRESS WARM! Even if it seems balmy on the street, you can be pretty miserable sitting in there with the wind cutting through…especially if your seat is in the shade. I always say to dress for 10 or 20 degrees colder than the actual temperature.

This. Upon occaison it can still be snowing a bit in April depending on how badly god is angry at Chicago that particular day. I always turn down opening day tickets because I’ve been snowed out of three of them. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt even if you don’t think you need it.

And just in case you’re not aware, there’s not really a parking lot at Wrigley, so any and all tailgating type things are going to run you at *least *$6 a beer at one of the eighty gazillion bars in Wrigleyville, all of which will be packed to the rafters before and after the game.

Finally, take heart in the beating we’re going to throw you. :wink:

Bolding mine

Your kidding me right. :slight_smile:

There is nothing better in baseball then a weekend cards-cubs series. With that said, I’ll take all the April beatings in the world, because its the one’s in October that count.:stuck_out_tongue:

Definitely dress much warmer than you think you need to be. I went to 5 or 6 games last May and even with blankets we froze our butts off.

Dress warm and drink some Old Style, considering you are going to be in Wrigley. I mean at the game of course.

In my experience as a former resident of Chicago (nominal Cubs fan) and a present resident of St. Louis, Cubs fans are, in general, far more obnoxious than are Cardinals fans.

Last year at Busch Stadium, a couple of Cubs fans started harassing a friend and me for no apparent reason other than that we were wearing red shirts. We were applauding our team, but not dissing the Cubs. (Maybe it’s just that we’re both small, nonthreatening women, and they figured that they could get away with it.)

My advice to Cardinals fans in team regalia is to travel in packs near Wrigleyville.

I finally shut up the jeering Cubs fans by telling them that I knew from reading Blessed Mike Royko for years that no matter what happened in the spring, we could be sure that the Cubs would fold when it really mattered.

I sincerely regret that I was right, and that they did.

The dress warm advice is the best so far - the winds make it feel 10-20 degrees colder. Take time to walk around the entire outside of the ballpark to get a feel for the neighborhood - Clark, Addison, Sheffield and Waveland. Make sure to visit the mens room to make use of the troughs.

Another thing - if you must drive to Wrigley, the best parking lot is located on W. Eddy Street, just east of Racine. It’s run by the Cubs and is just half a block from Wrigley (right behind the Taco Bell.) Costs about $25 but get there early because most of the spots are reserved for season ticket holders.

OK. I’ll 3rd or 4th or whatever the dress warm and don’t drive sentiment. Depending on where you’re staying, I’d take a cab.

If you still have ticket choices, get bleacher seats.
If you get bleacher seats, make sure someone stays at the seats while someone leaves. Don’t leave your seats unattended, you’ll lose em.
If you have a choice of beer, make it Old Style from the vendors.
If you have a choice of hot dog, get it from the vendor too, skip the footlong, and if you don’t already know; never. use. ketchup. you’ll catch as much crap for that as you will for that bird on your shirt.
Get a bag of peanuts before you go into the park if they’re your thing.

If the cubbies win, go to Harry Caray’s tavern (formerly hitops) then hit the Cubby Bear. If the Cubbies lose, stop by Goose Island instead. Trust me.

If you see the bucket kids, drop a dollar in their bucket and watch what happens.
Don’t buy a damn thing in the way of kitsch from Wrigley, you’ll get better stuff for cheaper prices across Addison.
Take your pictures by the Harry Caray statue.
You can kill time before or after the game at your very own pub crawl down Clark, the entertainment value itself is worth it, even if you don’t drink.

I am of two minds about Wrigleyville after a game.

It’s a fun spectacle, yes, but the crowds are atrocious and the beer is ridiculously overpriced.
If you feel like bar-hopping, I’d recommend walking a mile to Lincoln Park if the weather’s nice, or cabbing to Rush Street or River North. If that’s not your scene, get out of Wrigleyville and find a good restaurant elsewhere in the city. There are hundreds of every conceiveable cuisine.

When you say you’re “just going for the day,” are you driving up from St. Lou and then back the same night? I advise against this. Find a room, enjoy the Chicago night life, and drive home Sunday morning.

I understand the White Sox cheering section is outside the park.

I know what you mean for all of this but it simply isn’t true.

I don’t think the bleachers are for everyone. I’d send a first timer from out-of-towne to regular box seats.
I’m with you on the Old Style but the vendors are $1 more than the stands.
I can’t agree with you on the vendor dogs either. Mustard only and soggy bun? No thanks. I find one of the stands with grilled onions (follow your nose) and then take my dog to their condiment bar for raw onion, sport peppers, mustard & relish (no relish on mine, please). Catsup is available and no one cares what you put on your hotdog.

But please, don’t let the children see.

Indeed it is, about 10 miles south of the park to be exact. :wink:

That was the original plan. Now we will probably stay over night, and might try to get some tickets on Sunday also.

Retro, Cecil will be tackling your question in next week’s SDC column, although as a practical matter it probably won’t add much to the info you’ve already gotten here.