The Cards vs. Cubs rivalry is one of baseball’s greatest – and watching the Redbirds take on the Cubs in their legendary North Side ballpark made for a truly unforgettable experience. The stadium oozes historic charm, with its hand-operated scoreboard, ivy-covered walls, and vintage architecture – though that also means tight aisles, steep ramps, and some obstructed views. We stayed in Wrigleyville, the lively neighborhood just outside the gates, packed with bars, restaurants, and rooftop vibes. Inside, the concessions were a mixed bag – the iconic Chicago dog and garlic fries didn’t quite live up to the hype, but the souvenir cocktails and local Goose Island brews were a nice touch. While there aren’t many modern amenities inside the park, Gallagher Way offers a much-needed open-air hangout with family-friendly space to roam. What truly made our visit special, though, was the incredible energy and hospitality from Cubs fans – they were some of the nicest we’ve encountered, and the bleacher section was an absolute party, complete with chants, jokes, and even a beer snake that Scott got to anchor. From rivalry drama to timeless design, this visit was one for the books.

Design

Wrigley Field, the second-oldest ballpark in MLB (trailing only Fenway Park), feels like a time capsule from the Ruth era. Its most iconic features include the bright red marquee above the main entrance, the ivy-covered outfield walls, the hand-operated scoreboard, and the rooftop seats that line the neighboring buildings. While its vintage charm is undeniable, the park’s age brings some drawbacks – tight aisles and seats, steep concrete ramps, and obstructed views caused by support pillars and overhanging upper levels. Outside the stadium, fans can snap photos with the Harry Caray statue at the Budweiser Bleacher Gate, or visit Gallagher Way, home to four additional statues honoring Cubs legends: Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Fergie Jenkins.

The stadium is is in the North Side of Chicago so unfortunately you don’t get much of a view of the beautiful Chicago skyline. The rooftop seats are mostly what you see from the stadium.

The stadium includes World Series flags and division standings on flags hovering beside and over the hand-operated scoreboard. Retired numbers are displayed on flags waving from the foul poles. They recently installed some new (and controversial) video screens which block several of the rooftop seats behind them.

Location

Wrigley is in the North Side of Chicago in a primarily residential neighborhood, which seemed safe. The stadium is easy to reach via the CTA Red Line, which stops directly at the Wrigley Field Addison station.

The stadium has its own entertainment area called Wrigleyville, which has many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Murphy’s can been seen from the stadium and has a very fun atmosphere. Lucky’s, as seen on Man vs. Food, is also right next to the stadium. Deuce’s was very unique with a pool and lots of cozy spots to sit, including a large glove. The Budweiser Brickhouse is also right behind Gallagher Way.

There are also Wrigley Rooftops, a series of converted apartment rooftops surrounding the park, that you can buy tickets to watch the game without having to go into Wrigley Field. They actually look like they are part of the stadium, but they aren’t! The Cubs have recently installed a controversial Jumbotron, which blocks some of them.

Concessions

We had high hopes for the food at Wrigley, especially since Scott loves Chicago dogs – but unfortunately, this one was a miss. The bun was stale, split instantly, and became soggy fast. When asked about onions, they topped it with grilled onions instead of the diced raw onions Scott prefers (and expected). While the self-serve condiment station offered the right toppings, the dog was so poorly assembled it was nearly impossible to eat. Honestly, you’ll find much better ones at hot dog stands around the city.

The garlic fries were another letdown. Instead of the pile of crisp fries smothered in fresh garlic like we had at Safeco Field, these were drenched in a creamy white sauce – more like an herby sour cream than anything garlicky. That said, they were my favorite bite of the night, even if the portion was small.

Lastly, the Northside Twist pretzel came in a pizza box and was impressively large for its $20 price tag. Once we brushed off the overwhelming amount of salt, the pretzel itself was just okay. They were out of the cinnamon dip and instead gave us mustard and two tubs of cold, hard pub cheese – not ideal for dipping. Overall, this one was more novelty than quality.

Drinks offered a few highlights, including a fun “Cubbie Rita” cocktail served in a souvenir Cubs mason jar. Local options were limited but included a few Goose Island brews, alongside a dominant selection of Budweiser products like Bud Light. It’s worth noting that beer is about $5 cheaper if you opt for a can (which they pour into a cup) instead of a draft. For those looking for something stronger, they also had a small bourbon selection – Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam – plus a few canned wines. Scott especially enjoyed the Goose Island 312 wheat beer, one of the better local choices available.

Amenities

Wrigley doesn’t offer many in-stadium amenities, likely due to its historic design and limited space. We did spot the Wintrust Jim Beam Hangout on the main level and noted a few premium, ticketed areas like the Ideal Suite Level and Maker’s Mark Barrel Room, but overall, adult-focused lounges are minimal inside the park. Thankfully, Wrigleyville just outside the gates more than makes up for it with vibrant bars and restaurants.

One welcome addition since our last visit is Gallagher Way (opened in 2017), an open-air plaza on Clark Street adjacent to the stadium. Accessible to ticket holders before, during, and after games, it features a turf field where families can toss a ball and relax – currently the only clearly family-friendly amenity we saw. There was also significant construction happening along the side of the stadium, which may hint at future upgrades or kid-focused spaces on the way.

The main team store was two levels but relatively small and crowded. The Cubs Authentics shop was also very small.

Culture

We’ve always loved the Cards vs. Cubs rivalry, and this visit reminded us why – it’s spirited, but never mean-spirited. The Cubs fans were incredibly friendly and full of energy, even after they walked it off with a home run against Scott’s buddy, Trevor Rosenthal. No heckling, just good-natured fun.

For our second game, we sat in the bleachers, where the energy was on another level. A plaque proudly declares, “Bleacher fans are the greatest in baseball. Let’s keep it that way,” and we couldn’t agree more. There was constant silliness and playful banter, from chants of “Right Field Sucks!” vs. “Left Field Sucks!” to fans cheering on a guy named “Doug” who was double-fisting beers for the family. One fan even shouted, “Your pants are too tight!” at an opposing player – classic bleacher humor.

Cubs players were incredibly generous with tossing balls to fans, especially near the bullpen. One touching moment came when they saluted the military and then handed out balls afterward. Dads were loudly campaigning to get balls for their kids – one kept shouting, “Hey, we got a first timer!” One fan got Scott Effross to autograph her ball just by repeatedly yelling his name, and Scott even caught the final ball thrown out after the game!

We joined in the singalong for “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” which sometimes features a live guest conductor (though we got the classic Harry Caray video). The cap shuffle game on the big screen is still one of my favorite ballpark traditions.

The Cubs players were extremely generous with throwing balls to fans. The Cubs players even came out of the bullpen to salute the military and tossed out balls afterwards. All the dads yell loud to try to get their kids balls. One in particular was hilariously shouting “” One fan got “Scotty” (Scott Effross) to autograph her ball by screaming his name loudly. Scott also caught the last ball that was thrown out at the end of the game! We sang along with the fans for , which sometimes has guest conductors (though it was just a video of Harry Caray when we went). They also have the cap dance, which is one of my favorite baseball traditions on the big screen.

Clark the Cub, the team mascot, comes out frequently into the concourse and on the field. He can be seen hitting balls in the outfield and leads the singing of “Go Cubs Go” and waving of the “W” flag when the Cubs win.

The biggest surprise of the day? The legendary beer snake! Fans in the bleachers worked together to build an impressively long one – and Scott even got to anchor it. The Cubs staff didn’t just allow it – they cheered us on, making it a hilarious, unexpected highlight of the game.

@perfuzion

@bangarangscooty #beersnake #Bangarangscootydidntsabotagethesnake #cubssuck #chicagocubs #stlcardinals

♬ Oh No – Kreepa

Summary & Scoring

Date Visited:  July 29, 2012; May 22, 2022
Game Played: 
Cubs 4, Cardinals 2 – Rizzo hit a 2-run homer in 10th for a walk-off Cubs victory. Box Score
Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 4 – Come from behind victory with home runs by Wisdom and Schwindel in the 8th. Box Score
Design:  – Legendary but aged design with obstructed views and tight aisles
Location: – North Side of Chicago with fun Wrigleyville neighborhood next to stadium
Concessions: – Typical ballpark offerings, featuring the Chicago dog and garlic fries
Amenities: – Not a lot of extras inside the stadium, there didn’t appear to be a kids area. Recently added Gallagher Way provides a much needed hangout area during the game.
Culture:  – Cubs fans were extremely friendly and spirited, the bleachers are very lively and probably the most fun we’ve had at a visiting park.
Overall:  – Historic ballpark with energetic fans and fun rivalry with the Cards.

Cardinals Pictures