Alright, so I finally did it. Went and sat in the bleachers at Wrigley. People always talk about it, you know? Like it’s some kind of essential Chicago thing. Figured I had to see what the fuss was about myself.
Getting the tickets was the easy part, just did that online a couple weeks before. Didn’t go for anything fancy, just general admission bleacher seats. They don’t assign you a spot, it’s first come, first served out there. That part I kinda liked, felt a bit old school.
Getting There and Getting In
Travel day came. Decided against driving, parking around there is a nightmare, everyone knows that. Took the train instead. Packed like sardines, naturally, especially getting close to Addison. You get off the train and boom, you’re right in the middle of it all. The noise, the people selling stuff, the bars already overflowing even hours before the game. It’s a whole scene.
Getting into the actual bleacher entrance was a bit of a line. Moved okay, but you definitely want to get there early if you care about grabbing a specific spot. We weren’t super picky, just wanted a decent view without being totally baked by the sun right away.
The Bleacher Experience Itself
Found a spot, maybe halfway up, sort of center-ish field. It’s just metal benches, no seat backs or anything. Not exactly built for comfort, let me tell you. But that’s part of the deal, I guess. You’re packed in pretty tight with everyone. If you don’t like strangers basically sitting in your lap, maybe it’s not for you.
The vibe? Yeah, it’s different than the main stands. More rowdy, for sure. Lots of chanting, lots of beer, lots of opinions being shouted about every single play. You definitely feel like you’re in it. The view of the game is actually pretty good, unobstructed mostly. You see the whole field laid out.
Things I noticed:
- The sun is intense out there if it’s a day game. No shade until late in the game, if at all depending where you sit. Bring sunscreen, wear a hat. Seriously.
- Beer vendors are constantly working the aisles. Good and bad. Easy to get a drink, but they’re always walking in front of you.
- People are friendly, mostly. Lots of conversations strike up with folks around you. Shared misery if the Cubs are losing, shared craziness if they’re winning.
- The ivy on the wall is cool to see up close. Looks thicker in person than on TV.
We stayed for the whole game. Stood up, stretched a lot. My back was definitely feeling those benches by the 7th inning stretch. Grabbed a hot dog at some point, standard ballpark fare, nothing special but hit the spot.
Leaving was the reverse of arriving. Big crowds slowly shuffling out, back towards the train or wherever people parked miles away. Overall? Yeah, it was an experience. Glad I did it. Would I sit there every single time? Probably not. My back prefers a seat with a back. But for that specific, loud, sun-soaked, beer-fueled Wrigley experience? That’s the place to do it. You just gotta know what you’re getting into.