Wrigley Field is a historic ballpark located on Chicago's North Side, serving as the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Originally Weeghman Park in 1914, it was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927 after William Wrigley Jr., who acquired the Cubs. The stadium is known for its ivy-covered outfield walls, manually operated scoreboard, and classic baseball atmosphere. With a current seating capacity of 41,649, Wrigley Field remains one of the oldest and most beloved ballparks in Major League Baseball.
In 1908, The Cubs won the World Series. The Lakeview Baseball Club sign reflected 108 years since the Cubs last won the World Series, until they finally won in 2016.
In 2016, Cubs fans sang "Go, Cubs, Go" after each home win and in game 7 of the World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, where the Cubs clinched their first championship since 1908, marking the team's first championship since 1908.
On April 23, 1914, Weeghman Park was ready for baseball, designed by Zachary Taylor Davis. The Chicago Whales played their home opener.
In 1914, Wrigley Field's first tenant was the Federal League team, the Chicago Whales.
On April 20, 1916, the Chicago Cubs played their first home game at Weeghman Park (later renamed Wrigley Field), defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7–6 in 11 innings.
Since 1916, Wrigley Field has served as the home baseball park for Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs franchise.
In 1921, the Chicago Bears of the National Football League began playing at Wrigley Field. They had transferred from Decatur, and retained the name "Staleys" for the 1921 season.
In 1923, remodeling of the stadium put bleachers in right field and ads were painted on the bare right field wall.
In November 1926, William Wrigley Jr. renamed Cubs Park to Wrigley Field.
The ballpark has used the name Wrigley Field since 1926. Thomas S. Ricketts has expressed that he prefers the park retain the name it has used since 1926.
In 1929, when Wrigley Field was constructed, the buildings along Waveland and Sheffield avenues allowed spectators a view of the events inside the ballpark.
In 1931, the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL called Wrigley Field home.
An early 1990s film about Babe Ruth had a scene in Wrigley Field about the "called shot" (the ballpark also doubled as Yankee Stadium for the film). A scoreboard similar to the one existing in 1932 was used.
In 1933, Wrigley Field hosted an NFL Championship game.
In 1934, the large, red, art deco-style marquee with "Wrigley Field, Home of Chicago Cubs" painted in white was installed. It was originally painted green with changeable sections.
Beginning in 1937, after the bleacher/scoreboard reconstruction, a flag with either a "W" or an "L" has flown from atop the scoreboard masthead, indicating the day's result.
In 1937, Wrigley Field hosted an NFL Championship game.
In 1937, the Doublemint elves were removed permanently when the bleachers and scoreboard were rebuilt.
In 1937, the bleachers were remodeled, and the distances from home plate to the outfield points have essentially remained unchanged since then. The distances were marked by white wooden numbers cut from plywood and placed in gaps where ivy was not allowed to grow.
In 1937, the scoreboard was installed when Bill Veeck put in the new bleachers. It has remained in place ever since.
In 1938, the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL left Wrigley Field.
On November 20, 2010, Wrigley Field hosted the first collegiate football game since 1938, when the DePaul Blue Demons played its regular games at Wrigley.
The 1938 World Series brought paying spectators to the rooftops surrounding Wrigley Field, with fans typically sitting in lawn chairs and bringing their own food and beverages.
By 1939, the Wrigley Field marquee was repainted dark blue, and "Home of the Cubs" was replaced with "Home of Chicago Cubs".
On April 26, 1941, Wrigley Field became the first Major League ballpark to introduce live organ music, with Ray Nelson as the stadium's first organist.
In 1941, Wrigley Field hosted an NFL Championship game.
In 1941, a clock was added to the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
On August 22, 1942, Bill Nicholson came close to hitting the Wrigley Field scoreboard on the right side.
In 1942, then-owner Philip K. Wrigley planned to install lights at Wrigley Field, but the equipment was diverted for the World War II effort.
On July 1, 1943, Wrigley Field hosted the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League's first midseason All-Star Game under temporary lights. The game featured players from the South Bend Blue Sox and Rockford Peaches versus players from the Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles. It was also the first night game ever played at Wrigley Field.
In 1943, Wrigley Field hosted an NFL Championship game.
In 1943, women's teams played at Wrigley Field.
During the World Series against the Detroit Tigers in 1945, cars parked as much as a mile away on residential streets, and fans walked to Wrigley Field due to scarce parking.
In 1945, The Cubs won the National League Pennant. The Lakeview Baseball Club sign reflected 71 years since the Cubs last won the National League Pennant, until they finally won the World Series in 2016.
Since April 1948, WGN-TV has telecast Cubs games.
A few brief shots of Wrigley Field appear in the 1949 movie It Happens Every Spring.
On April 22, 1953, Eddie Mathews came close to hitting the Wrigley Field scoreboard on the right side.
On May 17, 1959, Roberto Clemente came close to hitting the Wrigley Field scoreboard on the left side.
On March 23, 1960, the Wrigley Field marquee was repainted red.
In 1961, a fifth row of scores was added to each side of the scoreboard.
In 1963, Wrigley Field hosted an NFL Championship game.
In the 2015 series The Man in the High Castle, Wrigley Field makes a short appearance as the home of a fictional soccer team called the Chicago Norsemen who, according to a banner, were "1963 Annual Soccer Champions".
On August 19, 1969, during the seventh inning of Ken Holtzman's first no-hitter, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit a ball that appeared to be headed for the bleachers, but left fielder Billy Williams caught it thanks to the wind.
By 1969, a sixth row of scores was added to the Wrigley Field scoreboard.
From 1969 to 1976, the Wrigley Field scoreboard displayed 12 games, 24 teams, reflecting MLB during that period.
In 1970, the Chicago Bears moved as the NFL wanted every one of its stadiums to seat at least 50,000 people. The Bears played one game at Dyche Stadium (now Ryan Field) on the Northwestern University campus in 1970, but otherwise continued at Wrigley until their transfer to the lakefront.
In 1970, the Chicago Bears of the National Football League relocated from Wrigley Field to Soldier Field, ending their 50-year run at Wrigley.
On November 20, 2010, Wrigley Field hosted the first football game since 1970.
In 1972, two no-hitters were pitched by Cubs pitchers Burt Hooton and Milt Pappas near the beginning and end of the season, respectively.
During most of the Bears' run in Wrigley Field, the goal posts were located on the goal line as was NFL rules until 1975, not the end line as it was in college and after 1974, the NFL, which made the deeper end zones relevant.
During most of the Bears' run in Wrigley Field, the goal posts were located on the goal line as was NFL rules until 1975, not the end line as it was in college and after 1974, the NFL, which made the deeper end zones relevant.
From 1969 to 1976, the Wrigley Field scoreboard displayed 12 games, 24 teams, reflecting MLB during that period.
In 1976, Dave "Kong" Kingman, playing for the Mets on a windy day, allegedly hit a home run that landed on the third porch roof on the east side of Kenmore Avenue, approximately 550 feet away.
The tradition of Cubs fans throwing home run balls hit by an opposing player back onto the field of play was depicted in the 1977 stage play Bleacher Bums.
In 1978, blue and white lights were mounted atop the scoreboard, to further denote wins and losses.
On August 25, 1979, the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League (NASL) hosted the San Diego Sockers at Wrigley Field while the Bears were using Soldier Field.
Wrigley Field had a brief cameo in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
From 1981, The Tribune Company, the owners of the park, chose not to rename the ballpark, utilizing other ways to bring in corporate sponsorship.
The Statler Brothers' 1981 song "Don't Wait On Me" referred to a then-implausible situation: "When the lights go on at Wrigley Field".
In 1982, the retired number of Ernie Banks was flying on a foul pole, as white with blue numbers
In 1982, the two-line announcement board on the Wrigley Field marquee was replaced with an electronic LED message board, and a backlit advertising panel was added below.
The tradition of singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Cubs home games began when Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray arrived in 1982.
In 1984, MLB had a contingency plan to start the World Series at the American League park if the Cubs won the NLCS against the San Diego Padres. This would have allowed the Wrigley Field-hosted (daytime) games to be held over the weekend and would have only lost one night game. The plan proved moot as the Padres won the 1984 NLCS.
The 1984 film The Natural, starring Robert Redford, had a scene set at Wrigley Field.
The ballpark was featured in a scene in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, where the outside marquee read "Save Ferris".
In 1987, the retired number of Billy Williams joined Ernie Banks' number on the foul poles
After 5,687 consecutive day games played by the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the lights were lit on August 8, 1988, for a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was rained out after 3½ innings.
In 1988, a set of light stands facing onto the scoreboard was added with the introduction of night games at Wrigley Field.
In 1988, lights were installed at Wrigley Field after baseball officials announced that the park would be prohibited from hosting any future postseason games without lights. Before 1988, all games at Wrigley were played during the day.
The Statler Brothers changed the lyric to, "When they put a dome on Wrigley Field" for their 1989 Live-Sold Out album, after lights were installed.
The ballpark was used for the establishing tryouts scene in A League of Their Own in 1992. This film was a Hollywood account of the 1940s women's baseball league which Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley championed during World War II.
In 1993, the Sky Box on Sheffield opened, originally catering primarily to corporate groups, featuring a two-tier roof deck, indoor clubhouse, fully staffed bars, and an elevator.
The tradition of Cubs fans throwing home run balls hit by an opposing player back onto the field of play was depicted in the 1993 film Rookie of the Year.
A dog park in the Wrightwood Neighbors section of Lincoln Park is named Wiggly Field in 1997.
In 1998, the city began requiring rooftop owners to have a license and started regulating the venues surrounding Wrigley Field.
In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service issued commemorative postage stamps on baseball parks, including an illustration of Wrigley Field.
On September 14, 2003, Giants Stadium broke Wrigley Field's record for the most NFL regular season games played in a single stadium. The game played between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins was the 366th regular season NFL game at Giants Stadium.
During the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins, Sammy Sosa hit the roof of the center field camera booth on the fly, some 450 feet away.
In 2003, relations between rooftop owners and the Cubs worsened when the team put up a large screen to block the view of the rooftops, known as a spite fence. The Cubs then sued most rooftop businesses that year.
As of 2004, the backstop distance was listed in media sources as 55 feet behind home plate. Despite the standard distance, the small foul ground area generally gives batters an advantage.
In 2004, rooftop owners agreed to share a portion of their proceeds with the Cubs, requiring them to pay the team 17% of their gross revenue in an agreement that would last until 2023.
Wrigley Field drew over three million fans from 2004 until 2011, averaging a near-sellout every day of the season.
Since 2005, Wrigley Field has been opened on a limited basis to popular concerts.
By 2006, the green-screen chroma key board was set up to allow advertisements to be both physical and electronic (they can be seen in both live and replay shots).
In 2006, Bud Light became the sponsor of the rebuilt bleachers at Wrigley Field.
In 2006, Lambeau Field duplicated Wrigley Field's feat by hosting the Green Bay Packers for a 50th season.
The 2006 film The Break-Up used Wrigley Field as the setting for its opening scene.
In 2007, Lambeau Field broke Wrigley Field's record by hosting the Green Bay Packers for a 51st season.
In 2007, during the offseason rebuilding of the playing field, the foundations for the goal posts from the Bears' time at Wrigley Field were uncovered.
In 2007, the band Nine Inch Nails created a promotional audio skit, which involved Wrigley Field being the target of disgruntled war veteran's terrorist attack.
In 2007, the first on-field advertising appeared since the park's early days. Sporting goods firm Under Armour placed its logo on the double-doors between the ivy on the outfield wall in left-center and right-center fields. Advertisements were also placed in the dugouts for Sears department stores.
On April 24, 2008, the Cubs flew an extra white flag displaying "10,000" in blue, along with the win flag, as the 10,000th win in team history was achieved the previous night.
For 2008, the Cubs worked out an agreement with the Chicago Board Options Exchange to allow the CBOE to auction some 70 box seat season tickets and award naming rights to them.
In 2008, during the offseason rebuilding of the playing field, the foundations for the goal posts from the Bears' time at Wrigley Field were uncovered.
In 2008, the Lakeview Baseball Club's sign read "AC0871108", indicating 8 years since the Cubs' last division championship, 71 years since the Cubs won the National League Pennant (1945), and 108 years since their last World Series win (1908).
On January 1, 2009, the National Hockey League played its 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, pitting the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings won 6–4, and the attendance was 40,818.
On October 27, 2009, Thomas S. Ricketts officially acquired 95% ownership of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, as well as 20% ownership of Comcast SportsNet Chicago, while the Tribune retained 5% ownership.
Beginning in 2009, the sloping roof of a building behind left-center field, which had been used as a billboard since the 1940s, began displaying an advertisement for Horseshoe Casino.
For 2009, the Cubs worked out an agreement with the Chicago Board Options Exchange to allow the CBOE to auction some 70 box seat season tickets and award naming rights to them.
For the 2009 season, the Cubs announced that the renovated restaurant space in the southeast corner of Wrigley Field, formerly known as the Friendly Confines Cafe, would be renamed the Captain Morgan Club.
In 2009, local neighborhood groups expressed concerns about the impact of concert crowds and noise on the surrounding residential neighborhood, particularly when three concerts were added to the schedule, one conflicting with an annual neighborhood festival.
In 2009, the Land of Lincoln Trophy was introduced.
Until 2009, The Tribune Company, the owners of the park, chose not to rename the ballpark, utilizing other ways to bring in corporate sponsorship.
Wrigley Field appeared in the open for the first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, until his role as host ended on January 22, 2010.
On November 20, 2010, Wrigley Field hosted a college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Fighting Illini won the game 48–27, taking home the Land of Lincoln Trophy, which was introduced in 2009.
In 2010, the Cubs considered adding a video screen to the stadium, but the hand-turned scoreboard could not be moved due to the park's landmark status.
In 2010, the scoreboard at Wrigley Field was extensively rehabilitated.
Wrigley Field drew over three million fans from 2004 until 2011, averaging a near-sellout every day of the season.
An overgrown Wrigley Field is shown in the 2012 television series Revolution.
In January 2013, the Ricketts family introduced "Legacy Partners", aimed at selling advertising in and around the renovated Wrigley Field. The Cubs also entered into 10-year agreements with its largest advertisers through the new "W Partners".
In January 2013, the Ricketts family revealed the 1060 Project during the annual Cubs Convention, which called for a $575-million, privately funded rehabilitation of Wrigley Field over five years.
On March 21, 2013, it was announced that Alderman Tom Tunney wanted to demolish the Wrigley Field scoreboard to clear the view for nearby residents who watch games from their rooftops.
In July 2013, the 1060 Project obtained final approval by the Chicago City Council after endorsements from the city's Landmarks Commission and Plan Commission.
In 2013, rooftop owners threatened a lawsuit when the Cubs announced plans to renovate the stadium, potentially disrupting sight lines from the rooftop venues.
In May 2014, after rooftop owners did not agree to a scaled-down renovation plan, the Cubs' owners announced their intention to implement the original 2013 plan, even if it meant battling the issue in court.
In May 2014, the Chicago Cubs announced they would pursue the original 2013 plan to modify Wrigley Field.
On September 29, 2014, phase one of the 1060 Project began, which included expanding the bleachers, adding a 3,990 sq ft Jumbotron scoreboard in left field, a 2,400 sq ft video scoreboard in right field, and excavating parking lots for underground facilities.
At the end of the 2014 season, work began on two additional scoreboards at Wrigley Field.
On May 26, 2015, Kris Bryant became the first to hit the new left field videoscreen with a 477-foot home run.
Following the 2015 addition of the park's Daktronics video screens, the large "W" in the "Wintrust" logo on the left field video screen is kept on following Cubs' wins.
In 2015 in The Man in the High Castle, Wrigley Field made a short appearance as the home of a fictional soccer team called the Chicago Norsemen, who were "1963 Annual Soccer Champions".
In 2015, Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched a no-hitter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. This was the first no-hitter at Wrigley since 1972.
In 2015, a Toyota logo was placed on the lower panel of the Wrigley Field marquee, just below the LED sign.
Prior to the 2015 season, the ivy-covered walls in the left and right field corners were reduced in height from 15 to 11 feet as part of phase one of the 1060 project. Around the same time, advertising signs were installed above the corners of the left and right field walls, raising the bleachers by about three feet.
In July 2016, former rooftop owner R. Marc Hamid was convicted on nine counts of mail fraud and illegal bank structuring for underreporting attendance at the Sky Box on Sheffield from 2008 to 2011.
After the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, the Lakeview Baseball Club updated their sign to "AC000000", indicating zero years since their last division championship, National League Pennant, and World Series win.
By the end of the 2016 season, the Ricketts family had acquired ten of the rooftop locations surrounding Wrigley Field, with a financial stake in an eleventh.
During the 2016 postseason, fans began writing messages in chalk on the outer brick wall of Wrigley Field, an event that gained local and national attention.
In 2016, Toyota, as one of the team's "legacy partners," began displaying other signage in and around Wrigley Field, including branding on all of its parking lots.
In 2016, the Wrigley Field marquee was temporarily removed and restored. The restoration included new paint, a new LED display board, and new neon lights. The back of the sign also received a new green paint job, visible from inside the terrace level.
During the 2017 offseason, the home (third base) dugout and adjacent seating were redesigned to be portable, and the playing field will accommodate a regulation size 120-yard football field that will run east-west.
On April 9, 2018, the Hotel Zachary opened for business in time for the Cubs' first home game.
As of July 2019, organist Gary Pressy holds the record for 2,653 consecutive games played at Wrigley Field, never having missed a day's work in 33 years.
In 2020, a Northwestern football game had been scheduled for Wrigley Field, but was relocated to Northwestern's Ryan Field due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Northwestern relocated their home game against Purdue to Wrigley Field.
In 2021, Soldier Field duplicated Wrigley Field's feat by hosting the Chicago Bears for a 50th season.
On July 14, 2022, the United States government filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Cubs for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act during recent renovations.
On November 7, 2022, Wrigley Field upgraded to LED field lights.
In 2022, Soldier Field broke Wrigley Field's record by hosting the Chicago Bears for a 51st season.
In November 2023, the Northwestern Wildcats hosted Iowa at Wrigley Field.
In 2023, the revenue sharing agreement between the Cubs and rooftop owners, which required the owners to pay 17% of their gross revenue to the team, ended.
On June 8, 2024, a regular season National Women's Soccer League match between the Chicago Red Stars and Bay FC was played at Wrigley Field. They were the first women's teams to play at the stadium since 1943 and broke the league's attendance record with 35,038 spectators; the Red Stars lost 2–1.
In June 2024, Wrigley Field announced a multiyear partnership with Invenergy and Reactivate to launch clean and renewable energy systems at the park, establishing it as an anchor for community solar projects in Wrigleyville and marking its first ever use of solar power.
On November 16, 2024, the Northwestern Wildcats hosted Ohio State at Wrigley Field.
On November 30, 2024, the Northwestern Wildcats hosted the Fighting Illini at Wrigley Field.
On December 31, 2024, Wrigley Field hosted the 2025 NHL Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues. The Blues won 6–2, and the attendance was 40,933.
In January 2025, the Cubs announced a new area called "The Yard at Wrigley Field", featuring five semi-private rental areas with an exclusive table that includes unlimited beer, seltzer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, along with a ballpark meal for each guest. The area is accessible up to 90 minutes before the first pitch until the end of the game and has a capacity of 50 guests.
As of 2025, the Lakeview Baseball Club sign says "AC050909", which represents five years since the Cubs' last division championship, nine years since they won the National League Pennant, and nine years since their 2016 World Series win.
In 2025, Northwestern will host two more games at Wrigley Field.
In 2025, Wrigley Field will host the NHL Winter Classic.
Under Armour is an American sportswear company based in Baltimore...
Babe Ruth nicknamed the Bambino and the Sultan of Swat...
The United States of America is a federal republic located...
Roberto Clemente was a celebrated Puerto Rican baseball player for...
College football is a popular amateur sport in the United...
The Chi is an American drama television series created by...
1 day ago Ben Shelton Advances at Washington 2025 After Ideal DC Open Start
2 days ago Nelly Korda at Scottish Open, praises Scottie Scheffler amidst cold weather.
Courtney Williams is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA She previously excelled...
3 months ago Roxanne Perez Potential WWE Raw Call-Up and Stephanie Vaquer's Raw Debut
1 month ago Elena Rybakina Celebrates 26th Birthday with Berlin Win, Sabalenka Match Previewed.
2 months ago Tory Lanez Reportedly Stabbed in Prison and Hospitalized; Investigation Underway.
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne is a prominent English singer songwriter...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Hulk Hogan born Terry Gene Bollea is a retired American...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Pam Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician A...