SEATING RECOMMENDATIONS
First of all, how does the Early Entry work?
If you choose to use the early entry here's what I recommend. The bleacher gate will open TWO hours before first pitch. The EARLY ENTRY admittance will start around 5 minutes before that. At the main bleacher gate at Waveland & Sheffield, the gate starts with an Early Entry line on the Waveland Ave side. Then a little further down Waveland the regular line will start. Best to ask people, "Is this the early entry line?" and head to the end of it. When they let you in, the ushers will let the early entry line empty, and then it all becomes one general line. If ushers give you any issues (they wont), the ticket says "Daily Plan". That means they are Season Tickets, and come with early entry.
If you choose to use the early entry here's what I recommend. The bleacher gate will open TWO hours before first pitch. The EARLY ENTRY admittance will start around 5 minutes before that. At the main bleacher gate at Waveland & Sheffield, the gate starts with an Early Entry line on the Waveland Ave side. Then a little further down Waveland the regular line will start. Best to ask people, "Is this the early entry line?" and head to the end of it. When they let you in, the ushers will let the early entry line empty, and then it all becomes one general line. If ushers give you any issues (they wont), the ticket says "Daily Plan". That means they are Season Tickets, and come with early entry.
Bleachers are general admission seating which means you can sit wherever you'd like. You have to find your own seat but the great thing is if a friend or 14 wants to join you, all they hafta do is grab extra tickets. If you do go with a group, it's probably good to elect a sucker to go in early & save seats.
I have some preferred spots that:
1) Give you good access to get in & out.
2) Give you some comfortable seating
3) Make your bleacher experience more enjoyable.
4) Keep you from being surrounded by a bunch of dopes.
With that last point in mind, the bleachers are not the same as they were in the 80's & 90's where I inadvertently witnessed my 1st wet t-shirt contest as a 12 year old in 1984. The security is very good about handling drunks & screaming idiots.
Anyway, here are those recommended spots...
I have some preferred spots that:
1) Give you good access to get in & out.
2) Give you some comfortable seating
3) Make your bleacher experience more enjoyable.
4) Keep you from being surrounded by a bunch of dopes.
With that last point in mind, the bleachers are not the same as they were in the 80's & 90's where I inadvertently witnessed my 1st wet t-shirt contest as a 12 year old in 1984. The security is very good about handling drunks & screaming idiots.
Anyway, here are those recommended spots...
"The Seats"
Papa Jim Barger's NEW Favorite Spot In Right-Center Field there is an elevator shaft. PJ likes to sit in front of it & enjoys these seats for a number of reasons: 1) The wall of the elevator & fence allows you to stand with no one behind you. No one spilling beer, no one blabbering on. 2) The fence/wall gives you some back support when sitting 3) Keeps the mindless chatter in front of you. 4) Easy in and out to the concessions behind you. |
THE MAN IS BACK IN TOWN... DON'T YOU MESS AROUND!
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The Playoff Seats
These are the seats assigned to us for the playoffs. 1st Row in Left-Center Field, right next to the batters eye juniper bushes in center field. They were great because you get a great view behind the pitcher looking into the strike zone. In both 2015 NLDS games, Papa Jim and I got close to catching HRs here. Its also a short row, so you wont have a lot of fans entering & exiting. |
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Bartender Andrea's seats
Another good last row spot, is at the end of RF in front of the bar in the concourse. Whether you sit in the last row or stand behind the fence, you can give your CC to Andrea the bartender. Show her 2 fingers & she will get you a couple beers (or one of those trendy alcoholic seltzers).
TIP YOUR BARTENDER WELL!
Another good last row spot, is at the end of RF in front of the bar in the concourse. Whether you sit in the last row or stand behind the fence, you can give your CC to Andrea the bartender. Show her 2 fingers & she will get you a couple beers (or one of those trendy alcoholic seltzers).
TIP YOUR BARTENDER WELL!
"MARGARITAVILLE"
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Front Row
.Like Bob Uecker put it, if you "must be in the front row!", Id suggest to the right and left of the center field batters eye. They have the smallest length of rows. Also the far ends of the LF & RF Corner front row along the aisle just for easy in & out access. I usually dont sit in front row per se, but it is a good spot to reach out to catch some balls thrown from the field & have some batting practice chatter with players shagging fly balls. Please dont be a dumbass & reach out for a ball in play, causing fan interference
Under The Scoreboard
This is the furthest spot from home plate but it has some benefits.
1) This provides some shaded relief from those 90-degree days during the early parts of the game.
2) This could be a little roomier depending on the crowd size
3)There is a standing area with a ledge if you wanna stand.
4) MOST IMPORTANTLY, you have easy access to the beer vendor behind you.
1) This provides some shaded relief from those 90-degree days during the early parts of the game.
2) This could be a little roomier depending on the crowd size
3)There is a standing area with a ledge if you wanna stand.
4) MOST IMPORTANTLY, you have easy access to the beer vendor behind you.
Self-Upgrade
As mentioned many times, your bleacher tickets allow you to go into the main bowl general seating. If you do head into the main bowl area, some shamelessly break the rules of not sitting in your own seat & find themselves a seat somewhere back behind home plate, sit in the shade in the corners, trek up to the upper deck, or catch a different view from a different seat every inning. One of my favorite spots in the main bowl is sections 418-424 (shown in the picture). It gives you a wide view of the park & you can even see the 7th inning stretch singer from the booth behind you. Just note that the ushers in the 100 levels (& sometimes going to the upper deck) will check your tickets & probably not allow you down to the seats up close.
RIP: Jim Barger's ORIGINAL Seats (aka "The Seats") Pre-renovation
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The Original "Seats" no longer exist - Historical Purposes Only This was my father-in-law's favorite spot & sitting here has a lot of benefits. This is located in Right Field, last row against the fence, TWO sections from the Budweiser Deck in Right Field. HISTORICAL NOTE
On August 22, 2008, Jim caught a grand slam in these seats. Unfortunately, it was a Nationals home run &, against the wishes of his daughter, had to throw it back. The day after, he caught a future son-in-law CLICK HERE TO SEE THE GRAND SLAM! (See him reach up & snag it off the bounce). |
HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
If youre an outta-towner & you need a place to stay, I can offer up some suggestions. If this friggen reno..er..restoration ever gets done, there will be a hotel (probably an expensive one) across from the park.. Til then...
If youre an outta-towner & you need a place to stay, I can offer up some suggestions. If this friggen reno..er..restoration ever gets done, there will be a hotel (probably an expensive one) across from the park.. Til then...
- There are some lower rated, cheap hotels 1 mile south of the park on Clark at Diversey. A DAYS INN, the INN AT LINCOLN PARK, and there is a BEST WESTERN 3/4 east which is a bit pricier than the other 2.
- I recommend Groupon which has all sorts of Chicago Hotel deals (usually none near the ballpark). If you stay downtown, you can take the Red Line up to Addison & back in 10 minutes (non-rush hour/non-game time). As you stay down there, you're right by Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, Rush Street & a bunch of good restaurants.
- There is also a place called The Heart-O-Chicago. Its 3 miles north of the ballpark but the 22 Clark bus & a Red Line stop at Thorndale, 2 blocks east makes it a 20-30 min trip to Wrigley. The big difference in the other hotels is they have free parking. An added expense to the other hotels.
HELPFUL LINKS
| bar18x24.pdf |
