Whether the Chicago Cubs win or lose, just about everybody who drives to Wrigley Field will indeed take a L. Wrigley Field is located in the heart of a residential area, making parking options scarce and egregiously expensive. Add to that the ramped gentrification surrounding the ballpark, the closed-off streets that accompany it and overall nightmarish commute, and well, any option but driving is a good one.
If you must drive, park in one of the Cubs faraway lots that include a free shuttle bus. Better yet, take advantage of the Cubs free bike valet service, available for all home games in the alley just east of the main entrance to the CTA station adjacent to the ballpark.
Bicyclists of all ability levels can take advantage of this service, available at the Red Line stop on Addison Street. No matter where you register on the cycling power meter, the courtesy valet is here for you and it opens two hours prior to each regular season home game’s scheduled start time.
Don’t worry about your headgear either, as fans are allowed to bring bicycle helmets into the park to be stored under their seat. The valet service closes one hour after the game ends.
While bicycling is the ideal option, you also have numerous public transportation alternatives for getting to and from events at Wrigley Field. While the Addison red line stop can certainly feel claustrophobic at times on game day, the two adjacent stops aren’t far from the ballpark.
You can always get off one stop north at Sheridan, or one stop south at Belmont, because the walk from either station is not bad at all. The Cubs will conclude their four game series with the New York Mets tomorrow, before welcoming the Atlanta Braves in for a four game set.
Thus far, the Cubs are 2-3 on this home stand and that’s unfortunate given how well they have played at home this season; and conversely how awful their road form has been.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.
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