This is why I really think the rooftop guys are stupid. What they should have done is cut their best deal with the Cubs, get a lump sum payment for cancelling the contract, ended the 17% fee, and let the Cubs put up whatever they wanted and still kept running their rooftop businesses. The views aren't great from up there and people don't really go to watch the games anyway. It's the party, the fun of it. So what if the view is partially blocked?

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down to get it!

Yep. The one time I've had rooftop tickets, I spent most of the Cubs game watching the 'Hawks playoff game on the bar TVs. I would never buy rooftop tickets again.

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-- source

It doesn't help that Bridgeport xenophobes prefer being segregated from the 10,000 or so Sox fans that show up every game. They like their Great Wall of parking lot asphalt. I used to (and hopefully will soon again) park at the abandoned colstor on Canal and I've had to play it like I live in the neighborhood to even make it south of 31st.

Interesting, hadn't considered that. It is a nice view, but the unique perspective is more my play. Thinking back to the six times I have sat there, you are right- I didn't pay that much attention to the game. The reason is you get drunk by the third inning from the all you can drink package.

Don't read my comments as having sympathy for the roof top owners. I just enjoyed their offering. I also think the roof tops are a big part of the entire Wrigley mystique. You won't hear an anti-corporate tone from me because I don't mind that capital gets invested in a good product.

I know everyone here is a big sports fan too. What I am not sure is how much others have sampled things like out of market stadiums, sky boxes, roof tops, premium seating. I am a bit spoiled because I do get to a lot of places because of corporate events. Of all the things I have done, two stand out in my mind. 1) Playing a real game in Great American Ball Park, 2) Attending a roof top outing. All else, I could have done anywhere.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Like denis, I enjoy the rooftops, but it's totally a different experience than being in the park. It's not so dependent on what's happening on the field. You'll still be able to hear it, they've spent a lot of dough on those buildings, they can put up monitors for those who want to actually watch.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down to get it!

Come on now. I have been with a lot of folks, and to a person, they loved it.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I always park on the street and get a pass from a bar. I don't like paying for parking in my own hometown.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down to get it!

I used to do that in Wrigleyville for friends that have zone parking passes. Now I just part far enough West of the stadium to get outside the zones. Actually, I haven't driven to Wrigley very much the past few years. I waste three hours on public transportation.....I wish they had an El line from I-90 to Clark.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

If you're in Schaumburg, just drive over to the skokie yellow line, and take the El to the game that way. I've done that a few times, and it worked out great.

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O.co is a giant dump, but was also the most fun I've ever had at a game.

There's a decent point to be made that what made Wrigley such a fun place died 10 years ago, that even if they left in its charmingly decrepit state it'd still be a hollow corporate monolith of class segregation and the overindulgent wealthy. The rooftops probably fall into the same category.

But, they're still going to crank up the ticket prices so old, boring white guys and their young, boring white kids can be assured anyone making less than six figures wont interrupt their fan experience. Even shitty old O.co and quarter-full concrete US Cellular will at least fulfill some of the democratic baseball ideal.

You could take a bus from Addison-Blue if you'd deign to take a bus, and if you wouldn't, I totally support you.

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I live out in West Dundee, although I often go from work, which is Schaumburg. From home I use the Barrington Metra station. From work I use the Arlington Park one. Schaumburg to Skokie seems tough....? The worst is the bus ride back to the Metra station after the game. Irving is terrible, especially with all the students on the bus forcing it to make every stop. I am sure those students hate the drunk Cubs fans on the bus......

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Paying for parking actively supports those fucking lots, and I'm not going to support those fucking lots.

Yeah, on a nice day, I have no problem parking west of Ashland and walking.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down to get it!

I rode that fucking bus way too many times in high school.

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General Jim wears Fort Bragg down to get it!

Another motorcycle bonus: exempt from residential parking rules.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

"Addison Blue" sounds like a porn name.

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If the weather is nice I hop on Rosemont early enough to just walk. Once you get east of Western it's quite pleasant.

I find Addison to be slower than Irving. If you take that Cumberland Blue line in, then you get stuck at Addison. I tend to do Metra because it makes my car ride home shorter, and it gives me more time to sober up. Typically it take 2-2.5 hours to get from Wrigley to the Barrington Metra station after a day game. Then I have a 20-30 minute ride back to West Dundee. The Cubs are a labor of love for me.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Indeed it does. Or a nasty cheese from your home state.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

That Addison bus to Wrigley is godawful. Way too many drunks, chicks complaining because they have to pee, etc. Never again. Standing near that cop who beat the shit out of that female bartender 5 or so years ago didn't help.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

I was born in Illinois and spent my first 9+ years here. We just took a weekend trip that ran long.


Girls complaining that they have to peeeeeeeeeeeeeeee is just a thing girls do.

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I've also got down a nice routine if I have tix to a weekend game where I get off at Montrose, grab the 78 and grab pregame beers at Fountainhead. If it's a mid-afternoon or night game then I have enough time to walk over to Toon's for some wings.

You mean "used to be awful before the one and only Olive Garden in the city opened at the el and bus stop"

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

spaces directly in front of Captain Nemos but park in their lot and they try to charge $20.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Exactly. They were greedy and were on a short term gravy train. They should have cached in while they could and just been happy they got to play.

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Went to Fountainhead before Wilco last month. Good burgers! Beer selection was lacking, at least for hop heads. Granted it isn't really IPA season. Would definitely go back in the summer to see what they have to offer.

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I agree 100%.

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Kenny Williams fell for the banana in the tailpipe

You realize that nothing about the Cubs upgrades are going to improve the ease of getting to (driving to) the game or parking? Probably will make it worse.

This is such a non-argument that it is stupid. The Cubs haven't sucked because they needed to squeeze more revenue out of their stadium, they have sucked because their management, players, and owners have sucked.

I stated this before, but all of the signage and additional advertisement is just incremental revenue for a franchise that already rolls in revenue. Sure it's more incremental revenue, but it's not like the Cubs have been hancuffed by a lack of revenue over the past 15 years. Forbes estimated the Cubs to have the 4th largest revenue stream in 2012 so lets stop all this bullshit right now about the Cubs needing jumbotron revenues to compete with the likes of the Pirates, Braves, Reds, Marlins, and Diamondbacks.