Where is the best spot to watch the Cubs at Wrigley Field?

Taking in a game at Wrigley Field is an experience that’s widely unmatched in Major League Baseball. Fenway Park offers a similar vibe – but walking up the steps and seeing the green ivy, blue skies and the iconic center field scoreboard is something every Chicago Cubs fan loves.

While we’re all united in our love for the Cubs, how we prefer to take in a ballgame at the Friendly Confines varies. Some prefer the birds eye view that comes with the upper level seating. Others are all about getting as close to the playing field as possible, perhaps in the relatively new luxury seating sections.

Maybe you’re looking to make sure those summer rush hour storms that blow through aren’t an issue and you’re all about the lower bowl, sheltered and protected by the overhang above. Or maybe those Fridays at 1:20 mean you’re in the bleachers, beer in hand, ready to carry on the legacy of the Bleacher Bums. Let’s take a look at some of the best spots to take in a Cubs game around Wrigley Field.

Chicago Cubs: Save money and still get a great view from the upper deck

My wife and I had our first date at Wrigley. I was living in the Chicagoland area, she was still out in Iowa after graduating from Iowa State. She drove in and we bought last-minute tickets for a Dodgers-Cubs game in Sept. 2014.

Those last-minute tickets were at the top of the upper deck, all the way down the right field line. The view was great and, maybe it’s nostalgia, but I still love sitting up there even today. We took in Game 162 back in 2018 from similar seats – and since the renovation and additional upgrades to the upper deck, seeing a game from the ‘cheap’ seats is definitely an improved experience.

Chicago Cubs: Just look out for those obstructed view seats in the lower bowl

There’s a lot of ambiance that comes with watching a game from a ballpark that’s been around for more than a century. But there are a handful of shortcomings, as well. When it comes to Wrigley Field, it’s the obstructed seating that can be found all over the lower deck – caused by the steel support beams that hold up the upper deck.

But you also have quick access to the concourse – as well as additional vendors at the back of the section, giving you multiple options when it comes to grabbing food or beverages between innings.

I still love the old-school boards that are mounted under the upper deck, showing you the score in with a vibe of yesteryear, long before LED videoboards were plastered as far as the eye can see. It’s a small detail, but one that I still love even post-renovation.

Personally, these seats are nice in the summer (or early in the year when you sometimes get some snow or mist coming in off the lake). Having at least some protection from the elements helps, because we all know what it’s like to not be under cover when a weather system blows through and you’re stuck, looking like a wet dog once play resumes.

Chicago Cubs: All you can eat and drink – with amazing views all around

If you’re a fan who looks forward to busting out a scorecard and pencil at the ballpark, then the rooftops surrounding Wrigley Field probably aren’t your scene.

But if you’re looking to capitalize on a sunny summer afternoon and want to cap your spending – this is the move. For the cost of admission, you get rooftop seating, all-you-can-eat menus (that include alcohol) and reprieve from the sun or weather, as well. Rooftops have a lengthy history in Wrigleyville and, now, are almost entirely owned by the Ricketts family.

Of course, following the completion of the 1060 Project, half of these rooftops now offer a stunning view of… the back of the two enormous video boards in left and right field. That was a major point of contention during the renovation – but the Cubs came out on top in legal battles.

If you’re sitting in any of the rooftops on Sheffield, if you climb to the top of them, you can usually get a pretty stunning view of the Chicago skyline looking south toward the city. The older I get, the more I appreciate all the rooftops have to offer – and if you haven’t done one, you should definitely try it out at least once.