How to Take the El to Wrigley Field in Chicago

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Things You'll Need

  • CTA fare card

  • CTA Map

  • $1 bills and quarters

Take the CTA el to enjoy Chicago Cubs baseball at Wrigley Field.

Chicago's Wrigley Field has overlooked the Lakeview neighborhood since 1914 and many fans consider it a shrine for pure baseball. Despite the nostalgia, attempting to drive Wrigley's surrounding city streets and highways during Cubs game time is a modern-day frustration. As a solution, public transportation is available from all corners of the city into the Wrigley Field area. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates Chicago's public transportation network of elevated, or el, trains.

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Locate Wrigley Field

Step 1

Identify Wrigley Field's address as 1060 West Addison Street in Chicago. The Wrigley Field marquee fronts the corner of Addison and Clark streets on Chicago's North Side. The CTA Red Line El stops at Addison and Sheffield, which is two blocks east of Wrigley.

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Step 2

Observe the Red Line's path through the city. The Red Line runs from north to south, between Howard and 95th Streets. On the North Side, the Red Line El parallels Sheridan Road, Broadway Avenue and Sheffield Avenue. Downtown in the Loop, Red Line subway stations are located along State Street. On the South Side, the Red Line runs between the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway median.

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Step 3

Locate Chicago's other major corridors that have CTA train service. On the North Side, the Blue Line and Brown Line el trains follow the I-90/94 Kennedy and Lincoln Avenue, respectively. On the South and West Sides, you can pick up trains along King Drive, Cermak Road and the Eisenhower Expressway.

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Step 4

Determine how to transfer onto the Red Line el from other CTA lines. All CTA lines converge together in the Loop. North Side fans on the Brown Line can transfer onto the Red Line at Belmont and head north for Wrigley Field at Addison.

Take CTA Public Transportation

Step 1

Purchase one fare card at the CTA train station. As of September 2010, the CTA costs $2.25 for a one-way ride, which includes transfers within the system. Remember to bring the exact fare because machines do not make change.

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Step 2

Read signs at the CTA el station for the direction of approaching trains. Red Line trains heading north say "Howard," and Red Line trains going south say "95-Dan Ryan." Other trains going downtown display the word "Loop."

Step 3

Board your train and take it until it meets the Red Line. At the transfer point, you will get off the train and join the Red Line el toward Addison.

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Step 4

Take the CTA Red Line to Addison. At Addison, you will see the Cubs' logo alongside a baseball icon for Wrigley Field. From there, you can walk alongside other Cubs fans into the ballpark.

Tip

Metra commuter trains take Cubs fans into downtown from Wisconsin's and Chicago's suburbs. From downtown, you can walk to State Street and the Red Line for Addison and Wrigley Field.

Warning

Criminals may prey upon tourists and out-of-towners on CTA trains. Stay alert and keep your personal belongings close to avoid theft.

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