The Chicago Cubs home ground Wrigley Field is one of the most iconic sporting arenas in the world. As you get off the train at the Addison stop the overwhelming passion for this team and the ground is palpable. We have been fortunate to have visited quite a few parks now including the other two most notable in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park in Boston, but there was nothing like the energy generated last night. This was a Sunday night 7pm game mind you, and I’ve had the misfortune of going to Saints games at similar schedules and they are a serious drag especially because you know it’s Monday tomorrow.
There are loud voices everywhere you turn, all trying to talk louder than the other. Whether its tickets to sell, tickets to buy, drinks to sell, merchandise to sell or just yelling for the sake of it, it was the perfect entry to what would be a memorable experience for any sports lover. The crowd was a sea of red white and blue similar to the Whitten Oval on the Sunday after the grand final last year. Of course 2016 was the drought breaking year across the world with the Dogs, Cronulla, Leicester City having wins and the Cubs winning their first World Series since 1908!
There were a few unique things about Wrigley that we hadn’t seen before. Firstly the stadium is stuck right in the middle of an old residential area very similar to Fenway with tight side streets so what they have done to open up some seating is actually bought some roof space on a few buildings across the road on the northern side and whacked mini stands on them! Secondly the bull pens where the relieving pitchers warm up are situated under the stands. The pitchers and their coaches have monitors to see the action outside, so when they get the call up a green door opens on the wall and out pops a pitcher. Also whenever a batter hits a home run, the camera flashes to the Cubs bull pen and the players and staff all dance which is very funny. In fact the Cubs team mantra has a lot to do with fun. You could see that before the game in the dugout where each player got around every other player and coach and delivered their secret handshakes. Finally a nice touch. At the 7th innings stretch they play an old video of Harry Caray the legendary Cubs broadcaster leading the crowd with “take me out to the ball park”. It’s a beautiful moment and Harry’s statue sits right out front of the entrance to his beloved bleachers.
One of the age old traditions in baseball is to get your hands on a ball that’s been hit into the crowd. We missed a couple of opportunities, the closest by about 10 feet. The anti-tradition is to reject a ball that has been caught off an opposition home run. It must be a tough decision given that if you are a hard core baseball fan you could have been waiting your whole life for such an opportunity. Not at Wrigley Field! As soon as a Cardinals home run was caught in the bleachers it was spat right back into the outfield almost in the one motion! The whole evening was one of pure joy for an old man who loves what sport can do for a community and for kids. It took me back to when our dad would take us to South Fremantle games at Fremantle Oval another beautiful old ground surrounded by a gaol and a hospital. Those long days taking in the sights, smells and history quickly helped embed the love of the game.
The day started at the Chicago Contemporary Art Museum and the Murakami Exhibition. I think the photos sum it up because words can’t. My eldest Corrie is going to hate me for this but I’ve included a couple of pieces from another exhibit that took up a huge space. Yes it was one of those ones that I have no idea about, so all I can do is publish these and we can discuss the intrinsic existential meaning behind them when I get home ok love? Love you. All up an unforgettable day of art/sport fusion as my ol’ mate Greg would say! It’s going to be a bit sad saying goodbye to Chicago.
