I’ve attended hundreds of Cub games at Wrigley Field and have sat in nearly every general seating location. So, what is the best place to sit? Well, I guess it depends who is asking. Why don’t we start with the worst and work our way up?
Upper Deck reserved and some Terrace reserved have to be the worst seats in the park. Some of these will be obstructed view seats because of support pillars blocking your view. Upper Deck reserved seats are the farthest from the playing field and make it more difficult to see the action. The upside to these seats is that they are quite a bit cheaper than any other seating location, especially Upper Deck reserved. The lower rows of Terrace Reserved really aren’t too bad. Other than the obstructions, the only other problems are the seats in the extreme left and right field corners because of distance from the field.
I think lower Terrace Reserved and Terrace Box would come next. Most (if not all) Terrace Box seats are low enough rows that you won’t find obstructions. You are also raised slightly above a main walkway, so people walking back-and-forth won’t block your view either.
Upper Deck Box seats are a great option, better than Terrace Reserve and possible some Terrace Box seats. The view from most of these seats is great, and there are often a lot of foul balls hit in your direction.
Bleachers would have to be next on my list. I’m not as big a fan of bleachers as most people are. These seats are more about a social experience than a sporting event. If you are twenty-something and looking for a fun time, this is probably where you want to be.
The best seats in the park are probably the ones that are least available to most fans: Club and Field Boxes. Season ticket holders usually hold these prime tickets, but there are some available – especially for value dates early or late in the season. I generally take in at least 1 value game from these seats per year, and always enjoy myself.
Now, if you aren’t on a budget, there are a few newer areas to sit, and if you are lucky – you might win the opportunity to buy tickets. The Cubs recently added Bullpen, Dugout and Bleacher Box Seats. They range anywhere from $24 to $255. I’ve sat in all three, and each had unique characteristics. The Dugout seats directly behind home plate made it feel as if I was in the game. Seeing Mark Prior’s 96mph fastball from that vantage point was incredible! The Bullpen seats along the 1st base line put you directly next to the visiting bullpen. You have to be aware of foul balls and overthrows from the infield. I managed to catch a ball from Derrek Lee flipped into the stands the one time I sat in those seats. The right field Bleacher Box seats have to be the best bargain. They give you the feel and view of the bleachers with a real seat. Also a great place to be during batting practice, as I came away with a BP ball the one time I sat in those seats.
The ultimate seats at the park? – Without a doubt the Mezzanine suites. These are the catered suites that include food and beer. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a few games from these suites and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Each suite has an exposed terrace with a few rows to watch from. Inside is a refrigerator, television and full spread of food. These suites are rented to companies through the season, so a typical fan will probably not be able to enjoy these seats.
