Chicago is bracing for a flood of Cubs fans as the team returns home for three World Series games, but there are some things fans need to know before heading to Wrigley Field this weekend.
Parking restrictions, transportation changes and extra security measures will all be in place.
"As a world class city, Chicago routinely hosts large scale events and sporting championships, and we have built upon previous plans to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience as the Cubs take on the Indians in the World Series,” Rich Guidice, OEMC First Deputy Director, said in a statement. “As the Chicago Cubs take care of business on the field, we are asking residents and baseball fans to once again make the city proud by celebrating safely and respecting the surrounding community after the games so the focus stays where it should: our home team pursuing an historic championship win after 108 years."
Here’s what Cubs fans need to know before heading to Wrigleyville:
GETTING TO AND FROM THE GAME
Officials are urging people to arrive at least two and a half hours before the game begins if they want to see the first pitch. That is when gates will open to the field.
Chicago Baseball
They’re also advising fans to use public transportation.
Fans can be dropped off or picked up by limousine and car services, including Uber and Lyft, Irving Park Road between Clark and Seminary (east of Clark).
The Chicago Transit Authority is advising fans to take the Red Line to the Addison station or the Sheridan stop just blocks from the park, adding that additional train service will be provided leading up to the first pitch.
Yellow Line trains will operate from Howard to Skokie until 2 a.m., however.
CTA also plans to add extra service on the No. 80 Irving Park bus and No. 152 Addison bus routes. The No. 8 Halsted and the No. 22 Clark routes will also take fans to Wrigley Field.
For fans taking Metra, the rail service recommends fans take the CTA from either Ogilvie or Union Station in Chicago.
STREET CLOSURES
The following street closures are expected to be in effect significantly earlier than previous playoff series games:
• Clark: Irving Park to Belmont
• Addison: Halsted to Racine
More street closures may be put in place for public safety if needed, officials said.
PARKING
Parking restrictions began Tuesday at noon and will continue until Thursday at 4 a.m. They will then be put in place again Friday at noon and continue until Monday at 4 a.m.
The Cubs will offer free remote parking at 3900 N. Rockwell St., just east of the Chicago River. The lot includes free shuttle service to and from Wrigley Field, beginning three and a half hours before the first pitch until one hour after the end of the game.
Here is the list of streets where fans cannot park:
• Clark from Aldine to Irving Park
• Sheffield from Grace to Roscoe
• Addison from Halsted to Southport
• Racine from: Clark to Roscoe
• Irving Park from Clark to Seminary
• Eddy from Clark to Racine
• Cornelia from Clark to Racine
• Newport from Clark to Racine
• Waveland from Wilton to Racine
• Patterson from Racine to Clark
• Inner Lake Shore Drive, east side of the street from Belmont to Addison
• Clifton: Waveland-Grace
• Seminary: Waveland-Grace
• Kenmore: Waveland-Grace
• Seminary: Newport-Eddy
• Cornelia: Wilton-Sheffield
• Grace: Wilton-Clark
Additional restrictions were also put in place beginning Friday, Oct. 28 through Wednesday, Nov. 2 from 5-6 p.m.:
• Webster: Sheffield-Bissell
• Lincoln: Webster-Fullerton
• Division: State-Dearborn
• Hubbard: State-LaSalle
• Wells: North Avenue - Division
• Kinzie: State-Clark
Also Friday, from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., no parking will be allowed on:
• Waveland from Fremont to Halsted.
**If your car is towed, call 311 for help
SECURITY
A Cubs hotline is in place for fans to report problems or issues.
The hotline is open one hour before a game begins until two hours after the games end. Residents are being told to call either the Night Game Hotline at 1-866-427-3869 to report problems or issues in the area or call 911 for “any immediate threats.”
Officials are reminding fans and area residents “if you see something, say something.”
"Please remember in the times that we are at, see something say something's never more important,” said Deputy Chief Al Nagode with the Chicago Police Department. “We are going to have enough resources working with our federal Partners to make sure we are safe on all levels."
Fans are urged to call 911 or notify on-site security if they notice any suspicious activity.
In addition, Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said the city will have extra personnel in the area. Chicago officers will conduct security checks within a two-block perimeter of the field and any alcohol "found on the public way will be confiscated."
Street closures may be put in place for public safety if needed, officials said. Only residents with a photo ID and proof of address will be allowed to enter.
"Our fans and residents have been great in celebrating throughout the playoffs, but we are still asking the fans and visitors to continue to be respectful of the community and to make our city proud by adhering to the safety measures and obey law enforcement and parking restrictions," Ald. Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward said in a statement. "We know we are asking a lot of our residents too in making adjustments for street closures, parking restrictions and increased crowds in the area, but these measures are in place so we can all enjoy this long-awaited event without incident. Residents and their guests should be prepared to have proper IDs for access to some areas and all those coming down to the area to enjoy the local restaurants and bars need to be aware of the checkpoints as well."
In addition, the city reminded residents that using drons in public spaces in Chicago is illegal. Officials also said scaling poles, barricades or equipment is prohibited and anyone caught doing so could be arrested.
WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT BRING INTO WRIGLEY
The following items will not be allowed in the ballpark:
- Alcohol
- Bags (exceeding 16" x 16" x 8" inches)
- Brooms
- Containers - cans, glass, hard-sided coolers, thermoses or flasks
- Illegal drugs
- Inflatables (such as beach balls)
- Laser pointers
- Luggage or car seats
- Nets
- Noise makers
- Non-factory sealed plastic bottles (permitted if empty)
- Portable stadium seats
- Selfie sticks
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
- Weapons of any kind
TICKETS
Tickets to the games range from more than $1,000 to $75,000, according to ticket resale sites.
Officials from the Cubs advise attendees to treat their tickets like their cash, and are warning fans not to post photos of them on social media.