Chicago

Everything You Need to Know Before Heading to Cubs' Home Games

As fans prepare to trek around the city for the big games, there's a lot they need to know.

It's going to be a big week for the Chicago Cubs.

As the Chicago Cubs look to take the lead from the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field for their first home games of this series, plenty of fans will flock to the city to see the action unfold live.

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As fans prepare to trek around the city for the big games, there's a lot they need to know. 

TRANSPORTATION

Authorities are urging fans to use public transportation for the game.

Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications advises riders to check the CTA website at www.transitchicago.com or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA for information about CTA's increased service or reroutes for the games. For Metra, visit www.metrarail.com or call (any area code in region) 836-7000.

For limousines or ride-share drivers, drop-off, pickup and staging will be held on Irving Park Road between Clark and Seminary. Taxi drop-off, pickup and staging will be on Clark, south of Roscoe. Coach buses will be on Irving Park Road. 

Metra:

There are 11 rail lines that extend from the suburbs to downtown Chicago. These rail lines exit downtown at four stations:

• LaSalle Street Station – on LaSalle Street between Van Buren Street and Congress Parkway

• Union Station – on Canal Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard

• Ogilvie Transportation Center – on Madison Street and Canal Street

• Millennium Station – on Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue

PARKING

The Cubs offer free remote parking at 3900 N. Rockwell St., just east of the Chicago River and accessed from Irving Park Road. 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.

No parking will be allowed on the following streets, beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday through 1 a.m. Friday:

• Clark from Roscoe 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 west alley of Clark

• Cornelia from Clark to west alley of Clark

• Newport from Clark to west alley of Clark

If your car is towed, call 311 for assistance.

STREET CLOSURES

The following streets will be closed about three hours prior to the game and one hour after the game. Only residents and those with parking passes will be allowed on these streets:

• Clark from Racine to Newport

• Sheffield from Clark to Grace

• Addison from Halsted to Racine

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SECURITY

Fans are encouraged to arrive early at Wrigley to allow time for enhanced security measures – including metal detector screenings and bag searches, according to OEMC. Fans will not be required to remove shoes, key or belts, but will be required to remove cell phones and cameras for the screenings.

A Cubs Hotline opens one hour before the game and continues until two hours after the game. Residents are being asked to contact either the Night Game Hotline at 1-866-427-3869 to report problems or issues in the area or call 9-1-1 for any immediate threats.

Officials also encourage fans "if you see something, say something."

"As always, it is the responsibility of all to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity," OEMC has said in a statement. "If you notice suspicious criminal activity or suspicious objects, call 9-1-1 or notify on-site security immediately."

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T BRING

Here is what you can't bring:

• Alcohol

• Bags larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches

• Brooms

•  Containers (cans, aerosol spray, glass, hard-sided coolers, thermoses or flasks)

•  Illegal drugs

•  Inflatables

•  Laser pointers

•  Luggage or car seats

•  Nets

•  Noise makers

•  Non-factory sealed plastic bottles

•  Portable stadium seats

•  Selfie sticks

•  Unmanned aerial vehicles

•  Weapons of any kind

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WARNING

The Better Business Bureau is warning Cubs fans about scammers heading into Tuesday's game and the rest of the postseason. 

"Whenever there's excitement about a special event, like the Cubs post-season appearance, there are counterfeiters who hope to cash in on unsuspecting fans," Steve Bernas, president and CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, said in a statement. "Fake ticket sellers know that fan fever can often cloud common sense and smart buying judgment. Scalper tickets are commonplace, but now more than ever, people need to be careful so they are not ripped-off by bad guys selling fake tickets."

Here are some tips from the BBB for avoiding scams:

Purchase from the venue. Whenever possible, use the official ticket sales agent for the venue. Many now offer secondary sales options, as well.

Consider your source. Know the difference between a professional ticket broker (a legitimate and accredited reseller), a ticket scalper (an unregulated and unlicensed ticket seller), and a scammer selling fraudulent tickets. 

Check out the seller/broker. Look them up on bbb.org to learn what other customers have experienced. 

Buy only from trusted vendors. Buy online only from vendors you know and trust. Look for the lock symbol in the web address to indicate a secure purchasing system. Don't click through from emails or online ads; a common scam trick is to create a web address that is similar to a well-known company. 

Know the refund policy. You should only purchase tickets from a ticket reseller that provides clear details about the terms of the transaction. 

Use payment methods that come with protection. Always use a credit card so you have some recourse if the tickets are not as promised. Debit cards, wire transfer or cash transactions are risky; if the tickets are fraudulent, you won't be able to get your money back.

• Let the buyer and seller beware. There have been instances of on-line sellers and buyers being ripped off, attacked, and even one fatal incident when a seller showed up at a meet up sight and was robbed and killed.

• Remember to always report scammers. If you've been cheated, or if you see suspicious activity, report the scam to authorities and BBB Scam Tracker to warn others.

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