Getting to Wrigley Field via Chicago's L System
Wrigley Field, home to the Cubs since 1914, sits in Lakeview and is often called a shrine to pure baseball. Driving there during game time is a headache, but the CTA's elevated trains, known as the L, provide access from all over Chicago. This guide outlines how to use the L to reach the ballpark.
By Taylor Cooper8 steps
Take the CTA el to enjoy Chicago Cubs baseball at Wrigley Field.
Since 1914, Wrigley Field has stood in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, and for many fans it is a shrine to pure baseball. While the nostalgia is strong, trying to navigate the streets and highways around Wrigley during a Cubs game is a modern-day headache. To avoid that, public transit reaches the Wrigley Field area from every part of the city. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) runs the city's elevated train network, commonly called the el or L.
Step 1
Wrigley Field is located at 1060 West Addison Street in Chicago. Its marquee stands at the corner of Addison and Clark streets on the North Side. The CTA Red Line L stops at Addison and Sheffield, two blocks east of Wrigley.
Step 2
Get to know the Red Line's route across the city. It travels north to south between Howard and 95th Streets. On the North Side, the Red Line L runs alongside Sheridan Road, Broadway Avenue, and Sheffield Avenue. In the downtown Loop, Red Line subway stations are on State Street. On the South Side, the Red Line runs in the median of the I-90/94 Dan Ryan Expressway.
Step 3
Find other major Chicago corridors served by CTA trains. On the North Side, the Blue Line and Brown Line el trains follow the I-90/94 Kennedy Expressway and Lincoln Avenue, respectively. On the South and West Sides, you can catch trains along King Drive, Cermak Road, and the Eisenhower Expressway.
Step 4
Figure out how to transfer to the Red Line from other CTA lines. All CTA lines meet in the Loop. North Side fans on the Brown Line can transfer to the Red Line at Belmont and then ride north to Wrigley Field at Addison.
Step 1
Buy a fare card at the CTA train station. As of September 2010, a one-way ride costs $2.25, which includes transfers within the system. Bring exact fare because machines do not give change.
Step 2
Check the signs at the CTA el station to see which direction trains are heading. Northbound Red Line trains display "Howard," and southbound Red Line trains show "95-Dan Ryan." Other trains going downtown show the word "Loop."
Step 3
Board your train and ride until you reach the Red Line. At the transfer point, get off and switch to the Red Line el heading toward Addison.
Step 4
Take the CTA Red Line to Addison. At Addison, you'll see the Cubs' logo next to a baseball icon for Wrigley Field. From there, you can walk with other Cubs fans into the ballpark.
