Home > Blogs > Carie Shapiro > Carie Shapiro's Blog

What Do You Get For $50 At Wrigley Field? A Pesky Post & Blog Fodder.

By Carie Shapiro

Real Estate Broker/Owner with North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate

July 08, 2013 12:26 PM

Anyone Who Knows Me – Knows What A True Blue, Loyal, Diehard Cubs Fan I Am

$50 Seats At Wrigley Field Honestly, I can't begin to remember the bazillions of games I've attended in my lifetime. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly sure I've contributed substantially to the rising salaries of many players on the Cubs roster. Yet, even though the Cubs are in 4th place, and it's almost a slam dunk that we're headed for our 105th season without a World Series Championship, very few occurrences have served to deflate the thrill and excitement I feel while attending a game at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. Until now.

Spontaneity Does Have Its Drawbacks

When my good friend and I decided to take in a game at the last minute this past weekend, we walked up to the box office and asked for available seats at a comfortable price point. Sure, it was a holiday weekend. Sure, it was a gorgeous day with temperatures in the lower '80s. Sure, everyone knows that a Cubs game is a favorite, traditional, summertime activity – as evidenced by the 36,000+ in attendance. That said, this photo captures the view from my seat. Unfortunately, the box office ticket agent neglected to inform me that this would be the view from my seat. Why didn't the box office ticket agent tell me this would be the view from my seat?

Shouldn't These Tickets Come With A Warning?

I guess $50 for a ticket plus blog fodder isn't so bad. Or, is it? Luckily, the post was approximately 12 inches wide, so our view was only partially obstructed for the entire game. Also, the Cubs were pretty decent and miraculously beat the 1st Place Pittsburgh Pirates. But, still. C'mon, folks at Wrigley Field – charging $50 for this seat? You should be giving these tickets away for free. Okay, maybe half-price. And, a warning.

Re-Blog

Featured

Comments(41)

Comment

Show All Comments Sort:

Carie Shapiro

North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

John: Busy is a good thing. Getting to a game is a good thing too! Hope you guys can find the time to sneak one in this season!

Jan: Good communication applies to so many different circumstances, doesn't it? Go Cubbies!

Debbie: Ha! Someone dropped the 'baseball' on that one ... so clever! I like it :)

Lenn: Ha ... thanks! Yeah, you're right. I'll always love my team no matter what! And, it sounds like you know a thing or two about doing the 'Support Beam Shuffle' ... I just made that name up :) But, my friend and I sure did a lot of it during the game. Plus, I'm with you ... I am ready for some football too!! I'm still going through Blackhawks withdrawal :)

Scott: They played it after the Cubs Win that day :)

Amanda & Jared: These seats PLUS a 3-hour drive ... yes, that's a drag!

Wanda: Yes ... the bleacher seats are the best! Of all the games I've attended, I've probably sat in the bleachers the most. So much fun!!

Michael: No whiplash :) And, yes ... I do love my Cubbies!

Chris & Dick: 'Slightly Obstructed' would be a great way to describe these seats, for sure!

Helen & Larry: Thanks ... it's worth a try!

Alan: True! As Harry Carey used to say: 'You Can't Beat Fun At The Old Ballpark!' I miss him :)

Jul 09, 2013 12:30 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Carie: I've been a Cubs fan my entire life too ... as was my Father. He was buried with his Diehard Cubs Fan card in his hand. I suppose my love of the Cubs is like a disease from which I will never recover. But still, my level of discontent with the organization has been growing over the last decade. I don't watch entire games and follow stats, etc. like I used to. Treating their fans as they did you (the pole!!) will eventually harm the franchise and team. I think it already has taken a toll, as you see seats available or empty for games ... and that would have never happened in the past. I hope the organization and players figure it out soon. I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to see a team that wins ... something ... again ...

Gene

Jul 09, 2013 01:15 AM

Jay & Michelle Lieberman

Keller Williams World Class - Agoura Hills, CA

Creating Calm in the Buying and Selling Chaos

That is really funny. At least no one will look at you when the ketchup on your hotdog drips down your face!

Jul 09, 2013 01:16 AM

Lyn Sims

Schaumburg, IL

Real Estate Broker Retired

Carrie: At the CSO it would say 'restricted view' clearly marked. They have class I guess.

Jul 09, 2013 01:45 AM

Marilyn Wier

RE/MAX Space Center - League City, TX

Your League City & Surrounding Areas REALTOR!

Carie, what a funny post! Irony at its finest! Sometimes you just have to take it for what it is just as you did but what a funny story to share later!

Jul 09, 2013 01:50 AM

Beth Atalay

Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL

Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Carie, you should've been advised the view was obstructed, if not, there should be some type of compensation. At least you found some humor in it and gave you a topic to blog about..

Jul 09, 2013 02:13 AM

Edward & Celia Maddox

The Celtic Connection Realty - Queen Creek, AZ

EXPERIENCE & INTEGRITY - WE TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

That would be very annoying for sure. Wonder what the cheap seats view is?

Jul 09, 2013 02:50 AM

Wayne Zuhl

Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ

The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

When you buy tickets on line, you can see the view from the seat in advance - or at least that's the way it is at Citi Field where our Mets play. Oftentimes when we can't get good seats, or don't want to pay top dollar, we buy the cheap seats to get in the field and then spend our time watching the game from the Shea Bridge - a remant from the Mets former stadium that has a great view of the field and no seats to sell.

Jul 09, 2013 02:54 AM

Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA

Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Carrie...

When I was a boy my dad took me to a game at old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Similar construction to Wrigley with a vined wall as well, and we sat, you guessed it, behind a post.

But it was still magic!

Jul 09, 2013 03:20 AM

Bill Reddington

Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL

Destin Florida Real Estate

Grew up in Chicago. Saw the Cubs many times with no post for less then $2.00 and the most of seats were empty. My how times have changed.

Jul 09, 2013 03:53 AM

Eric Michael

Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI

Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Carie, yes, they should tell you that the seats have an obstructed view. Glad they beat the Pirates!

Jul 09, 2013 06:05 AM

Suzanne Otto

Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA

Your Montgomery County PA home stager

That's not right. I'm surprised they even put a seat there! But I guess they're banking on the true Cubs fan who doesn't care where they sit, as long as they're at the game.

At least you got a blog out of it!

Jul 09, 2013 07:08 AM

Margaret Goss

@Properties - Winnetka, IL

Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I was in the bleachers on Friday (the 5th) - hot hot hot. The way the Cubs played, I would have gladly switched places with you :) (clearly, not a die-hard!)

Jul 09, 2013 08:21 AM

Jimmy Faulkner

Florida. Homes Realty & Mortgage - Wantagh, NY

The Best Of St. Augustine

Carrie: The thrill of being in Wrigley Field is enough to make anyone happy. $50 is a lot of money but this is supply and demand. We caused the problem and now we have to live with it. Oh how I wish I was there.

Jul 09, 2013 08:22 AM

Carie Shapiro

North Shore Suburbs & Chicago Real Estate - Evanston, IL

Gene: Like you, my friends and I have become increasingly disenchanted with the Cubs organization over the years too. Why do they do what they do? Because they can, I guess. And, you are so right when you say other fans may be starting to feel the way we do. In the past, walking up to the box office right before game time, during the month of July, on a Saturday afternoon, and being able to purchase a ticket?! Never! So, we'll see what happens. I'm not getting any younger either, so I'd like to see a World Series Championship in my lifetime too :)

Jay & Michelle: Not ketchup ... mustard!!

Lyn: I do love going to the CSO!

Marilyn: Thanks! It seems like some of the funniest stories we have are a little painful at the time they're happening, yes?

Beth: Not sure I'll see any compensation. But, I always try to see the humor when situations are not too funny :)

Edward & Celia: Ha! How could the cheap seats get any worse :)

Wayne & Jean: The Shea Bridge sounds cool! And, a great alternative to crummy seats. Unfortunately, there is no Wrigley Bridge :)

Richard: Your description is the stuff from which childhood memories are made. Going to a baseball game with your dad as a child is, as you say, magical ... pole or no pole. Very nice, Richard ... thanks for sharing that experience :)

Bill: Back in the 80s, I could walk up to the box office just before game time and buy a bleacher ticket for 4 bucks. Last weekend, face value was $69. Yes, times have changed for sure!

Eric: It would have been nice to know about the post. And, yes ... it was a great win!

Suzanne: I think you hit the nail on the head! The "Cubs Fan will do anything to go to a game" seems to be, and has been, the mentality of the franchise for years. However, yes ... I managed to get a blog out of the experience :)

Margaret: I've incurred more sunburns in the bleachers than I care to remember. But, you have to admit ... it sure is fun sitting out there :)

Jimmy: You are so right! We created the problem. The Wrigley Field experience has definitely become a supply and demand thing, where everyone counts on the fact that Cubs fans & tourists will pay anything to go to a game on a beautiful summertime day. As Gene & I discussed above, we think some fans are starting to get a little peeved from having to pay so much to watch a losing team year after year. That said, I wish you were there too ... sounds like you enjoy watching a game at Wrigley as much as I do :)

Jul 09, 2013 09:26 AM

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754

Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT

Associate Real Estate Broker

Carrie, if the left field wall were all green instead of ivy, that could be a partially obstructed view at Fenway Park

Jul 09, 2013 11:05 AM

Charlotte Luxury Real Estate

Keller Williams - Ballantyne Area - Charlotte, NC

Eli Magids

Hi Carrie,

As a Mets fan, I feel your pain! But Wrigley is a special place,pole and all.

Cheers,

Eli

Jul 09, 2013 11:13 AM

Endre Barath, Jr.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA

Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Carie as a Diehard Red Sox fan I must admit the pole is worth some extra:)) all chiding aside I was expecting you to sa y you Get two beer and two Dogs:)))

Jul 09, 2013 11:27 AM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Carrie - I would have gone right back to the ticket booth and complained.. This is terrible.

Jul 09, 2013 11:44 AM

Bryan Robertson

Los Altos, CA

Ouch! Not the best view but hey, you got to see "most" of the game and going there for the food and crowd is worth it anyway, right :)

Jul 09, 2013 01:02 PM