Chicago Cubs – August 5-7
Wrigley Field: Capacity 41,649
2023 Attendance: 2,775,149, up from 2,616,780 in 2022 (Averaged 34,261, 6th in NL and 9th overall MLB)
After facing the Chicago White Sox in a three game home stand, the Twins journey to the Windy City for another short three game trip. This will mark the first time the Twins have invaded Wrigley Field since taking both games in a two-game series in 2021. The Twins got swept in a three-game series at Wrigley in 2018, so this will be a unique travel experience for Twins fans. Traveling to the game via the purple or red line is the easiest route, with downtown Chicago being only a 15 minute el train ride away. Metallica is holding court at Soldier Field on August 9th if you want to stay for the weekend!
Wrigley Field opened in 1914. That’s right, 110 years ago! The ivy has scaled the outfield wall since 1937, and modern expansions and lights brought the ballpark closer towards the 21st Century in 1988. The jewel-box charm remains, and the neighborhood continues to offer one of the most “baseball” experiences in all of baseball. You can smell remnants of Old Style spills from decades past, and experience elbow to elbow seating that adds to the ambiance. How can you find fault with having a stadium where home runs can literally leave the ballpark, brick walls can be run into, and people on rooftops can pay more for their tickets than people behind home plate?
The Cubs themselves have grown up from their lovable loser Cubbies vibe, finally reversing the curse and winning a World Series in 2016. The most recent iterations have flirted with success, but ultimately couldn’t escape the rebuild cycle that follows such a formidable championship run. This year’s squad closely resembles last year’s non-playoff roster, with only the addition of Michael Busch (1B) and Shota Imanaga (SP) being notable. Will the “new to them” skipper Craig Counsell put them back into serious consideration for a championship? Or will the youth movement stall out by late summer?
The Twins will be traveling 818 miles for 3 games, 0 off days, and ____ wins?
How do you think the Twins will fare at Wrigley Field? Anyone planning to go to Chicago for this weekday series? Any favorite watering holes or tourist traps? Regular season baseball is almost here Twins Territory…let’s get talking!
Let’s Road Trip is a series of stories exploring the Twins’ 13 road trips during the 2024 season. I will focus on stadium highlights, attributes, Twins history, and community amenities. Potential pitfalls and roadblocks get considered, and travel considerations get mentioned. My handy-dandy Baseball Road Trips by Timothy Malcolm and Moon travel guides will be a go-to for this conversation.