Wrigley Field’s Iconic Ivy, Neighborhood Atmosphere Give It Edge Over Fenway As Nation’s Best Classic Ballpark

Editor’s note: Tony Lee and Natalie Gonzalez debated whether Fenway Park or Wrigley is the better ballpark. Here is Natalie’s case for Wrigley. Tony's case for Fenway can be found here.

I’m not here to argue which baseball team is better, the Red Sox or the Cubs. The 100-plus year drought says it all. But as a lifelong Cubs fan and Wrigley Field regular, I can say that Wrigley’s unique features and friendly atmosphere make it a better place for baseball than Fenway.

To start, baseball fans are greeted with Wrigley Field’s iconic red marquee that proudly reads in big white letters: Wrigley Field, Home of the Chicago Cubs. At night, red neon lights illuminate the sign, warmly welcoming people into Wrigleyville.

Wrigley Field is nestled in a residential area. There are no interstate highways to mess with the atmosphere, just dozens of bars and thousands of friendly faces ready to have a good time in Wrigleyville. Here, Wrigley isn’t just a ballpark. It’s a culture.

Fenway and Wrigley are the only two remaining classic ballparks in Major League Baseball, and both have hand-turned scoreboards. But Wrigley’s is far superior. The green scoreboard is located above the center-field bleachers, rather than encased in a 37-foot green wall. Flags for every team in the National League fly atop the scoreboard to show the current standings in their divisions. And the flags also let fans know if Chicago’s infamous wind will make the game a pitchers’ duel or a hitters’ paradise. Can a big green wall do that?

Wrigley has Ivy. Its outfield walls are covered with the stuff. The lush ivy does two things: (1) adds to Wrigley’s picturesque look and (2) makes baseballs disappear. When a ball gets lost in the ivy, outfielders are forced to throw their hands up, resulting in a ground-rule double. Along with the unwavering wind, the ivy-covered walls make for an unpredictable and unforgettable game.

The rooftop seats alongside Wrigley Field make the stadium like no other ballpark. Apartment buildings on Waveland Avenue and Sheffield Avenue have rooftop bleachers to offer Cubs fans a unique alternative to watch the game. The rooftops don’t play around. With open bar and great food, fans are sure to have a great time.

Chicagoans have come back from Fenway complaining of the narrow, uncomfortable seats. The Friendly Confines (Wrigley Field, for those who may not know) stay true to name as its good-sized seats allow fans of all shapes and sizes to comfortably cheer on the Cubs.

For a long time now, the seventh-inning stretch has always been an important moment at Wrigley. Cubs legend Harry Caray belted the lyrics of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for many years, a duty that was given to his grandson, Chip, after Harry’s passing. Now, a slew of celebrities, like Bill Murray and Mr. T, have had the privilege to lead fans in the singing of the legendary song.

Only one other song makes Cubs fans happier at a baseball outing, the opportunity to proudly sing, “Go Cubs go. Go Cubs go. Hey Chicago what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!” This song marks a victory for the Cubs. And as the white flag with a big blue ‘W’ rises in the wind, Cubs fans pour into the bars in Wrigleyville, still singing “Go Cubs Go.”

Wrigley Field: no gimmicks, no monsters, just baseball.

Natalie Gonzalez is from Chicago and lives in Chicago now. She graduated from Northwestern in 2009 and currently works for Edelman, a global public relations firm. She can be reached at ngonzalez09@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter.

Photo via Flickr/zoonabar