Wrigley Field is a baseball park located on the North Side of Chicago Illinois It is the home of the Chicago Cubs one of the city s two Major League Baseball MLB franchises It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman s Chicago Whales of the Federal League which folded after the 1915 baseball season The Cubs played their first home game at the park on April 20 1916 defeating the Cincinnati Reds with a score of 76 in 11 innings Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr of the Wrigley Company acquired complete control of the Cubs in 1921 It was named Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926 before being renamed Wrigley Field in 1927
In the North Side community area of Lakeview in the Wrigleyville neighborhood Wrigley Field is on an irregular block bounded by Clark west and Addison south streets and Waveland north and Sheffield east avenues Wrigley Field is nicknamed The Friendly Confines a phrase popularized by Mr Cub Hall of Fame shortstop and first baseman Ernie Banks The oldest park in the National League the current seating capacity is 42 495 it is the second oldest in the majors after Fenway Park 1912 and the only remaining Federal League park Wrigley Field is known for its ivy covered brick outfield wall the unusual wind patterns off Lake Michigan the iconic red marquee over the main entrance the hand turned scoreboard its location in a primarily residential neighborhood with no parking lots and views from the rooftops behind the outfield and for being the last Major League park to have lights installed for play after dark in 1988 Between 1921 and 1970 it was the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and was also the home of the Chicago Cardinals now Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League from 1931 to 1938 The elevation of its playing field is 600 feet 180 m above sea level129
