'Friendly Confines' Certainly Living Up To Its Name
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jerad Shaw-
And for the sixth straight time visiting Wrigley Field, the Cubs ushered me out of the stands with a losing effort. It’s probably something I should be getting used to by now, but singing “Go Cubs Go” just one time in the near future would do my heart and mind some good.
Despite Sunday’s outcome, I found myself enjoying the experience just a little bit more than the last time. Seeing as this was my first trip since the reconstruction, I expected the worst and hoped for the best. What I found even surprised me.
The ol’ ball field on Clark and Addison has just added to the mystique that is the Cubs baseball experience.
The last few years have changed my entire perspective on trips to what is commonly known as the “Friendly Confines.” Part of that has to be the fact I spent the majority of my 20s being a bleacher bum and enjoying all the sun that the north side of Chicago has to offer.
Nowadays the trips are planned around my 5-year-old son.
We sit in the stands where we are greeted by the friendliest ushers I’ve come across in sports. From the time we enter until the time we leave there isn’t a moment that a smiling usher either asks for a five or hands out a sticker. Every person you meet that is working seems to have a genuine interest that the youth coming into the park have a memorable experience.
To me that’s more important than a win or even the stress of dealing with weekend Chicago traffic.
So it’s safe to say the “Friendly Confines” are certainly living up to their moniker in this day and age, and in a time when the crowds are growing and the hope of Cubs fans continues to rise with the youth movement well on its way to Chicago superstardom. Winning seems to be coming at a faster rate, and with wins will come the droves of Cubs fans back into the mix.
I just hope with the new renewed love for the Cubs these fans don’t drive out the friendliness that comes along with buying a ticket to a game. You’re not buying a ticket to guarantee a victory, but you’re buying a ticket to guarantee a great day inside one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
It was a day that my son will remember for a long time to come. Let’s just hope he continues to enjoy the experience.
Looking at the scoreboard might not yield the same excitement![[In-content Ad]]
And for the sixth straight time visiting Wrigley Field, the Cubs ushered me out of the stands with a losing effort. It’s probably something I should be getting used to by now, but singing “Go Cubs Go” just one time in the near future would do my heart and mind some good.
Despite Sunday’s outcome, I found myself enjoying the experience just a little bit more than the last time. Seeing as this was my first trip since the reconstruction, I expected the worst and hoped for the best. What I found even surprised me.
The ol’ ball field on Clark and Addison has just added to the mystique that is the Cubs baseball experience.
The last few years have changed my entire perspective on trips to what is commonly known as the “Friendly Confines.” Part of that has to be the fact I spent the majority of my 20s being a bleacher bum and enjoying all the sun that the north side of Chicago has to offer.
Nowadays the trips are planned around my 5-year-old son.
We sit in the stands where we are greeted by the friendliest ushers I’ve come across in sports. From the time we enter until the time we leave there isn’t a moment that a smiling usher either asks for a five or hands out a sticker. Every person you meet that is working seems to have a genuine interest that the youth coming into the park have a memorable experience.
To me that’s more important than a win or even the stress of dealing with weekend Chicago traffic.
So it’s safe to say the “Friendly Confines” are certainly living up to their moniker in this day and age, and in a time when the crowds are growing and the hope of Cubs fans continues to rise with the youth movement well on its way to Chicago superstardom. Winning seems to be coming at a faster rate, and with wins will come the droves of Cubs fans back into the mix.
I just hope with the new renewed love for the Cubs these fans don’t drive out the friendliness that comes along with buying a ticket to a game. You’re not buying a ticket to guarantee a victory, but you’re buying a ticket to guarantee a great day inside one of the greatest stadiums in the world.
It was a day that my son will remember for a long time to come. Let’s just hope he continues to enjoy the experience.
Looking at the scoreboard might not yield the same excitement![[In-content Ad]]
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