Parking, bag policy, transit and history are on the main Wrigley Field guide.
The Wrigley seat decision, fast
The single most useful rule at Wrigley Field: if a clear view matters, pick the upper box (300s) behind the plate rather than the rear of the terrace downstairs. The upper box sits in front of the steel columns that hold up the upper deck, while the rear terrace rows sit among them. If being close matters more, the field box seats between the dugouts are the premium choice. If sun and atmosphere are the point, the bleachers are their own experience.
The first digit of a section tells you where you are, according to the Chicago Cubs' renumbering guide:
- 100s and 200s: the lower deck. The front holds clubs and box seats; the rear is the terrace, roofed over by the upper deck.
- 300s: upper box, the first rows upstairs.
- 400s: upper reserved, the rear rows upstairs beneath the roof.
- 500s: the bleachers around the outfield.
- Suites: unchanged numbers, now preceded by S.
The 2019 renumbering and old seat photos
On Opening Day 2019, the Cubs switched to a Section/Row/Seat format, replacing an aisle-based system in use since the early 1980s. Seats stayed exactly where they were, and only their labels were updated. Keep that in mind when a pre-2019 photo or forum thread mentions a section:
- Upper box: labeled 400 before 2019, 300 now.
- Upper reserved: labeled 500 before 2019, 400 now.
- Bleachers: had no section numbers before 2019 and use the 500s now.
Use photos dated 2019 or later when you are trying to judge whether a column sits in front of a specific row. An older photo labeled with the same number may show an entirely different part of the park.
Lower deck: box seats, terrace and the clubs
The lower deck is two products in one. Up front, the clubs and field boxes are uncovered and right on top of the action. The back part, the terrace, sits under the upper deck. That brings shade and rain cover, but it also puts support columns in some sightlines.
Box seats
Field boxes run from one foul pole to the other, and demand peaks between the dugouts. Ballpark E-Guides lists the visitors in the first-base dugout, leaving the home side along third. If seeing Chicago's players up close is the goal, buy on the third-base half of the infield.
The clubs
The renovation known as the 1060 Project shifted both dugouts down the lines and rebuilt the area behind the plate, opening space for new clubs. Two guides describe the same lineup:
- American Airlines 1914 Club: front rows directly behind the plate; nobody in the park sits nearer the hitter.
- The W Club: lounge-backed premium seating down the left side, from third base toward left field.
- Maker's Mark Barrel Room: its mirror image along the first-base line.
Terrace
The terrace is deep. Its front rows, sold as terrace box, sit ahead of the columns. Farther back, terrace reserved rows cost less, but a column may land right in your line to home plate or second base, and the overhang hides high fly balls. Here, the row and seat number matter more than the section.
Upper deck: the L and R suffix, 300s and 400s
Upstairs, each section number ends in a letter. The Cubs use L for seats on the left-field half and R for the right-field half, and that letter is your cue for the ramp or stairway to take. Check it before you start climbing; the wrong ramp means a long walk back around a packed concourse.
300s: upper box
In the team's own words, these rank alongside the 200 level at other parks. With no columns ahead, an infield upper box seat often gives a cleaner look than a pricier terrace reserved seat below. Behind the plate, two guides note, four upper box sections were rebuilt as the Catalina Club, where seats are padded and have cup holders.
400s: upper reserved
Only a few rows deep and pressed up under the roof. Shade is guaranteed and reserved-seat prices dip here, yet the roofline and its posts can clip high flies and the video boards in the outfield. Guides also note columns in parts of the upper reserved too, so take any limited-view label at face value.
Bleachers: general admission with a view of the boards
The 500s curve across the whole outfield, and every seat is a metal bench with no back. Sections are numbered, yet the Cubs treat bleacher seating as first come, first served from April through the end of the regular season; only postseason bleacher tickets carry assigned spots. The early line at the gates is how regulars land the front row in the outfield.
Choose a side based on what you want to watch. Sit in left and the right-field video board is in front of you; sit in right and you look at the board in left. Center field puts the most distance between you and the plate. Nothing shades the bleachers, so plan on sunscreen for summer afternoons.
Group and hospitality spaces in the outfield, including patios built during the renovation, are sold separately. They suit a group outing better than close study of the game.
Shade, aisles and the seat within the row
At a modern ballpark, section and row tell you nearly everything. At Wrigley, the seat number matters too, because the columns stand at fixed points along each row.
- Terrace without a column: buy terrace box, or a row that is ahead of the first post. When a listing is vague, check the row against a seat photo taken since 2019.
- At similar prices: take the 300s over the back of the terrace. You trade closeness for an open sightline.
- Aisles: worth having in Wrigley's tight rows, unless the aisle seat is the one beside a post.
- Staying out of the sun: the terrace under the upper deck and the upper reserved under the roof are your safe bets. Late in the day, shade reaches the third-base side before the first-base side.
- With kids: the upper box gives a complete view away from the bleacher crowd. No alcohol-free section appears on the Cubs' renumbering page; call the ticket office if you need one.
Concerts and outdoor hockey layouts
Summer concerts have been part of the Wrigley calendar since 2005, and the park has staged the NHL Winter Classic twice. None of those events follows the baseball map. A concert stage is typically built on the field, and the grass becomes floor seating or a standing area. Each tour decides where the stage goes, how the floor is laid out and which stands are sold, so treat the baseball chart as a rough sketch at best.
- Seeing the stage: a mid-height seat looking squarely at the stage generally beats a near seat off to the side.
- Hearing the show: sound can echo under the terrace roof and in the upper reserved, while uncovered seats tend to be clearer.
- Behind or beside the stage: often closed or sold as limited view.
Always open the event-specific map attached to a listing for any non-baseball date. Reserved Seat orders carry a 100% guarantee.
Accessible seating at the ballpark
Wheelchair spaces, each sold with a companion seat, are handled by the Cubs ticket office. Wrigley predates modern ballpark design, and you reach each level only at certain ramps and elevators. Before buying, find out which gate and ramp lead to your space, and whether it is under cover.
No list of accessible sections appears on the team's seating pages, so confirm details directly through the Cubs ballpark page. When buying an accessible resale listing, keep the wheelchair space and the companion seat on the same order.
Frequently asked questions
Is the upper box or the terrace better at Wrigley Field?
For a clear view, the 300-level upper box usually wins, because it sits in front of the support columns. The terrace is closer to the field, but its rear rows can have a column in the sightline.
Why do old Wrigley Field seat photos show different numbers?
The Cubs renumbered the park on Opening Day 2019. What used to be called the 400s is now labeled 300, the former 500s carry 400 numbers, and the bleachers took over the 500s.
Which Wrigley Field seats are in the shade?
Your best shade bets are the terrace, under the upper deck, and the 400s, under the roof. Afternoon shade arrives on the third-base side first, and the bleachers stay in the sun.
Are Wrigley Field bleacher seats assigned?
Only in October. During the regular season the Cubs sell the bleachers as open seating, so arriving early decides where you sit.
What does L or R mean on a Wrigley Field ticket?
The letter shows which half of the upper deck you are in: L toward left field, R toward right field (303L, 431R). Use it to pick the nearest ramp or stairway.
Which dugout is the Cubs' dugout?
According to Ballpark E-Guides, the home dugout is along the third-base line and the visitors use first. Infield seats on the third-base side are nearest the Cubs.