With major league sports officially underway, people everywhere are itching to get into an event and cheer on their favorite team. Wrigleyville in Chicago may be one of the few places to do it! Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is a ballpark surrounded by an urban jungle. This Jungle has rooftops all over where you can see the Cubs take on their opponents, and right now, it may be the only way to see them play live.

Since its opening in 1914, it has been the tradition for the locals to stand on adjacent rooftops to watch the Cubs play outside Wrigley Field. In the early 1980s, owners of the surrounding buildings began erecting seating and selling tickets to watch the Cubs play from outside the park. These rooftops offered ways for fans to enjoy the games with the amenities of bars, buffets and private bathrooms. Despite facing some legal issues with this idea, the rooftop owners have sorted it out and are continuing to offer this incredible experience into 2020. With the pandemic hitting, these rooftop seats are the only way to watch the Cubs play at home, and are one of only a few teams to offer such an experience. Because of the demand, ticket prices have shot up, as did safety precautions including face coverings and limited capacity.

Right now, Wrigleyville has 9 unique rooftop venues that offer a different experience to fans who purchase it. All of the options include amenities such as, all you can eat buffets, outdoor plasma screens, and much more. The selection is just like that of a ticket in the ballpark. Some seats will have better views, while others will be perfect for a small group size or a group looking to get rowdy. This is a perfect way for fans to cheer on their team while remaining socially distanced and safe.

Other fields around the US have started to investigate rooftop ticket sales to watch baseball games. With the Toronto Blue Jays making their home in Buffalo for the season, we heard that the Seneca One building would be a perfect fit to watch MLB games at Sahlen Field! I am keeping my fingers crossed that this happens throughout the country to keep everyone safe while providing them with the entertainment they so desperately crave!

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, sport stadiums all over the country remain empty despite the recent start of most professional sports seasons. This emptiness may be a feeling these athletes need to get used to in order to get the virus under control. The MLB is no stranger to the bare stadiums, but the Cincinnati Reds are looking into being the first team to fill those seats.

After receiving a cautiously optimistic statement from Ohio Governor about fans returning to The Great American Ball Park in late 2020, the Cincinnati team submitted a plan to put this thought into action. According to The Athletic, the proposal has already been approved by the city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County has stated in the following tweet, “If the #Reds get their way, it won’t just be cardboard cutouts in the stands at games this season. @ctrent reports that the team has formally pitched a plan to the state for fans at GABP in 2020.”

Cincinnati has started their season at a 7-9 record but stands in second place in the NL Central. They are hoping this solid start will help propel the Reds into October. If they are to make it, they are hoping to have a fan filled stadium. Other teams have jumped on the bandwagon in hopes of allowing fans in later this season. The Chicago Cubs are discussing plans to make this happen. As of now, the proposal suggests a max of 8,000 in the 41,000 person ballpark at Wrigley Field in Chicago. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, would have to look into the implications of some teams having home field advantage if these proposals go through. There are hopes that more and more teams may be able to allow fans into the ballpark before the end of the 2020 season.

The Reds are taking the first steps to safely allow fans back into GABP and if all goes well, this may signal the pandemic may be starting to die down. We all hope the Cincinnati Reds are onto something great!