Posted by in When I watch a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in Chicago I notice that most of the games are played during the daytime instead of nighttime. Although Wrigley Field was the last stadium to get stadium lights, the Cubs play most of their games during the day.
Is there a reason why most of the baseball games at Wrigley Field are played during the day time?
Tradition.
It was a big battle to get the lights in the first place. The people in the neighborhood didn’t want the big crowds at night and a compromise was made limiting the number of night games.
i agree with the first answer, i think people are accustomed to seeing a baseball game at Wrigley field during the day, it looks a lot better too…i like the simple old school back drop with no swimming pools or elaborate gimmicks, simply ivy….
The City Council of Chicago limits the amount of night games that can be played at Wrigley Field. Many people in the neighborhood object to the crowds that come out for night games. There tends to be more rowdiness and drunks in the area then.
You know Wrigley didn’t play night games until 1988. There was a major hold-out from Wrigley (the gum people), who wanted to maintain the original characteristic of baseball, being played in natural sunlight. “The boys of summer” are best viewed in sunlight…I agree. Also, Wrigley Field is in a residential neighborhood, and they didn’t want the night games to disturb the peace there.
Once ownership changed, there was a major push to install lights, but the city of Chicago had banned night games. After MLB threatened to take away all post season home games and the owners threatened to move the team, the lights were turned on. The city finally acquiesced to the demand and allowed limited night games.
The did finally relent and add lights to
I am going with hamrrfan, they are limited to how many night games they can do in a year with the city of Chicago, and that started when lights was installed at Wrigley Field in 1988. Sure that thier first attempt got rained out in just a couple of innings, but the next night they manged to complete a night game. And plus apart of this agreement with the city of Chicago, they can’t play home night games on Fridays, like you see the Chicago White Sox do, the only time they can play a Friday Night homegame on the road, they can’t play one at home. They have an agreement with the city of Chicago, and they have to stick to that agreement, otherwise I bet the city of Chicago, won’t let them play home night games anymore. And plus it might also be better that the sooner that you can’t get something started, the sooner that you can get it done. So you can only take as many home night games at Wrigley Field as you can. And maybe for some fans, they might have to go to work or school during the daytime, so it will be hard for them to catch a 1:20 gametime at Wrigley Field.
They claim that it is since Wrigley is in a little neighborhood, to not cause disruption at night. (Which is ridiculous because anyone that lives in Wrigleyville is watching the game anyway…) I think the real reason is because they are still bitter about having to put in lights.
Also, tradition.