Wrigley Field's Friendly Confines Will Return To A Full House

CHICAGO — Following a season with no fans allowed inside Wrigley Field and after beginning this year with limited attendance due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the Chicago Cubs announced Friday that the Friendly Confines will be open to a full house beginning next week.

The Cubs said that starting with their next homestand, beginning June 11 with a three-game series against the rival St. Louis Cardinals, Wrigley Field will be open to a full capacity as the both the State of Illinois and City of Chicago enter Phase 5 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan.

As part of the plan, social distancing guidelines and pod seating will be eliminated, the Cubs said in a news release. Single-game tickets for the remainder of the season will go on sale on Saturday, the team announced, beginning at 2 p.m.

The lifting of the coronavirus restrictions at the ballpark will include adjusting some of the safety protocols that have been in place since the start of the season. Season-ticket holders will be able to return to their regular seats and the bleachers will return to being general admission seating. Some of the safety protocols — such as touchless entry and bag policies – will remain in place, as will cashless concessions and mobile ticketing.

A Cubs spokesman said in an email Friday that the team will announce mask guidelines for the park when city and state health officials release their guidance on face-coverings during Phase 5.

The shift to 100 percent capacity comes after the Cubs opened the season playing in front of just 25 percent of Wrigley’s capacity before it shifted to 60 percent last month. The Cubs, who have jetted into first place in the National League’s Central Division thanks to a recent hot streak, swept the San Diego Padres in a three-game series this week when shortstop Javier Baez said the environment seemed like it would in the playoffs.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo agreed.

“Seems like it's 100 percent,” Rizzo told reporters this week “It's an amazing feeling to play behind it. It’s amazing you can just look out and see how happy everyone has been back at the ballpark.”

Manager David Ross said the uptick in energy has come with the Cubs’ improved play of late and said that much of the enthusiasm has been felt by his team.

“I felt like (Monday) night as I was walking on the field, ‘Go Cubs Go’ was as loud as I've ever heard,” Ross said Tuesday. “And I’ve heard some loud ones.”