April 25, 2011

Special Events at Wrigley Field

Non-Baseball Events
Big or Small
There are two other related posts on the subject of this ballpark called Wrigleyville Renewal that is a continuation of the history of the ballpark from 2014. the year the renovations of the ballpark and surrounding area began in earnest and the post called 
Wrigley Field: First 100 which is the history of this baseball field 
from 1914 to 2014
Let's Begin with a 
A Political Rally
for Irish Independence in 1919
at Weeghman Park

Edward George De Valera was a leader in the 1916 Easter Rising which proclaimed an Irish republic. Arrested, he was saved from a death sentence because of his American birth and instead received a prison term. On his release, he stood as a Sinn Fein Party candidate in the 1918 general election. Sinn Fein won the majority of seats outside Ulster, but refused to take their seats at Westminster, instead establishing an independent parliament (Dail Eireann) to govern Ireland. De Valera was elected president of the Dail.
Religion Comes 
to Town
The 28th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Chicago,  from June 20 to 24, 1926. The event which was a large scale gathering of Catholics held by the Catholic Church focused on the Eucharist and other items of Catholic faith. A children's choir practice at Wrigley Field for the event at Soldier Field.
Snow & Ski 
at Wrigley in 1944
 Ski jumping at Wrigley Field in 1944 - Calumet 412
The Boxing 
& Wrestling Events
Boxer Mike Hirsch, J. Anderson, and Tom Faxion
sometime in the 1920's according to 
from Vintage Wrigley Field/Chicago Tribune
Jim Londos vs. Ed "Strangler" Lewis at Wrigley Field on Sept. 20, 1934. Lewis wrestled Jim Londos in front of an audience of 35,275 at Wrigley Field, drawing a record gate of $96,302, which would stand until 1952 - Vintage Wrigley Field/Chicago Tribune
Rocky vs Zale
at Wrigley 1947


and then again in 1956




A Title Fight in 1952

The Rodeo 
& Circus Venues

1944 rodeo program book

and in 1946
and in 1951
photo - Calumet 412
Another Political Rally 
in 1948
press photo - part of my collection
Hollywood
Comes to Town
in 1949
via Ron Tamulis
Yep! 
A Wrigley Car Dealership 
in 1950 and we don't care
Chicago Indian Village
July 1970
in the shadow of the ballpark
photos - Chicago History Museum

Indigenous leader Mike Chosa
Sport Illustrated Party 
in 1979
Blue Angels Flyover
at the ballpark
during a game in 1998
a video
Hockey Played 
in Winter 2009
annoucement in May 2008
How is will Work
The Hawks Prepare 
December 2008
Some Photos Below
photos from Ebay
photos -  Greg Siewart Original Chicago-Facebook
College Ball 
at Wrigley Field 
Chicago Tribune

GAY GAMES INC.

The closing ceremonies were held at Wrigley Field.

"With only two years for the planning and implementation of a huge sporting event that encompassed both Chicago and several suburban venues, the board and staff of Chicago 2006, Inc., produced Gay Games VII in Chicago, which brought LGBT athletes and cultural participants together from around the world and highlighted Chicago’s support for the LGBT communities. With 12,000 athletes in attendance and an estimated 50,000 supporters watching, Gay Games VII stands, in the words of Mayor Richard M. Daley, as “a unique achievement of far-reaching and historical importance having an impact on Chicago’s LGBT community and the City of Chicago.” - The Chicago LBGT Hall of Fame
The Girls are Here to Play

The undefeated Chicago RedStars announced today that they will host Bay FC at historic Wrigley Field Saturday, June 8, at 6:30 p.m. CT making it the first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) match to be played at one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks. Having the nation’s best soccer players playing under the lights of the Friendly Confines will draw sports fans from across the Chicagoland area.

“Playing at Wrigley Field will be the event that fans of the Red Stars, Cubs and Chicago sports won’t want to miss,” said Chicago Red Stars President Karen Leetzow. “On behalf of the Red Stars, I’d like to thank the Cubs for inviting us to Wrigley Field and giving these elite athletes the stage they deserve. We look forward to representing our great city and showing Chicago fans and the country how talented this club is and the intense level of competition that exists on the pitch every week in the NWSL and in Chicago’s backyard.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Chicago Red Stars to Wrigley Field,” said Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney. “This is a historic first for both organizations. We’re proud to join forces with the Red Stars to bring this event to life for the players, fans and our city.” 

Hosting the match at Wrigley Field is an effort to make women’s professional soccer more accessible to sports fans in Chicago.

The Summer Concerts 
at Wrigley Field:

 aerial view of the stage area
photo - computer wallpaper image via Chicago Cubs
2011 pre-show photo - Marathon Pundit Blogger
2013 photo- Pearl Jam Community
2014 show photo - Gold Coast Tickets
A seating chart for the concerts
below a poster - Ebay
The Timeline 
of Concerts:
Chuck Berry & Sha-Na-Na
1984
a NBC photo of Chuck Berry in 1984
and a photo of 
Sha-Na-Na in 1984 via Highlight Hollywood
 text below from Wrigley Field: Year by Year
by Sam Pathy
part of my collection
But Not Offically Again 
until 2005 with Jimmy Buffet
What to Cash In
photo - www.meenkyole.com
below photo - Cubs.com
The Police 
in 2006
 photo - Evil Vince Photography

 photo - Evil Vince Photography
along with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland 
along with a view of the concert from the ground level. 
View more photos by the photographer.
 Elton John & Billy Joel 
in 2009
above photo - Only Half Crazy 
with a video
below photo - Vivid Seats
Dave Matthews Band 
in 2010

along with this video from YouTube
 Sir Paul McCartney 
in 2011
pre-show seating
... also in 2011
 image - All Music
photo - buffettfan.blogspot
below photo - Daily Herald
The Concerts 
in 2012:
 Brad Paisley 

 Bruce Springsteen 
 photo Flickr via swimfinfan
Roger Waters
The Concerts 
in 2013:
 Jason Aldean 
along with Kelly Clarkson & Jake Owen
above photos from Boot
photo - Metro Mix
photo - Edward Photography Studios

 Pearl Jam 
all photos - Spin News

and with Ernie Banks
The Concerts 
in 2015:
Billy Joel 
with some assistance
Foo Fighters
 photos by Jim O'Connell via Pictures of Chicago-Facebook


AC/DC
 photos - Chicago Tribune
This concert was a bit loud

Concerts Expand in 2016 along with some Issues
'[Alderman] Tunney expressed dissatisfaction with this year's increase in concerts at Wrigley Field. As opposed to four shows the limit imposed during a trial period of allowing the club to book concerts without neighborhood approval this year. Wrigley Field will have five acts perform seven concerts between June 25 and Aug. 27' according to DNAinfo.
The Concerts 
in 2016:
Phish 

images - Live Phish

photo - Antiquiet
ticket prices for the Phish concert
image below - MLB
James Taylor
2016 photos - Chicago Tribune
ticket prices for the Taylor concert
image below - MLB
Pearl Jam
photo - Chicago Tribune
photo - Murphy's Bleachers
photo - Ebay
Luke Bryan
The Concerts
 in 2017




The Concerts 
in 2018



The Rules of the Road 
of the Concerts

The Concerts 
in 2019
All Concerts 
were Cancelled in 2020 
but to be reintroduced for 2021
the Covid 19 pandemic was the cause in 2020
images- Chicago Cubs.com
2021 Line-up
The Concerts
in 2021
The Maron 5 Concert
photos for now are forgotten by me
The Concerts
for 2022
The Star of the Summer 
of 2022
photos - Robbie Goodman
via Nathan Herremans
via Nathan Erickson
via Paul Arnell
via Mark Herremans
photos via David Hackett
photo above via Joe Koecher
photo above via Greg Baird
photos - Andy Boyer
photos via Joe Koecher
photo above via Maureen Martino
photos via Luis Daiz
photo above - Nathan Herremans 
photos below via Paul Arnell
photo above - Chicago Sun Times
photo below via Robbie Goodman
Celebration of the 
Holiday Season
in 2022
This is the first year the holiday spirit is celebrated in both 
Gallagher Way Park and inside the ballpark
photo via Southport Corridor News & Events
inside the park
photos below - Chicago Cubs/Facebook
and then added some venues
outside the ball park 
photos below - Gallager Way Park
The Holiday CTA train passses the ballpark
photo - Rich Wickersty Pictures of Chicago/Facebook
Gallager Way Park's 
Past
Gallager Way Park was once part of block of Seminary Avenue, the Evanston Branch of the Chicago Milwaukee, St. Paul RR. and a coal yard & storage. This 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps below confirms this. Hard to believe it for the newcomers to this area.
zoomed below section 1
zoomed below section 2
Concerts Scheduled 
for 2023
photos - Cubs email

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