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Tue Dec 02, 2008 11:42 am EST

Is it worth watching the Winter Classic from a Wrigley rooftop?

By Greg Wyshynski

There are certain intrinsic characteristics about watching a sporting event at Wrigley Field. Old-time stadium charm. Soul-crushing disappointment from the local team. Uncomfortable eye contact at the men's room trough. And, of course, the chance to catch a game from the rooftops overlooking the field.

After yesterday's release of that rather awesome commercial, the hype machine is humming for the 2009 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.

Today, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) is working on behalf of the rooftop club owners to get approval to sell tickets to the Classic on Jan. 1. Currently, the clubs' availability is limited to Cubs home games, according to the paper.

How much would rooftop access go for? From the Sun-Times:

Rooftop club owner Tom Gramatis said demand for tickets to the Winter Classic was "the biggest thing ever" when it was announced last summer. But then the economy went south and the buzz died down, so he has cut his price in half, to $200 a head, including food and drink.

Pending approval, is that experience worth the price, even after the reduction in cost?

East Coast Bias, in its review of Wrigley, wrote that they were "not sure why anybody would choose to watch from a rooftop bleacher and not from the stadium unless it is a corporate event."

But that's for baseball; what about for hockey?

We called on our Y! Sports blog buddy Kevin Kaduk of Big League Stew, a Blackhawks fan who will be providing some on-site coverage of the Classic for Puck Daddy, to provide some Wrigley insight:

"I've been debating on whether or not I should sell my seats and head toward a rooftop, where they'll have food and drink included. I've seen two Cubs games from up there before, and while it's mostly a drunk-fest on par with attending a game in a skybox, you can still see a lot of the action -- so long as you're on one of the 'tops between the foul poles.

"The one big question mark is where the NHL will be placing the Jumbotron. You wouldn't want to pay that much to have your view blocked by a huge screen, of course."

According to the NHL, the puck will "drop somewhere between the pitcher's mound and second base," which should give you some idea of rink placement.

But yeah, that Jumbotron might be something to consider before freezing your ass off on top of a building for 200 bucks.

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28 Comments

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  1. Mazarin
    1. Posted by Mazarin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    I did some research on this earlier in the fall. Cubby Bear was selling for $375, including tax, gratuity, food, and drink. 3639 Wrigley is $475, only including food, and drink.
    If I can't get in, I might just stay home unless something better comes up.
  2. The KBBL Party Penguin
    2. Posted by The KBBL Party Penguin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    I once watched a documentary about the Beatles. At one point they were interviewing various people and they talked to this rather quiet woman who attended one of the first US Tour shows. She talked about how she was the envy of all her friends at school. She was quite proud to have seen the Fab Four live.
    Then they asked her, how the actual show was. Her response? "Couldn't really tell you. Didn't hear a single song over all the screaming."
    That kinda reminds me of the Winter Classic. Honestly, at any stadium, you're going to be hard pressed to be able to actually follow the game and that's if you're fortunate to have a relatively decent seat let alone one of the nose bleeds in Buffalo or on the rooftops in Chicago.
    The cost of these tickets and their popularity are not about watching a hockey game. It's about being part of the experience itself and being able to tell people that you were there. That's not a good thing or a bad thing, just something that comes with the territory of an "Event."
  3. Hamilton Tigers
    3. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Will being the home team at Wrigley transfer the Cubs curse to the Hawks? Here's what the Cubs fans have had to witness:
    1. Radio was invented; Cubs fans got to hear their team lose.
    2. TV was invented; Cubs fans got to see their team lose.
    3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cubs fans get to see and hear their team lose to more clubs.
    4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.
    5. Haley's comet passed Earth twice.
    6. Harry Caray was born....and died. Incredible, but true.
    7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won championships in each league.
    8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs pitchers.
    9. Sixteen U.S. presidents were elected.
    10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.
    11. Prohibition was created and repealed.
    12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered and became the subject of major motion pictures, the latest giving Cubs fans hope that something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.
    13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League.
    14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team's future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted and been taken down.
    15. A combination of 40 Summer and Winter Olympics have been held.
    16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several thanked Cubs pitchers.
    17. Bell-bottoms came in style, went out of style and came back in.
    18. The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins have all won the World Series.
    19. The Cubs played 14,153 regular-season games; they lost the majority of them.
    20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma and New Mexico were added to the Union.
  4. RedWings22
    4. Posted by RedWings22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Jumbotron blockage not withstanding, I doubt the view will be any worse than the nosebleeds at Ralph Wilson last year and those seats were up in the air during a blizzard. Take into account the placement of the rink as well and 200 bucks for an event as "bizonkers" as this one sounds like a steal.
  5. MarkR
    5. Posted by MarkR Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:09 pm EDT

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    the NHL has taken something that should have been a phenomenal event and completely ruined it for me. and i still don't understand why this game won't be played at Soldier Field in the 1st place. i don't think attendance would be a problem. Chicago is a huge market, Hawks fans are coming back from their Dollar Bill Wirtz exile, and Wings fans travel very well.
  6. Hamilton Tigers
    6. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    @marusso74 - I agree, Soldier Field (especially since the renovations) is an awesome venue - the NHL really missed the boat on this one. I don't get why you would pick at L shaped baseball field over a venue that has seats around the entire rink...
    Maybe next time the game will be at a Football Stadium - a game in a warm-weather climate with better ice-making technology then the Gretzky-era LA Kings exhibition game in Las Vegas would be awesome!
  7. Uppy
    7. Posted by Uppy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    It wouldn't have been hard at all for they to sell out Soldier Field. I'm from Detroit and there isn't anyone around here that isn't busting their butts to get tickets.
  8. Mazarin
    8. Posted by Mazarin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    People keep forgetting that this is a TV EVENT. This is a GIANT NHL COMMERCIAL. Fan sight lines @ Wrigley is the least of the NHL's concerns.
    Think of it his way: What's a bigger draw on TV, hockey in the Spaceship w/ Roman columns, or hockey in one of sports all-time venues, in a downtown neighborhood with all the grandeur of the City of Chicago, not to mention seeing hockey's longest championship drought playing in the mecca of championship droughts...
    Wrigley gives the media exponetially more story material than Soldier feild EVER could - and THAT'S what the NHL is after..
  9. twoeightnine
    9. Posted by twoeightnine Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    The nose bleeds at the Ralph were actually some of the best seats. Yes the puck was tiny up there, possibly impossible to see for some but you could actually follow the action in the game. I sat in the 100s and watched most of the game on the jumbotron. Wrigley is way too low slung stadium.
  10. Stephanie M
    10. Posted by Stephanie M Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

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    I have tickets in the upper deck, second row. I'm wondering if I should sell my seats and buy tickets to a rooftop instead.
  11. quasigenius
    11. Posted by quasigenius Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    @ Eric
    Wrigley is not in a downtown neighborhood
  12. Mazarin
    12. Posted by Mazarin Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:24 pm EDT

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    Traffic's no different lol
  13. puck it dano
    13. Posted by puck it dano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    @KBBL: My sister saw the Beatles at both the Hollywood Bowl and Dodger Stadium and, although she saw the Fab Four on stage, all she remembers is 30 solid minutes of screaming (yes, that was the length of both concerts). I think she still has her ticket stubs (something like $3 or $4 each). Go immerse yourself, but don't forget to set that DVR before you leave... or take a portable TV...
  14. GadiS
    14. Posted by GadiS Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:02 pm EDT

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    @replys regarding Soldier Field:
    The short answer why the Winter Classic isn't at Soldier Field is because the Bears wouldn't let them. When Soldier Field was being renovated, the Bears got, as part of their lease agreement, first-right refusal to any events that would occur during the football season. This was in part due to the horrible field conditions that occurred due to the Chicago Fire (MLS) playing at Soldier Field at the time.
    The NHL initially wanted the larger venue, but the Chicago Park District, which operates Soldier Field, said that they couldn't do it. At that point, Wrigley Field was picked, even though it has less seats (and worse sightlines) than Comiskey Park, due to the historical significance of Wrigley. The NHL still would have preferred having the Winter Classic at (old) Yankee Stadium this year, but logistically could not pull it off.
  15. robert p
    15. Posted by robert p Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    We are proud of the chance to host next years game at ASU stadium . Arizona will sell this thing out , because the( GREAT ONE) will play .See you next year
  16. Hamilton Tigers
    16. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    @the1em - the NHL couldn't logistically pull off having the game at Old Yankee Stadium because Bettman can't afford a DeLorean with a Flux Capacitor installed.
    I'm sure though your bedroom in your mom's basement that you live in is still called "YANKee Stadium"...
  17. carl_vs_mastershake
    17. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Wow it's a good thing we have a Puck Daddy reporter there because I'm sure that's the only way we would receive coverage. Here I'll do it for you. It's so cold and it's hard to see the puck because I'm so far way. Some Hawk fan just pushed a guy in a Howe jersey because he called a brot a hotdog.
    @#8 your 1st two sentences are dead on.
    Baseball is for communists and 3rd world countries.
  18. Grant
    18. Posted by Grant Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    The upper deck has some limited view seats (i.e. there is a column in front), I wonder what those seats are going for?
  19. prn76
    19. Posted by prn76 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    The rooftops are a pretty awful place for baseball if you have any interest in actually watching the game. They're great for a corporate event or other large groups, but it just doesn't count as going to a ballgame.
    I think, though, that it could actually be a decent spot to see the WC, and I'm debating whether I should drop my coin on a seat inside or up top. The rooftops will have a better view than the entire lower bowl, at the very least.
  20. p.dillon
    20. Posted by p.dillon Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    I got tix in section 110(third base) for the Classic at Wrigley. Never been there, how will the sightlines from there be? It looked like it would be equivalent to the lower level corner at a regular arena. I'd like to see this event in Mn someday, but the Wild's style of play and being an Expansion team probably doesnt fit the NHL markeing plan. I could see Boston or NYC gettting a chance next year.
  21. dcash
    21. Posted by dcash Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:41 pm EDT

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    If you can't make it to the Winter Classic, piss in a dumpster. You can bring a TV to watch the game from in there, and you will be able to have the exact same atmosphere as Wrigley. If you can get some shirtless rednecks to join you in getting drunk and not paying any attention to the game, you will feel just like you are there!
  22. Andrew
    22. Posted by Andrew Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    Yankee Stadium was ruled out as an option because they NHL would have to pay for the utilities to be kept on from the end of the Yankee's season until the game.
  23. Scott A
    23. Posted by Scott A Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    I work at one of the rooftops as a part-time summer job. I've watched The Police concerts from 2007 and about 85 Cubs games from up there, but in truth, there are only a few roofs from which you'll be able to see the outfield-located rink surface with any degree of proximity and/or clarity.
    Know the views, the food and beverage options, and the likely winter climate conditions, I would be hard-pressed to pay more than $200 for a roof seat.
  24. Bouldin
    24. Posted by Bouldin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    The Cubs will win a World Series around the same time Sean Avery learns how to shut his mouth.
  25. wrigleyrooftops.com
    25. Posted by wrigleyrooftops.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    The Jumbotrons will be placed in section 316 in right field and section 301 in left field. We recently meet with the NHL and the Cubs over this isssue and saw the sight lines for all the buildings and our buildings at 3619 N. Sheffield and 3617 N. Sheffield will have a completely unobstructed view. You can get more info at www.wrigleyooftops.com

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