The CTA is prepared to provide “home run service” that’s safe, convenient and affordable for all Cubs home games this season
Play ball! The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and fans have waited 18 months to return to #TheFriendlyConfines of #WrigleyField for Cubs baseball. This Opening Day, though, will be a little different for everyone. Due to the pandemic, only about 8,000 fans will be admitted for the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at 1:20 p.m. But, there are still things fans can count on: an exciting game and the CTA in the on-deck circle, ready to provide a safe and healthy travel environment for anyone using our trains and buses to get to and from the ballpark.
The CTA is prepared to handle ridership demand before and after the Cubs game, and will be closely monitoring ridership throughout the day. As with other major events, the CTA is working closely with city partners such as the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), the Chicago Police Department, and others to ensure the health and well-being of our customers and employees.
To help CTA provide a safe travel environment for everyone, we are asking customers to be our partner and to continue following the same common-sense measures they have for the past year, specifically: maintaining social distancing; proper wearing of face masks at all times while on CTA property; not boarding crowded trains and buses; and being mindful and respectful of fellow customers.
Now, more than ever, the CTA strongly recommends that customers plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and either purchase fares in advance or use contactless payment options to avoid crowding at the station after the game.
CTA service to Wrigley Field
- Red Line: CTA’s Addison station is located just a half block east of Wrigley Field.
- Purple Line: During weeknight games, southbound Purple Line Express trains will stop at Sheridan, where riders can either walk three blocks south on Sheridan/Sheffield to the ballpark or transfer to a southbound Red Line train and exit at the Addison station.
- Yellow Line: Take the Yellow Line southbound and transfer at Howard to the Red Line; continue to Addison station. To accommodate fans returning home, the Yellow Line will run for an hour later from Howard – until 12 a.m. – for all night games at Wrigley Field.
- #152 Addison: The #152 route will provide additional service on Cubs game days, with more frequent service 90 minutes before and after all games.
- Adjacent bus routes: Several CTA bus routes serve the Wrigley Field area, including:#8 Halsted, #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #80 Irving Park and #151 Sheridan.
Fare information
Below are some of the convenient methods to pay your way on the CTA:
- Ventra cardholders: Customers can load their registered Ventra cards ahead of time with either transit value or unlimited ride passes (1-day, 3-day, etc.) via the free Ventra app, at rail stations, on the Ventra website or at hundreds of local retailers (for locations available or to download the app, visit ventrachicago.com).
- New: With the Ventra app, you can now load a new or existing Ventra Card into your Apple Wallet and pay with a Ventra Card using your iPhone or Apple Watch. It works just like a Ventra Card and comes with all the features and options of any regular Ventra Transit Account. (This functionality is coming soon to Google Pay on Android devices!)
- Visitors & others without a Ventra Card: Ventra vending machines located in all CTA rail stations sell new 1-day unlimited ride tickets (unlimited rides for one person for 24 hours) for $10 or single-ride tickets for $3 each* (which offer one ride plus up to two transfers within two hours of first use).
- If choosing to use disposable tickets be sure to buy what you need on the way—tickets are good for up to 90 days from purchase, and passes or single ride trip windows aren’t activated until you first tap the ticket to use them.
- Customers can also obtain reloadable Ventra fare cards at all Ventra vending machines or load them into an iPhone or Apple Watch (see details above). New, plastic Ventra Cards can be purchased from vending machines at all 'L' stations and at hundreds of retail locations (including many drugstores, currency exchanges and more). They can also be ordered online or by phone.
- Mobile Pay apps (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) & contactless bankcards: All Ventra card/ticket readers accept contactless bankcards, including bankcards loaded into a Pay app on your phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, etc.)When making a contactless payment directly at a reader using a bankcard or bankcard in a Pay app, you’ll pay a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) fare ($2.50 in most locations*) If you need to make a transfer, transfers at the regular transfer rate (or where free) are also available when paying this way.
- Cash: Cash payments are accepted on buses and require exact fare. No transfers are available with cash fares, only with Ventra fare cards and tickets. Cash also can be used at all Ventra vending machines to add value or passes to Ventra Cards or to buy disposable Ventra Tickets. You also can use cash to load value at Ventra retailers.
Note: A special fare applies at O’Hare for regular fares paid from a Ventra Transit Account, PAYG fares and single-ride ticket.
STAY IN THE LOOP ON CTA SERVICE
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.
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