Cubs press release.
Chicago Cubs to host first homestand of 2018 season at Wrigley Field April 9-18
The Chicago Cubs will host their home opener at Wrigley Field Monday, April 9, at 1:20 p.m. vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates following a nine-game road trip to begin the 2018 season. The three-game series against the Pirates will conclude Thursday, April 12, followed by visits from the Atlanta Braves April 13-15 and the St. Louis Cardinals April 16-18.
The homestand includes two Community Nights presented by PEAK in the ballpark. On April 15, the Cubs will welcome youth baseball and softball leagues from Chicagoland during Youth Baseball and Softball Appreciation Day. Fans who purchase Youth Baseball and Softball Appreciation Day tickets will receive Cubs youth stirrup socks. On April 17, Boy Scouts throughout Illinois can enjoy the game against the St. Louis Cardinals during Boy Scout Night. Each Boy Scout Night ticket includes a commemorative Cubs-themed scout patch featuring Clark the Cub. In addition, a portion of net proceeds from Boy Scout Night will be donated to local Boy Scout Councils.
The Cubs launched a new online purchase opportunity to expand access for fans interested in buying Cubs tickets at an affordable price. 10/Sixty Tickets, named in honor of Wrigley Field’s famed address: 1060 W. Addison St., offers 60 lower-level Terrace seats priced at $10 inclusive of taxes and fees for all 2018 regular season home games. Fans can submit an online registration through MLB’s Ballpark app or by visiting www.cubs.com/10sixtytickets. There is no fee to enter. Fans randomly selected in a drawing will receive an email a minimum of 12 hours before the start of the game with their opportunity to purchase up to four tickets.
Tickets remain available at www.cubs.com or 800-THE-CUBS (800-843-2827). New attractions at Wrigley Field and highlights of the homestand follow.
Partner Updates:
The Motorola Trophy Room will once again house the 2016 Chicago Cubs’ World Championship Trophy throughout the 2018 regular season, along with other individual trophies including Derrek Lee’s Gold Glove Award, Carlos Zambrano’s Silver Slugger Award, Jon Lester and Javier Báez’s National League Championship Series MVP Award and more. Fans also can get their hands on the latest smartphones by Motorola and enter to win an exclusive Chicago Cubs Moto Z Style Shell. The Motorola Trophy Room will be open during select times on gamedays and non-gamedays starting Monday, April 9. Fans can visit www.parkatwrigley.com for the most up-to-date schedule.
Food and Beverage Offerings:
Wrigley Field will once again serve foodie spins on ballpark favorites this season. The Cubs and hospitality partner Levy are focusing on freshly prepared, chef-driven menu items featuring house-smoked short ribs and pork shoulder; house-made pickles, chips, slaws and condiments; and creative twists on classic Chicago flavors.
Fully renovated concession stands and new cocktail and wine bars will open throughout the spring, offering fans an elevated food and beverage experience. Levy and the Cubs have created a lineup of new concessions dishes that will please a variety of palates, from first-timers to Wrigley Field to faithful fans who are looking for more adventurous culinary offerings:
• Smoked Bone-In Short Rib: Two pounds of premium-cut short rib smoked for 12 hours, served with house-made pickles, coleslaw and sliced bread. Limited quantities available in concessions per game, so fans will want to act fast to get a taste of this one.
• Chick-Ago Sandwich: Pickle-brined breaded chicken thighs topped with tempura sport peppers, vine ripe tomatoes and dill aioli served on an onion roll and sprinkled with celery salt.
• Polk Street Breaded Pork Shoulder: House-smoked and breaded pork shoulder topped with house-made pickles and creamy Dijon served on a toasted telera roll.
• Cheesy Beef Sandwich: Shaved beef mixed with creamy white cheddar cheese and topped with grilled shishito peppers, served on a toasted New England bun.
• Chicken Tinga Tacos: Spicy shredded chicken topped with tangy Wrigley slaw, cilantro and crumbled queso fresco.
• Beef Barbacoa Tacos: Tender braised beef topped with watermelon salsa, cilantro and crumbled queso fresco.
• Aged Cheddar Burger: Seasoned beef patty topped with aged cheddar, house-made tomato aioli, arugula and house-made pickles.
• Loaded Footlong Hot Dog: A footlong Vienna Beef dog topped with house-made dill aioli, diced sport peppers and crushed kettle chips debuts alongside the classic chili and cheese topped offering.
• Loaded Fries: Garlic and parmesan or buffalo and blue cheese topped fries.
• Roasted Cauliflower Sandwich: Roasted cauliflower topped with roasted red pepper pesto, garlicky garbanzo bean spread and baby spinach.
• Aloha Chicken Sandwich: Grilled chicken breast topped with sweet chili glaze, Asian slaw and sautéed pineapple on toasted Hawaiian bread.
Several new and returning partners will amp up dining options throughout the ballpark:
• Pork & Mindy’s: The local spot known for globally inspired sandwiches from Food Network Star Jeff Mauro will serve its signature dishes in several locations.
• Garrett Popcorn: Making its Wrigley Field debut, the sweet and savory Chicago classic will be available to fans in a variety of locations.
• Vienna Beef: The Chicago staple’s iconic hot dogs, Polish sausages and Wrigley Field Smokies will be served all around Wrigley Field.
• Hot Doug’s: Decadent, player-inspired sausages from the Chicago institution return on a rotating basis in the Budweiser Bleachers. This homestand includes the Bill Caudill, an Argentinian pork & bacon sausage with chimichurri and Swiss cheese; the Ken Rudolph, a Jamaican jerk pork sausage with cumin dijonnaise, smoked Gouda cheese and fried plantain chips and the Rick Reuschel, a spicy Vienna Beef sausage with jalapeño mustard, pepper jack cheese and crispy fried onions.
• Giordano’s: Chicago’s famous stuffed deep dish pizza returns to the Friendly Confines. A Wrigley Field exclusive pizza will be unveiled later this summer.
• Buona Beef: The original Italian Beef and Italian Sausage will be served around the ballpark.
• Chef Series: The fan-favorite Chef Series presented by Maker’s Mark will return starting in June. More details about the series will be available soon.
Cubs Charities and Community Events:
Cubs manager Joe Maddon will once again support Chicago nonprofit organizations through his “Respect Community” charity T-shirt initiative. After every Friday home game, Maddon will represent a different Chicago nonprofit by wearing the organization’s T-shirt during his postgame press conference. Joe Maddon’s first “Respect Community” shirt on April 13 will represent Snow City Arts, which provides one-on-one instruction in the visual arts, creative writing, music, theater and media arts to patients at Chicago-area hospitals.
On Sunday, April 15, the Cubs will join all of Major League Baseball by hosting Jackie Robinson Day at Wrigley Field. Jackie Robinson’s legacy is memorialized each year on April 15 to recognize the anniversary of the Hall of Famer breaking baseball’s color barrier. Uniformed players and personnel at each ballpark will wear Jackie Robinson’s retired No. 42 on their jerseys with new No. 42 patches on the jersey sleeve and on their caps. These game-used No. 42 jerseys will be available through an online Cubs Authentics auction benefiting Cubs Charities. The Cubs also will welcome Chicago’s civic leaders to Wrigley Field by hosting 10 Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars. The scholarship program is designed to address the financial needs of minority college students and provide comprehensive mentoring services.
On Wednesday, April 18, Cubs Charities will host the Eighth Annual Bricks and Ivy Ball at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom. Attendees will enjoy live music, exciting auction packages, specialty cocktails and a seated dinner with Cubs players and coaches. The sold-out event will benefit Cubs Charities, which harnesses the passion of Cubs fans to improve the lives of children and families across Chicago and beyond. Cubs Charities’ goal is to provide increased access to sports opportunities and target improvements in health, fitness and education for those at risk. For more information, visit www.cubs.com/bricksandivy.
Homestand Details, April 9-18:
Monday, April 9, Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:20 p.m.
• Promotion: Cubs Magnet Schedule presented by Giordano’s, up to 30,000 early arriving fans
• God Bless America: Singer Julianna Zobrist, wife of Cubs infielder Ben Zobrist
• National Anthem: Wayne Messmer
• Pregame: Ceremonial F-16 flyover from the 93rd Fighter Squadron out of Homestead, Fla.
• First pitch: Cubs Hall of Famers Andre Dawson, Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams
• 7th inning stretch: Members from Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team
• Broadcast: ABC 7, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Wednesday, April 11, Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:05 p.m.
• Pregame: Jason Heyward will be presented with the 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award
• First pitch: Under Secretary of the U.S. Army Ryan D. McCarthy
• 7th inning stretch: The late Harry Caray’s wife Dutchie Caray
• Broadcast: WGN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Thursday, April 12, Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:20 p.m.
• Pregame: Tyler Chatwood will be presented with the 2017 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award
• First pitch: Men’s U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team
• Broadcast: NBC Sports Chicago, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Friday, April 13, Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:20 p.m.
• 7th inning stretch: Former Cubs broadcaster and current Braves broadcaster Chip Caray
• Broadcast: NBC Sports Chicago, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Saturday, April 14, Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:20 p.m.
• Promotion: Cubs Hooded Pullover presented by StubHub, up to 10,000 early arriving fans
• First pitch and 7th inning stretch: Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy
• Broadcast: NBC Sports Chicago, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Sunday, April 15, Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:20 p.m.
• Promotion: Cubs Athletic Socks presented by Uber, up to 10,000 early arriving fans
• Community Night presented by PEAK: Youth Baseball and Softball Appreciation Day
• Pregame: Jackie Robinson Scholars recognition
• First pitch and 7th inning stretch: Chicago Bears tight end Trey Burton
• Broadcast: WGN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
• Postgame: Kids Run the Bases, first 1,000 kids 13-and-under
Monday, April 16, Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 6:05 p.m.
• First pitch: Actor and Chicago native Jay Chandrasekhar
• 7th inning stretch: Cast of Super Troopers 2
• Broadcast: WGN, ESPN, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Tuesday, April 17, Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:05 p.m.
• Community Night presented by PEAK: Boy Scout Night
• Broadcast: NBC Sports Chicago, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
Wednesday, April 18, Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 1:20 p.m.
• First pitch: U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Gold Medalist and Red Bull athlete Hilary Knight
• Broadcast: ABC 7, MLB Network, 670 The Score, Cubs.com
• Postgame: Eighth Annual Bricks and Ivy Ball at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom
