Business & Tech
No Cover Charge to Watch Cubs' World Series Games at These Wrigleyville Bars
Everybody might not know your name at these places, but you'll have a few extra bucks to buy a round for your fellow Chicago baseball fans.
CHICAGO, IL — Fans trying to score tickets for the three World Series games being played this weekend at Wrigley Field know that prices haven't hit a ceiling yet, even for standing room. Reports have been circulating that the median price for a single ticket to Games 3, 4 or 5 is hovering around $3,000.
But what might surprise some Chicagoans is how much drinking establishments and restaurants near the Friendly Confines — let's call it "World Series adjacent" — are charging just to walk through their doors on game day.
Some bars, like The Cubby Bear, will have a $100 cover for standing-room-only for the games. Other venues, such as John Barleycorn, are offering Game 3 meal packages that start at $200 per person. But you need to throw down another $500 if you want to guarantee a table.
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This is Chicago, though, and there are some Wrigleyville bars that still have a working-class attitude. Maybe that's why those neighborhood watering holes aren't charging a cover during the final World Series games.
Check out what bars around Wrigleyville won't make you pay a bit extra to enjoy a beer and watch baseball history unfold with a hundred of your closest friends and fellow Cubs fans.
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The Bar Celona
3474 N. Clark St. | 773-244-8000
Cover Charge? No.
The Bar Celona might be jumping the gun, but we'd buy this issue of Sports Illustrated:
Bernie's
3664 N. Clark St. | 773-525-1898
Cover Charge? Not sure (see below).
Bernie's was cover-less for Tuesday's game, but the bar was noticeably evasive on its Facebook page about answering whether it would charge a cover for upcoming games. Several calls were made Thursday, but the line was busy.
The Irish Oak
3511 N. Clark St. | 773-935-6669
Cover Charge? No.
Who knows who might show up while you're watching the games this weekend:
Johnny O'Hagan's
3374 N. Clark St. | 773-857-0944
Cover Charge? No.
This drinking establishment, which is less than 1,500 feet away from the ballpark, is starting the party a bit early.
Murphy's Bleachers
3655 N. Sheffield Ave. | 773-281-5356
Cover Charge? No.
The bar breaks it down for customers on its website:
"We will not be taking reservations, we are not charging a cover, and you must be 21 to enter!
"It’s finally here.. WORLD SERIES! For this weekend, we will not be charging a cover, we are not taking reservations, and you must be 21 to come in. Last Saturday for the NLCS game a line started around 3:00 pm to get in. We’re excited to share this weekend with you. Let’s go Cubs!"
Game one tonight and we are World Series! #murphysbleachers #upshow #chicago
A photo posted by Murphy's Bleachers (@murphysbleachers) on Oct 25, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT
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The Sports Corner Bar & Grill
952 W. Addison St. | 773-929-1441
Cover Charge? No.
Here's what the bar's World Series FAQ on its website has to say about this weekend:
There are NO reservations or group packages available.
We will be opening at 11am for all World Series game.
We will be 21+
We will be one in, one out once we hit capacity.
Vines on Clark
3554 N. Clark St. | 773-327-8572
Cover Charge? No.
Interestingly, the same company that owns Vines also runs The Cubby Bear. But the same ownership doesn't mean the same business practices for each venue. Vines on Clark isn't charging a cover, but it will cost you $100 if you want to watch the Cubs' World Series games at the watering hole at 1059 W. Addison St.
YOUR TURN: Is there a Wrigleyville bar with no cover charge — or at least a cover less than $15 — that we should include? Share it with other Patch readers in the comments section.
Photo via Patch archive
h/t to Time Out Chicago and Bleed Cubbie Blue
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