Your Guide To The Cubs' First Playoff Game At Wrigley Field Since 2008

By Kate Shepherd in News on Oct 12, 2015 7:40PM

Tonight's the big night and the crowds are already descending upon Wrigleyville. The Cubs will host their first playoff game at Wrigley Field since 2008 and have the opportunity to win a post-season game at Wrigley for the first time in 12 years.

Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler wants Cubs fans to show the world their team pride tonight and live up to expectations:

Lets show the world how we do it at Wrigley! Don't plan on sitting down! LETS GO

— Dexter Fowler (@DexterFowler) October 12, 2015

The game: Jake Arrieta will be the starting pitcher and Kyle Schwarber, who was a hero in the wild card game, will be taking the field again after sitting out Saturday's game.

This will be Arrieta's first time pitching in this series after his amazing showing against the Pirates in last week's wild card game. Fortunately, some Cardinals players have been unable to hit Arrieta's pitches during the regular season, according to the Sun-Times. Let's hope that streak continues tonight when the stakes are higher.

Wrigleyville preparations: Wrigleyville will undoubtedly turn chaotic this afternoon and evening but one Cubs fan's window was already shattered by a Cardinals player during batting practice. Sunday's strong winds helped propel Mark Reynolds' ball out of Wrigley Field and into David Brown's window on West Waveland Ave, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Driving and parking around Wrigley on Monday and Tuesday will be difficult based on the city's guidelines, which highly recommends taking public transit to and from the game. The team is offering remote parking at free remote parking at 3900 N. Rockwell St. with a shuttle taking fans to and from Wrigley. Parking lots near the field are charging a small fortune based on this tweet:

@darrenrovell parking in Wrigleyville on Clark St and The Cubby Bear is charging $100 E-Z out. pic.twitter.com/aCATggmdLO

— GABE (@windycitygabe) October 12, 2015

Parking is not allowed on the following streets all day today or Tuesday:

• Clark from Belmont to Irving Park Road, both sides of the street
• Sheffield from Belmont to Irving Park Road, both sides of the street
• Addison from Halsted to Southport, both sides of the street
• Racine Ave. from Grace to Belmont, both sides of the street
• Cornelia Ave. from Halsted to Sheffield, both sides of the street
• Wilton Ave. from Cornelia to Addison, both sides of the street

The city set up a staging area for taxis, according to Tribune reporter Bill Ruthhart:

City says taxi staging at Wrigley today will be allowed at Addison & Racine and Addison & Halsted. No word on the Uber staging.

— Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) October 12, 2015

Looking for a place to watch the game? RedEye has a guide to the best bars and restaurants to hit up tonight in Wrigleyville and beyond.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Hell, Michigan tells DNAinfo that his town won't freeze over (get it?) before the Cubs—possibly, let's not jinx this—win the World Series. The first freeze doesn't happen until around Nov. 15, he said.