Wrigley Field Named One Of The Best Ballparks... To See A Concert
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 19, 2013 9:55PM
Rolling Stone published a five-part series called “Venues That Rock” highlighting the best rock clubs, amphitheaters, dance clubs and big rooms to see music across the country. The magazine wrapped up the series with a look at the best arenas and stadiums to see a show in the country and Wrigley Field landed on the list at number two.
The Friendly Confines can be intoxicating (figuratively and literally) but we have to wonder if Rolling Stone’s staff came to that conclusion on something besides the winning marriage of musical and baseball nostalgia because the list of acts that have played Wrigley Field is almost as bad as the baseball. (Cubs games may have more drunks in attendance.)
For every Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, The Police and Pearl Jam you have Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, Elton John and Billy Joel and country music package tours headlined by the likes of Brad Paisley and Rascal Fats, er, Flatts. In fact, when it comes to seeing a show at Wrigley, the acts that play there during the summer concert season certainly aren’t among today’s chart-toppers.
Hell, Wrigley Field isn’t even the best place in Lakeview to see a show, although it is better than the Cubby Bear across the street.
The rest of Rolling Stone's series is worth checking out to see what other Chicago venues made the list. Empty Bottle placed 12th, Lincoln Hall 15th and Schubas fifth on the list of America's best rock clubs. Alpine Valley and Ravinia made the best amphitheaters list. House of Blues and Metro landed on the big rooms list, and Spy Bar placed ninth on the magazine's best dance clubs list.