Wrigley Field welcomes back fans for first time in 2 years

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — Baseball returns to Wrigley Field Thursday as the Chicago Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates and unlike last year, fans are back in the stadium to cheer on the home team.

The Cubs are ready to begin a new year, hoping players like Kris Bryant can return to his MVP form. First pitch is at 1:20 p.m.

The White Sox will start their season in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels, with the game starting at 9:05 p.m.

The ballpark is spiffed up and ready for fans to come back, but it will be a much different Opening Day for everyone.

With capacity in the park limited to 25 percent, only about 10,000 fans will be allowed in. They will be using contactless tickets on their phones.

Masks are required, seating areas will be blocked off for social distancing, and partitions will now separate the once bare-boned bleacher seats.

It’s been a year of shutdowns, lockdowns, tests, shots, and positivity rates, but Thursday fans can start talking about strikeouts, home runs and stolen bases.

“It’s been two years, pandemic you know the fans are real excited to come out,” said Cubs fan Shawn Greene. “I’m sure this place will be crowded but it’s just good to be back.”

And while it’s not a full house at Wrigley, any fans in the stands is a different kind of shot in the arm for not only the Cubs and the business owners around the ballpark, it’s a small taste of normalcy.

Roberto Ramos AKA Captain Cubbo is dressed and ready to put his superpowers to work.

“My ability is trying to get as many homers and hits and get as many Ws as we can possibly get and of course you know I’m here for the kids,” Ramos said.

Carol Reyes is a super fan who will be among the Advocate healthcare frontline workers filling the bleachers.

The Cubs are filling the bleachers Thursday with Advocate healthcare frontline workers

“The Cubs have just been awesome…it’s just been incredible,” Reyes said.

Fans will also use QR codes in front of their seats to order food for a contactless experience.

“So we’re doing everything that we can to make sure that fans have a safe, but enjoyable experience at Wrigley Field,’ said Julian Green, Cubs senior vice president of communication.

Wrigleyville is ready for an influx of die-hards. However, bars and restaurants will still have limited capacity.

Opening Day is a sign of Spring that comes with new hope both on the field and off of returning to some kind of normal.

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