Wrigley Field, known by many fans as “The Friendly Confines,” was transformed this past weekend from a historic baseball venue to a college football stadium for the first of two home games at the site for Northwestern this season.
“I’ve had a great time,” McCormick freshman Marko Maruszewski said at halftime. Maruszewski made the trek down to Wrigleyville without a ticket, but came to participate in Big Noon Kickoff. “I caught like six t-shirts,” he recalled.
Maruszewski, a Chicago native, has experienced Wrigley Field many times, but he said he appreciated the unique experience of seeing a football game there.
NU has played six games at Wrigley Field, with a seventh scheduled this weekend when Minnesota makes the 400-mile trip down to Chicago. Past opponents have included Illinois, Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan.
McCormick freshman Shiv Opal, another Chicago native, has attended several Cubs games at Wrigley.
“I’ve been coming here all my life, and it’s been really nice to see Northwestern play here,” he said.
Weinberg sophomore and contributing Daily photographer Andrew Goldman agreed, adding that “it’s super cool that Wrigley gets to be our home field, especially since it’s so historic and iconic in Chicago.”
Goldman and Opal both noted that the atmosphere of the student section at Wrigley Field was much better than at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium.
The environment was also a positive for Weinberg freshman Mateo Levey, who noted that “everyone is more committed to the game.”
Last Saturday’s game wasn’t just the first Wrigley Field game for freshmen. McCormick senior Libby Raymond attended her first off-campus home game, saying that “it’s fun to take the train and have a lot more fans around.”
Her favorite part? The hot dog she ate for lunch before the game.
Raymond said she believes that the gameday experience is better at Northwestern Medicine Field for many reasons, but the primary reason is the history.
“It’s not permanent,” Raymond said. “So I feel like I’m a part of something that’s only there for a little while.”
Others, including Maruszewski, disagreed.
“This is the most beautiful baseball stadium in the world,” he said. “There’s nothing better.”
While NU students enjoyed the game, they also noticed the presence of the many Wolverine fans throughout the stadium.
The maize and blue took over many sections of the stadium, with the atmosphere sometimes feeling like a Michigan home game, according to Goldman.
“(My friends and I) were joking that we were in Ann Arbor,” he said.
Maruszewski recalled a moment during Big Noon Kickoff when he realized the large number of Michigan fans.
He was selected as a finalist for Big Noon Kickoff’s sign-making contest, which is decided based on the volume of cheers each finalist received when their sign was announced compared to the other finalists.
“I was on the path to winning the sign competition, and then the Michigan fans kind of blew it for me,” he said.
The lone Michigan sign selected as a finalist wound up winning the contest, leaving Maruszewski disappointed.
Despite the large Michigan contingent present, students could still be seen enjoying themselves throughout the afternoon.
“It’s an event,” Weinberg freshman Jude Finkelstein said. “It makes it special.”
Email: [email protected]
X: @YoniZacks
Related Stories:
— Captured: No. 18 Michigan walks off Northwestern at Wrigley Field, 24-22
