Towing crews moved block by block near Wrigley Field before Sunday’s Cubs–Yankees game, removing vehicles as fans arrived.
Minutes before Wrigleyville filled with Cubs blue and Yankees pinstripes, another game-day operation was already underway. Near Wrigley Field on Sunday, Marketing Media TV observed Chicago police and towing crews removing multiple vehicles from neighborhood streets ahead of the Cubs–Yankees game.
The operation was swift and coordinated. Tow trucks moved from block to block as officers and crews checked curb space near the ballpark. Vehicle after vehicle was loaded and taken away before the largest wave of fans reached the neighborhood.
From the sidewalk, we watched private towing crews pull away with vehicle after vehicle while Chicago police managed the game-day parking operation near Wrigley Field. We could see the cars being removed, but the specific reason for each tow was not immediately clear.
On game day in Wrigleyville, a legal-looking parking space can become a tow zone when temporary restrictions take effect.
On game days, the curb rules change
Parking near Wrigley Field can be complicated even on an ordinary day. During games and major events, residential permit zones, temporary no-parking notices, traffic controls and tow-away restrictions may overlap within a few blocks. Drivers who check only a meter or the nearest permanent sign can miss a temporary notice posted farther along the street.
The Cubs and the City of Chicago maintain a neighborhood protection program around the ballpark, with additional traffic and public-safety operations during games and major events. The Cubs strongly encourage fans to use public transportation rather than drive directly into Wrigleyville.
Sunday’s game brought the New York Yankees to Wrigley Field, where the visitors earned a 2–1 win over the Cubs. Before the first pitch, however, some drivers may already have faced a far more expensive outcome at the curb.
If your car is missing
Start with Chicago’s real-time vehicle search. It can identify vehicles towed or relocated by the city. If no result appears, a private towing company may have removed the vehicle.
Three ways to avoid a game-day tow
- Read the entire block. Check permanent signs, temporary notices, permit restrictions and the enforcement hours printed on every tow-zone sign.
- Use official parking. For night and weekend games, the Cubs offer a free remote lot at 4650 N. Clarendon Ave., with shuttle service to Wrigley Field.
- Consider public transportation. The Cubs recommend CTA, Metra and Pace for games and other events at the ballpark.
Look twice before walking away
For anyone driving into Wrigleyville, the footage is a reminder to read every sign on the block before leaving a vehicle. Event-day restrictions can change the curb quickly, and a few extra minutes of checking may prevent hours spent trying to locate a missing car.
Sources: MLB schedule · Official Cubs parking information · Wrigley Field transportation guide · City of Chicago vehicle search
