When I was a kid, going to a Chicago Cubs game meant an afternoon of baseball at beautiful but completely outdated Wrigley Field. I have gone to a lot of games since then, and the experience has always been pretty much the same. The seats are tight; the food options have always been very limited, and don’t get me started on the restrooms.

ID 14727712 © Lawrence Weslowski Jr | Dreamstime.com

Last Tuesday I had a new experience at a Cubs game. I saw my first game from a rooftop. If you have ever watched a Cubs game, you’ll know what I mean. The rooftop refers to an actual rooftop on any of the handful of buildings across the street from the bleachers. Topping it off, it was also my first night game at Wrigley Field, coincidentally exactly 23 years after the first night game there.

Lights were first installed in Wrigley in 1988, and thus night games became a possibility. The sightlines are great, with no obstructions, although the distance is a bit far to intently watch the game. The rooftops aren’t really meant for an intense baseball experience. Several of the buildings have sports bars on other levels in addition to the rooftop viewing. It was a beautiful night, so we stayed on the rooftop except for food and beverage runs.

My food selections included a delicious veggie burger, potato salad, fresh fruit and a decadent brownie. It is a giant step above the cuisine offered inside of Wrigley. The Cubs played the Washington Nationals, who were the Montréal Expos when I first went to Wrigley. The Cubs lost 3-1. Sometimes, things never change.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist