The sun sets behind Wrigley Field, in Chicago, Illinois, as viewed from the 3639 Wrigley Rooftop across the street from the ballpark. (0272)

In grade school we’re always taught to ask questions. The general rule is if you don’t know or understand something, you’re probably not the only one. That’s some good information to carry forward in life, too.

As an example, back in 2014 the Chicago Cubs were wrapping up their season. All the talk was about some giant video boards going in left and right fields — blocking the views from the rooftops across the street. The logic was (among other things) fans are losing interest in baseball and always on their phones, so why not show those stats and replays on video boards? And sell advertising.

Part of Wrigley’s charm is the bleacher seating on the roofs of the apartments and bars surrounding the ballpark. For years, it seemed like a solid “Love/Hate” relationship has developed between the two. I recall my first trips to Wrigley and there was only a couple of lawn chairs atop the “Budweiser House” in left field. Within a few years, the surrounding buildings were constructing massive seating sections with cranes and giant steel beams to accommodate as many people as possible. 

Before the new video boards were set to go up, I shot a couple of emails to the surrounding rooftops to see about getting up and shooting a few pictures before season’s end. No one responded. I can’t say I’m surprised so my next plan to shoot an email asking if it was okay to purchase a ticket a bring up my camera and tripod. I tried to be respectful of dates and games, like not asking to go up on a Yankees/Cubs series, but also wanted to shoot the ballpark in the evening with the sun setting and the ballpark lit up on a summer’s night.

Finally, on the final night game of the season, I received an email from one of the rooftops saying “Sure, c’mon down.’ It was 5pm. For a 7:10pm first pitch, and a 7:15pm sunset, I had to hustle.

I made it, ran to the rooftop and up I went. The view was amazing, as it was my first rooftop experience, and I just took it all in. Then I started taking some pictures. After the lighting I was looking for passed, I wandered around and shot some more pictures. As I was finishing up, the manager came up asking how I was doing and how the pictures were turning out. We chatted a bit longer, and it turns out we had some mutual friends. As I was about head out, he insisted I stay to have a beer and enjoy the game. So I did. 

And in all of the downtime of the game, I scrolled through the photos on my camera.

0914. (0272)