Cubs showing Wrigley Field is the ultimate advantage

So far the Cubs have started seven different series at Wrigley Field and they are 7-0 during the first games of those match ups. Teams beaten during this stretch include the San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and Miami Marlins. Of these teams, the only team that has a below .500 record is the Marlins, which shows that Chicago had a very tough schedule to begin the year.

What was the attendance in each of these series openers?

On the field the Cubs are taking care of business by compiling wins at home, but the fans are also doing their part by showing up to the ballpark. Here are the attendances for each of the series openers at Wrigley Field this year.

• Friday, April 4 vs the Padres – 40,244
• Monday, April 7 vs the Rangers – 27,017
• Friday, April 18 vs the Diamondbacks – 39,109
• Tuesday, April 22 vs the Dodgers – 36,425
• Friday, April 25 vs the Phillies – 32,880
• Monday, May 5 vs the Giants – 36,834
• Monday, May 12 vs the Marlins – 32,271

Overall this year, 697,363 people have showed up to Wrigley Field. This puts them at the eighth highest attendance in Major League Baseball.  Attendance statistics were taken from Baseball Reference.

It’s clear that a big part of the Cubs early season success has been their ability to capitalize on the home field advantage that fans have provided at Wrigley Field, particularly when setting the tone in opening games of a series. If Chicago continues to make Wrigley a tough place for opponents, it could be a foundation that carries them through the long grind of the season.