Wrigleyville crowd teetering on the edge

April 20, 2004

BY CAROL SLEZAK SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

Wrigley Field set a four-game attendance record during the Cubs-Reds series that ended Monday. Which means, near as I can figure, the bars surrounding the ballpark set an attendance record, too.

Everyone wants to be a Cubs fan now. Trouble is, we've run out of room. At the ballpark, and in the streets surrounding the ballpark.

A huge number of people -- 159,461 -- saw the Cubs play the Reds at Wrigley. And another 100,000 or so fans meandered to the neighborhood just to party. These fans didn't have tickets for the games. (Like a Greg Maddux victory, Cubs tickets are hard to come by this season.) These fans came to the bars that surround the ballpark. They came to watch the games on TV and have a few beers. It may sound harmless enough. But I sense trouble coming.

If you had the guts to walk along Clark on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can empathize. Me, I chickened out. I came close on Saturday but turned back when I got to Southport, about four blocks west of the ballpark. Too many people. I knew what was ahead, due east. Clark Street has become Bourbon Street. Maybe you think that's cool. But remember, New Orleans has been dealing with traffic and crowd control forever. Chicago -- or at least the Lake View area, where the ballpark sits -- needs a plan before something embarrassing happens. Or worse, before something tragic happens.

On Monday, I bravely entered the Wrigley Field zone -- which I define as the area bordered by Southport (west), Grace (north), Clark (east) and Roscoe (south). I visited many bars. (And turned down several offers of free drinks from several fun-loving, generous souls.) Everyone I spoke with said that crowds have been bigger than ever this season, in part because of the decent spring weather, but in larger part because of expectations. The Cubs were a victory short of the World Series last season. This year they're going to win it all -- or so the thinking goes. And everyone wants to be part of the experience.

Monday's bar crowd was in a mellow mood compared with the weekend. That stands to reason. It was a tad chillier outside. The wind was strong (turning my fetching hairstyle into something resembling a bird's nest). And it was Monday -- typically a no-fun day.

The streets looked clean enough. Apparently the garbage generated by the weekend's games had found its way to the dump. Bravo. But I noticed a Department of Sewers truck pull up behind the center-field bleachers and start snaking, or plunging. Eeeww. A reminder that the neighborhood's resources are finite. A reminder that there's a fine line between a nice neighborhood and a stinking cesspool.

''This place was packed over the weekend,'' a ticket broker standing outside a bar said. ''Ridiculously packed.''

I wonder how long before something bad happens. A serious fight with injuries. A riot in the streets. I'm not kidding. The Cubs have yet to play their first night game, but fans already are in midseason form.

I chatted with a Chicago police officer who was working Monday. He shares my concern. Mayor Daley wants to replace the police presence in the zone with part-time traffic-control aides. I understand the logic on one level: Let's free up the police to do more important things, like fighting crime. But I fear that the mayor plans to decrease the police presence in the zone. In truth, the area needs both traffic controllers and a larger police presence.

''Our presence keeps the morons in control,'' the officer said. ''The traffic-control aides can't do anything but direct traffic. If someone hits you over the head with a beer bottle, what are you going to do?''

Fall down and get trampled by the crowd, I suspect.

''There are more people coming to this area then ever before, and it's only April,'' the officer said. ''Can you imagine what it will be like midsummer?''

The White Sox took a big public-relations hit as the result of fan violence at their ballpark. What will happen to the Lake View neighborhood if Cubs fans spill out of the bars onto the streets with bad intentions? It only takes a few derelicts to start a riot. Suddenly those $400,000 condos won't be so valuable. Those old, gnarly, two-bedroom walk-up apartments currently going for about $2,000 a month will sit empty. The cuddly Cubs image will take a hit, too.

Monday's healthy early afternoon bar crowds thinned considerably once the game started. The situation seemed manageable. But Monday was a rare day. Wait until the next weekend homestand. Wait until the weather warms up and the pennant race heats up.

The next generation of Cubs fans has arrived. On Sunday, about a mile from the ballpark, two young girls were riding their bikes. The older one, who looked about 11, said, "They're in extra innings.'' The younger one, who looked about 7, said, "Who's winning?''

''The Reds,'' the older girl replied.

''Again?'' the younger girl said.

Before too long, these girls will be biking to Bernie's for a beer. I wonder if the neighborhood will have an integrated crowd-control plan by then.

http://www.suntimes.com