DraftKings Sportsbook at Wrigley Field
Sports bar · Lakeview ·
Wraparound screen, burgers, wings, pizza, apps, and betting
Wraparound screen, burgers, wings, pizza, apps, and betting
"Steps from the stadium, this sprawling, state-of-the-art sports bar matches the game-day energy, letting me watch up to 25 games at once on an enormous 2,000-square-foot screen while digging into surprisingly impressive bar snacks and sipping from cocktail or beer towers. The nachos are a premier version of the classic: tortilla chips piled high with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar, pico de gallo, creamy guac, crema, pickled jalapeños, and barbecue chicken—the chips stay crisp under the toppings, and the key is to gather a little bit of everything in each bite. The smash burger misses the signature lacy edges and leans more toward a standard double cheeseburger, but it’s a solid take loaded with American cheese, lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, and pickles. Parmesan garlic fries aren’t listed on the menu but are available as an upgrade to the spuds that come with every sandwich, and they’re worth the few extra bucks: golden and crispy, gussied up with grated Parmesan, roasted garlic aioli, and chopped parsley. For drinks, the 64-ounce cocktail towers, priced between $45 and $50, are a budget-friendly option for two or more; for an easy-drinking, less sweet pick, I go for the Cut, a mix of vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. Pro tip: I book a reservation for booths on the main floor or the mezzanine for full views of the screen and the most comfortable seating; during football season, deposits and minimum spends may be required." - Jeffy Mai
"Customers can finally place bets at this two-floor bar next to Wrigley Field. There are plenty of screens with useful info like betting lines and stats for fans, as well as a bar menu with food from the Cubs food service partners, Levy. This is an over-21 venue, so leave the kids at home (even though there are legally mandated diaper changing rooms in the bathrooms)." - Ashok Selvam
"Winters don’t have to be drab in Wrigleyville. DraftKings, the online sportsbook, has built a bar outside of the Friendly Confines, a two-level space where fans can rent out private events and be overloaded with sports info on the many screens. The food is from Levy, the Cubs’ caterer. Fans can place bets at one of the 32 betting kiosks and seven over-the-counter betting windows in the venue." - Eater Staff
"I observed that nearly seven months after opening, customers at the DraftKings SportsBook at Wrigley Field still cannot place bets because the state gaming board has not granted a license; the venue, which includes a bar and restaurant next to the Friendly Confines, applied for licensing in June 2023 and Cubs President Crane Kenney said they’re hopeful betting will be allowed in time for March Madness." - Naomi Waxman
"Located on the stadium campus at 1012 W. Addison Street, this two-story restaurant and bar is a flagship sportsbook and hospitality venue designed to nod to the adjacent 109-year-old baseball stadium through green-painted steel beams and a nostalgic, non-historic aesthetic while hiding a lot of modern technology from passersby. Gensler led the design in collaboration with the stadium’s caterer, Levy, after the project was announced in 2020, and designers sought approvals from the National Park Service, the State Historic Preservation Office, and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. The public-facing facility opens without wagering until state gaming approval is finalized, but it already features a sprawling 2,000-square-foot curved video screen with a bottom ticker, 16,320 x 1,800 resolution and the capability to show 25 games at once — a setup described as unique to the Midwest and comparable to what you’d find in Las Vegas. Seating includes theater-style views, a second-floor overhang, and two private video-equipped event spaces behind the main seating (each with about 25 seats and a $3,000 minimum spend, excluding wagering); every seat can be reserved. The menu mirrors club-level stadium fare — pastrami sandwiches, a giant hog dog, prime rib sandwiches and Neapolitan pizzas — with familiar local beers and vintage spirits to celebrate big moments. Although the operation is tied to the stadium campus, the team and ownership are separate from the baseball club, there is no direct entrance between the venue and the ballpark, and ticketholders cannot move freely between a game and the sportsbook. The venue is strictly 21+ (though bathrooms include diaper-changing tables set by state law), and programming targets a wide range of sports fans — from fantasy football players to viewers of niche events like sumo and bag tournaments — with staff planning to adapt hours and operations based on demand and weather." - Ashok Selvam
