Chiefs to return to Wrigley on July 7

PEORIA, Ill. -- The Chicago Cubs and Peoria Chiefs have announced that for the second time in three years the Chiefs will play a regular season game at Chicago's Wrigley Field, on Wed, July 7, at 7 p.m. The Midwest League contest, which is a Chiefs home game, will also feature entertainment by the The Famous Chicken, and tickets are currently available at www.cubs.com online.

The Road to Wrigley presented by PNC, will include family-friendly priced tickets, an array of activities for children of all ages, and a fun atmosphere filled with traditional Minor League attractions within the Friendly Confines.

"This is a great day for the Chiefs, and we are thankful for the opportunity afforded to us by the Cubs to return to Wrigley Field," said Rocky Vonachen, president of the Peoria Chiefs. "It was a great game and atmosphere there in 2008, and we look forward to another outstanding night in Chicago. The Cubs have been tremendous partners with us, and this is going to be an outstanding day for the Chiefs and [Kane County] Cougars players, staffs and fans."

Tickets are available immediately at www.cubs.com online. The Chiefs will announce special plans for current Chiefs season ticket holders, group ticket packages, and bus trips at a later date.

"We're looking forward to welcoming back our inaugural Road to Wrigley participants," said Crane Kenney, president of the Chicago Cubs. "The fan response was impressive in 2008, and we're hoping they return to see another great game."

Fans attending the Road to Wrigley Game at Wrigley Field will have the opportunity to participate in a number of traditional Minor League ballpark activities such as dizzy bat races, t-shirt tosses and the opportunity for all kids ages 14 and under to run the Wrigley Field bases at the end of the game.

"This is a great opportunity for our team, and our players are extremely excited to play at Wrigley, the stadium they all are striving to get to in their careers," said Casey Kopitzke, manager of the Chiefs.

Fans will also be entertained during the game by The Famous Chicken, who has performed at more than 8,500 Major League and Minor League games since the 1970s. Voted by The Sporting News as one of the 100 most powerful people in sports for the 20th century, The Chicken regularly appears at Minor League Baseball games throughout the season. He entertained fans at the 2005 Midwest League All-Star game in Peoria, and returned to O'Brien Field in 2006 and 2007. Midwest League umpires will be calling the game.

The Chiefs' inaugural game at Wrigley Field set a Midwest League attendance record with 32,103 fans. The July 29, 2008 game was the first Minor League game in the stadium's 96-year history. The contest finished the next day at O'Brien Field after rains came in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied, 6-6. Peoria eventually beat Kane County, 9-8, in 12 innings on a Luis Bautista single. Both Rebel Ridling and Brandon Guyer homered at Wrigley before the rains suspended the contest.

Last season, the Chiefs lost to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 5-3, on April 24 at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers. That contest was played in front of 17,880 fans, the second largest crowd ever to see a Midwest League game. The Chiefs also played in the game with the third largest MWL crowd, on July 3, 2009, when Cubs' rehabbers Aramis Ramirez and Reed Johnson attracted a crowd of 14,872 at Kane County in a 7-1 Chiefs win.

Wisconsin hosted Cedar Rapids at Miller Park again this season, falling 6-1 in front of 12,667 fans on Fri, May 7. Two other Midwest League teams have hosted games at the fields of their Major League affiliates. The Beloit Snappers hosted the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Milwaukee's Miller Park on Aug. 14, 2003 in front of 14,147 fans. They played at Miller Park again the following year, with an audience of 5,127 fans on Aug. 12. On Aug. 22, 2005, the West Michigan Whitecaps hosted the Fort Wayne Wizards at Detroit's Comerica Park, drawing 3,884 fans.