Large Crowds Gather In Downtown Chicago, At Wrigley For Cubs World Series Parade

Scores of Cubs fans filled the streets of downtown Chicago Friday in order to celebrate the team’s first World Series title since 1908.

Large Crowds Gather In Downtown Chicago, At Wrigley For Cubs World Series Parade

The city estimated approximately 5 million people would attend the celebration, which would mean nearly twice Chicago’s population plans to attend.

Metra trains from the suburbs faced delays as they attempted to accommodate passengers on what commuter rail service predicts will be the busiest day in its history.

Police did not allow people through on Monroe Street, while also making Jackson Street impassable. At about 8:20 a.m., fans pulled down a fence to get through to Columbus on Congress. Police near Michigan Avenue did not try to stop them.

Aside from this fence incident, fans have generally been well-behaved as they vie for spots to see the Cubs, who won the World Series on Wednesday night, pass by. The Cubs defeated the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 at Progressive Field.

“I have had so many emotions,” said Allie Kutrubis, of Chicago’s Noble Square neighborhood. “Most of the time it doesn’t feel real. It feels like I’m being punked.”

The Cubs were scheduled to leave Wrigley Field and head south toward downtown before a noon rally.

On Thursday the city asked fans to view the parade at three locations:

• Addison Street from Sheffield to Pine Grove avenues.

• North Michigan Avenue from Oak to Ohio streets.

• Columbus Drive between Monroe Street and Balbo Avenue.

As of Friday morning, the city had not revised those viewing locations. They are the three parts of the parade where the vehicles carrying the team will proceed slowly at “parade speed,” according to Shannon Breymaier, a city spokeswoman.

The crowd was dominated by families and young people, in large part due to a previously scheduled day off for Chicago Public Schools.

The team will end its parade in Grant Park, where a rally will be held at Lower Hutchinson Field around noon. It’s free and open to the public, although people will need to pass through a security screening at entrances at Michigan and Jackson Boulevard and Michigan and Congress Parkway.

Street closures were planned as early as 4 a.m., and city officials urged people to take public transportation. The city also issued a warning: “There will be zero tolerance for drinking on the public way.”

CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 04: Jon Lester #34 (L), Travis Wood #37, David Ross #3, and John Lackey #41 of the Chicago Cubs celebrate during a World Series victory parade on November 4, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs won their first World Series championship in 108 years after defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game 7. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena