Image: Paramount Pictures |
Seen in FBDO
Ferris, Cameron and Sloane take in (at least a portion of) a baseball game at Chicago’s famous Wrigley Field – home of the Chicago Cubs. This scene is found at approximately 00:49:56-00:50:30 in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Description
In Wrigley Field’s deepest section down the third base line – Section 101 – the Day Off trio are seated in Row 6, Seats 101 (Cameron), 102 (Ferris) and 103 (Sloane).
Finding the Details
The location of these three seats within Wrigley Field is one of the many aspects of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that has been “solved” by a number of internet sleuths. Unfortunately, many of these sources have come up with uncertain and/or inaccurate conclusions. Most are close, but not precise.
Let’s start with some low-hanging fruit such as the general location of the seats: just a few rows from the playing field and deep in the outfield off the third base line.
Image: Paramount Pictures |
The seat numbers themselves are another pretty simple fact to determine as the seat to Sloane’s left (seen in the photo at the top of this page) is clearly marked “104.” The question then becomes the direction, from that point, in which the numbers increase and decrease. A look at this scene from the full-screen VHS version of FBDO answers that query with Seat 102 seen in front of Ferris.
Image: Paramount Pictures |
This confirms Cameron is in Seat 101, Ferris in Seat 102 and Sloane in Seat 103.
Also using this full-screen view, we are able to confirm two other important pieces of information. First, Cameron is sitting in an aisle seat. Second, and just as important, a wall (or solid boundary of some sort) is seen in the background approximately 8-10 seats into the section. The only place down Wrigley Field’s third base line where such a boundary exists is in the last section on that side of the field – Section 101.
Further confirmation of this fact can be found in this alternate angle from a promotional image of the Wrigley Field scene. At the top of this image is a high chain link fence that can be found behind this section of seats and then continues to surround the bleachers across the outfield.
Image: Paramount Pictures |
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Image: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP file photo |
Next, for further confirmation of the section number, we’ll take a look in the background as Cameron begins calling out the batter. The seat across the aisle from Cameron shows Section 101.
Image: Paramount Pictures |
But if Section 101 is across the aisle, how can Ferris also be sitting in Section 101?
For that, we’ll turn to the document that was included with the authentic box seats sold by the Cubs organization when Wrigley Field was renovated several years after Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was filmed.
Image: Pinterest |
The document shows the layout of Wrigley Field prior to the renovation and certifies the location and authenticity of the seats that were sold. Zooming in on deep left field, we can see that Section 101 (and other similar sections) are divided into two side-by-side areas. This explains how there can be an aisle between the seats and both are in Section 101.
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Image: Pinterest (Modified) |
But Cameron is in Seat 101 and it may seem odd to find such a low-numbered seat in the middle of a row or section. One bit of information at the bottom of the box seat document clears that up.
Image: Pinterest (Modified) |
It’s a little small and blurry, but the details in this text are significant:
SEAT NUMBERING SYSTEM
When facing [the] playing field, single and double digit seat numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) are to the right and triple digit seat numbers (101, 102, 103, etc.) are to the left.
That confirms Section 101 and Seats 101-103 and leaves only the row number yet to be determined. After establishing a starting point, that becomes a simple matter of counting. The image below provides the necessary starting point by showing the seat across the aisle from Cameron labeled as Row 6.
Image: Paramount Pictures |
Using the same image, we can see who is sitting on either side of the aisle from Row 6 down to Row 1 adjacent to the playing field.
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Image: Paramount Pictures |
In case there is any question that the gentleman in the traditional blue Cubs hat might be sitting in front of Ferris and not in front of Cameron, we’ll take one last look at the wide-screen version.
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Image: Paramount Pictures |
Put all of that together and there you have it: Section 101, Row 6, Seats 101, 102 and 103.
Notes
Following renovations to Wrigley Field, the layout of seats in this general area of the ballpark is slightly different than it was in the mid-1980s. When comparing images from FBDO to maps of Wrigley Field, it is important to be sure the map is from the pre-renovation era.
And the guy sitting one row closer to the field and across the aisle?
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Image: Paramount Pictures |
That's Dave Wakeling from the bands The English Beat and General Public -- both of which have songs featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
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Image: Paul Natkin/Getty Images |
Image: Dave Wakeling |
Image: Source undetermined |
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Image: Paramount Pictures |
Find Your Own
- Keep an eye on eBay if you’d like to pick up an authentic Wrigley Field box seat of your own!
Learn More
- Visit Bleed Cubbie Blue for a complete history of renovations to Wrigley Field.
- Among other topics, listen to Dave Wakeling talk about his relationship with John Hughes on The Hustle podcast.
- Pick up an album or stream music by The English Beat and General Public on Amazon!
Sources
- https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/battle-between-cubs-rooftops-heating-up/
- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/wrigley-concert-seating-chart-wrigley-field-seat-chart-view-map-a-cubs-seating-for-concerts-p--482588916333004188/
- https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/english-beat-general-publics-ska-pioneer-ranking-roger-dead-56-221856806.html
- https://twitter.com/dave_wakeling/status/1667921149697617920