Beer Sold Late at Wrigley

One day after watching vendors sell beer at Wrigley Field beyond the time permitted, the head of security of major league baseball called for patience.

“The Cubs are doing a good job,” said Kevin Hallinan, who was in Chicago to monitor crowd-control measures being implemented after the Dodgers’ May 16 brawl with fans in Wrigley’s stands.

“They’re making the right moves and, like everything else, it doesn’t happen overnight. I’m not here to change anything. I’m here to work with my partners and find out how to make it better for the fans.”

Hallinan initially expressed concern Monday when he saw beer being sold in the bottom of the eighth inning during Chicago’s game against the Atlanta Braves, but Tuesday he changed his tone, saying he hadn’t been clear about the Cubs’ new beer policy, which is more lenient for day games.

For night games, vendors can’t leave the commissaries to sell beer beginning in the bottom of the sixth. For day games, vendors can’t leave the commissaries after the start of the seventh inning.

“A couple of vendors weren’t sold out,” Hallinan said, referring to those who sold beyond the deadline Monday. “That’s something we’re going to address.”

On Tuesday, the first night game at Wrigley since the brawl, there were security personnel sitting in the five aisles closest to the visitor’s bullpen. All five sat facing the crowd, and got up to check tickets.

“We’ve got to take care of our fans and not allow a few to ruin it for the rest of us,” Hallinan said.

“We don’t want to make this a security zone. It’s like a cathedral. It’s a very, very special place with very special fans. We want to keep the fun in this thing.”