MLB - Music in Stadiums

When we watch a baseball game on television we only listen to the narrators, but did you know that watching it in the stadium is totally different and a key component is the music?

We attended one of Major League Baseball's biggest rivalry games in Chicago, Cubs vs. White Sox at Wrigley Field. Upon entering the stadium, there is a large number of fans heading to their seats, as well as lines to shop at the food and beverage stands. There is music playing for ambiance, and at times a voice can be heard on the stadium amplifiers giving information and announcing the start of the game.

Music during each inning change of the game.

In baseball a game consists of nine innings, each inning is divided into two. It is known as the top of the inning when an inning starts and it is the visiting team that bats and the bottom of the inning when it is the home team that has its turn at bat. During each change of at-bats a song can be played, sometimes a QR code is displayed on the screens which you can scan with your phone and it displays options to vote for the song you want to play. This is a good strategy to involve the spectator in the process, and also that they can listen to the song they like the most. During the game we were able to collect some songs:

Kid Cudi - Tequila Shots

Sheck Wes - Mo Bamba

AHA - Take on me

Jeezy - I Luv It

Kenny Loggins - Footloose

Guns & Roses - Welcome to the Jungle

Jay One - Onana

Take me out to the Ball Game

When the top of the seventh inning is completed, there is a tradition of singing the chorus of the song "Take me out to the Ball Game." In some stadiums, the words "home team" are substituted for the team name. The 1908 song was composed by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer, it has become the unofficial anthem of American baseball, although none of its authors had attended a game before writing the song. Below are the lyrics to the chorus:

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

End of the Game- Go Cubs Go

In the bottom of the ninth inning (the last inning) the home team, the Chicago Cubs, were trailing 3-1, with two players on base and zero outs. The pitcher made his pitch and the batter Morel hit a home run, turning the score 4-3 and automatically ending the game. At that moment the silence was broken by an explosion of jubilation from the fans at home. The stadium began to play the song "Go Cubs Go" and everyone began to sing along.

"Go Cubs Go" is a song written in 1984 by Steve Goodman who was a lifelong Cubs fan. The song is now known as the official Cubs victory song, playing after every home win at Wrigley Field.

This was our experience at the baseball stadium, as we could see the music is part of the atmosphere, a mix between varied music and local music or music related to the team. Other stadiums must have their own songs or hymns too, if you know of any let us know in the comments. See you next time.