Chicago Cubs Open Playoff Ticket Lottery Wednesday as Wrigley Field Hopefuls Line up for a Chance to Buy Seats If the Team Reaches October

CHICAGO, IL — The Chicago Cubs are opening registration this week for their playoff ticket lottery, giving fans a chance to get on the list for possible postseason seats at Wrigley Field. The team says the lottery is part of its usual playoff process, with chosen fans getting the opportunity to buy tickets rather than a guaranteed seat.

Registration begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. and stays open for the wild-card round through Sunday, Sept. 20. Fans who enter the first lottery can remain eligible for later rounds if the Cubs keep advancing, which means one entry can carry through the rest of the postseason.

Who can enter the Cubs playoff ticket lottery and how the one-entry rule works

The lottery is open to fans age 18 and older who want to buy tickets for Cubs playoff games at Wrigley Field. The team says each person is limited to one entry, a measure meant to keep the drawing fair and orderly as demand ramps up for October baseball.

Being selected in the lottery does not guarantee that a fan will end up with tickets. Instead, it creates a buying opportunity if seats are available for the round in question. That structure has become familiar to Cubs supporters in recent seasons, especially when postseason optimism starts to build around Wrigley Field.

For fans, the practical takeaway is simple: registration is the first step, and selection is only the beginning of the process. Those who are chosen still have to complete the purchase before they can start planning for a game in the ballpark.

Why the wild-card round matters most if the Cubs reach October

The Cubs are trying to return to the playoffs for a second straight year, and the wild-card round appears to be the most likely entry point. The team is in strong position, but the standings suggest it may once again need to begin with a best-of-three series instead of jumping directly into a longer bracket.

As things stand, Chicago would open that series on the road. The Cubs trail the Philadelphia Phillies by a half-game in the race for the top National League wild-card spot, while holding a four-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who occupy the third wild-card position entering Tuesday’s games.

That gap makes the final stretch important for both the standings and the fan experience. The lottery gives supporters a head start on the ticket process even before the club knows exactly where its first postseason games will be played.

How the standings could decide whether Wrigley Field hosts the first round

If the Cubs can pass the Phillies, they would likely host the wild-card series at Wrigley Field. That possibility is a big part of the excitement around the lottery, because the difference between home and road games changes both access and atmosphere for fans.

Under the current playoff schedule, the wild-card series would begin Tuesday, Sept. 29. Game 2 would follow on Sept. 30, and if the series went the distance, Game 3 would be played on Oct. 1. All of those games would be staged at the same ballpark if Chicago earns the right to host.

For supporters, that creates a tight window between registration and a possible postseason booking. The club’s position in the standings could shape not only where the Cubs play, but also which fans get the chance to buy into the October run.

What fans should know about timing, eligibility, and later rounds

Wednesday’s opening at 10 a.m. is the key time for anyone hoping to get into the lottery early. The registration window for the wild-card round remains open until Sunday, Sept. 20, so fans have several days to submit an entry before that first drawing closes.

The Cubs also say fans who register for the wild-card round will stay eligible for later lottery drawings if the team advances. That matters because October baseball can move quickly, and each playoff round could create another chance for selected fans to buy tickets at Wrigley Field.

The one-entry limit remains in effect across the process, so there is no advantage to submitting multiple entries. The setup is designed to organize demand while keeping the playoff ticket process manageable for both the team and fans.

NBC and Peacock will carry every wild-card game as the Cubs chase a home playoff series

Television coverage is already lined up for the opening round. Every wild-card series game will air on NBC and Peacock, giving fans another way to follow the Cubs if the club lands in the postseason and the ticket lottery becomes relevant beyond the first round.

That matters because the lottery is tied directly to the club’s playoff path. If Chicago reaches October and hosts games at Wrigley Field, the same fan base registering for tickets will also be able to watch every wild-card matchup on those platforms.

For now, the Cubs are asking supporters to look ahead and sign up if they want a shot at postseason seats. The registration period is short, the playoff picture is still shifting, and the chance to buy tickets depends on both the lottery and the standings.

Chicago's music scene, one story at a time — Chicago Music Guide.