Wrigley Field Sign Now Purple

Do you  know that Wrigley Field’s famous marquee at the corner of Clark & Addison use to be painted blue–not red?

And now its painted purple!

Installed around 1934, the art deco style marquee was first painted blue. That lasted until the 1960s when the color was changed to red.

In preparation for this weekend’s football match-up between Big Ten rivals Northwestern (7-3) and Illinois (5-5), the sign underwent a temporary face lift Monday afternoon–splashed in Wildcat purple.

It’s the first football game at Wrigley in 40 years. The Bears moved out at the conclusion of the 1970 season.

College football hasn’t been played here since 1938. So long ago that neither of the two schools that squared off, DePaul and St. Louis, presently field a football program.

However, this isn’t the first game between the Illini and Wildcats at Wrigley. The two last met at the Friendly Confines in 1923. In baseball years, that’s 15 seasons following the Cubs last World Series championship!