Chicago Cubs win home opener at Wrigley Field against San Diego Padres

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Cubs finally had their home opener Friday after starting the season on the road.

It was a happy start to the season at Wrigley Field as the Cubs won the home opener over the San Diego Padres, and fans were celebrating in Gallagher Way and all over Wrigleyville.

Shota Imanaga got the start for the Cubs with Randy Vasquez pitching for the Padres. The Cubs beat the Padres 3-1.

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The energy and hype leading up to the first pitch was just indescribable. There's just something so special about baseball coming back to the North Side after a long winter.

"The energy is unbeatable," Cubs fan Tristin Minx said. "There's no fan base like there is for the Cubs."

Fans, both human and canine, were bleeding Cubby blue in anticipation of the start of baseball season on the North Side.

"Opening Day is a holiday," Cubs fan Roberto Ramos said. "It's a national holiday. The winter is over. It's time for baseball."

Inside the Friendly Confines, grounds crews put the finishing touches Friday morning on Wrigley Field as the sun rose on the start of a new baseball season

"I couldn't sleep last night and you get here today and you're like 'we're in the greatest ballpark on the plane," Cubs chief commercial officer Colin Falkner said.

Fans gathered outside the ballpark, along the blue carpet, hoping to get an early morning autograph ahead of first pitch against the Padres.

Lifelong Cubs fan Todd Hancock drove up with his family from Indianapolis to catch his first home opener a memory they are making together.

"The really cool moment is when you walk in the stadium and Wrigley opens up in front of you, so I'm looking forward to that," Hancock said.

It was a little chilly, but that is spring baseball in Chicago.

With all the pageantry of Opening Day, baseball returned to Wrigley field, and for Cubs fans, there's nothing like it.

"It's awesome. This is great," Cubs fan Corey Toppel said. "The park looks great, and the Cubs are playing good."

Opening Day is a tradition for many fans. Richie Gracia has been to about 40 of them, and he dresses appropriately.

"I never miss it. It's a holiday," Gracia said. "Take off school. Take off work. You gotta be here."

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts was at the park, greeting fans before the game in Gallagher Way.

"It's great to see everybody," Ricketts said. "It's a long winter with no games. Just happy to get going. It's gonna be a great year."

The Cubs had already played nine regular season games, including two in Tokyo where they were technically the home team, but it's not the real home opener in Wrigleyville unless it's cold.

"If it gets warm I have a t-shirt underneath," Cubs fan Shannon Puckett said.

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Thaddeus Smith has been to the last 20 home openers.

"It was cold as heck then. It's cold as heck today," Smith said. "But it's a good thing. Good day to be a Cubs fan."

At Yak-Zies, it was the 33rd annual opening day radio broadcast. Fans got there early to celebrate before going into the park.

"It doesn't matter, win or lose, Opening Day is unbelievable," said Joe Spagnoli with Yak-Zies.

It was a celebration like no other. For many Cubs fans, the baseball season doesn't begin until the home opener at Wrigley Field. Radio station WXRT has been hosting the pregame celebration at Yak-Zies for more than three decades.

"It's tribal. It's music. It's the Cubs. Family," said Terri Hammert with WXRT. "That's it really."

Fans went home happy after the Cubs won the home opener over the Padres, and the party was well underway in Wrigleyville.