What better way to watch the Cubs’ return to the playoffs after a seven-year exile than in a ballpark.

The Cubs will face the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 7:08 p.m.

For fans who can’t afford the trip to PNC Park, the Joliet Slammers have you covered.

It may not be Wrigley Field, but the Slammers are hosting a viewing party for Wednesday’s game at Silver Cross Field, on what they’re calling “Will County’s largest TV,” the 900-square foot outfield screen.

“We have always hosted a World Series viewing party for our season ticket holders, and with the Cubs playing in the Wild Card game this season, it was a no-brainer to show the game,” Slammers assistant general manager Heather Mills said.

Fans can sit in the seating bowl for no cost. For $5, fans can bring a blanket and watch the game on the field, where there will be special giveaways and contests. For fans looking for comfort, suite packages are also available.

“The response has been better than we expected,” Mills said. “We have been receiving calls every day regarding the event and there has been a lot of interaction on social media.”

The Slammers’ season concluded on Sept. 6, so the party also serves another purpose for the franchise.

“The viewing party is a great way to utilize Silver Cross Field in the offseason,” Mills said. “We expect everyone to have a great time on a beautiful fall evening here at our ballpark.”

There are plenty of other options for fans to watch the game, though Wrigley Field will not be one of them. The Cubs were rumored to be hosting a viewing party at Wrigley, but those rumors were shot down this week.

Fans’ local watering holes will have the game on, though it will compete with the Blackhawks’ season opener. While the Blackhawks raise their latest championship banner, the Cubs are hoping to start a run to their first title since 1908 the same night.

One place in the suburbs that will have a dedicated viewing party for the Cubs’ Wild Card game is Dave and Busters in Addison. They will be showing the game in their sports lounge, which features a 100-inch projection screen and five 65-inch flat screen HD TVs. The room, which seats 65, will also have giveaways between innings.

The unique feature that Dave and Busters has going for it is its gaming area. While parents enjoy the game in the sports lounge, kids can enjoy half-price games in the gaming area.

“It’s really cool because if you bring your whole family in, you can eat, and parents can stay and watch the game while the kids go and play,” Dave and Busters Area Operational Manager Aaron Basta said. “We should be No. 1 for families because there’s something for everyone to do. We’re expecting a good turnout. Wednesday night is half-price game night, so that will factor in.”

In the city, bars such as the Sheffield’s on the north side and Reggie’s in the south loop will have Cubs parties.

–Many ways to view Cubs’ Wild Card game–