According to a report from Paul Sullivan, the Cubs will break ground on the “new underground home clubhouse in the next couple of weeks.” The Cubs received unanimous approval from the Landmarks Commission last Thursday on the team’s revised plans to restore, expand and renovate Wrigley Field.
The new clubhouse is scheduled to be completed by Opening Day of 2016, but phase one of the project, that includes the expansion of the bleachers and left field video board, is scheduled to be completed by Opening Day of 2015.
The team will not begin the bleacher project until the off-season. Reports last week indicated the work could begin soon after the Cubs play their last home game on Sept. 24.
The Cubs and Wrigleyville Rooftop Association will continue dialogue in order to avoid a lawsuit. Tom Ricketts addressed the questions about the ongoing discussions with the rooftops prior to Friday’s game and said, “We’ll reach out. We’ll talk to everybody, and I’m confident there will be a solution that works. We’re always talking to those guys.”
Tom Ricketts feels his team is “in a good spot now” and he said, “We’re looking forward to getting things rolling.”
Paul Sullivan spoke with Carl Rice, the Cubs Vice President of Ballpark Operations, after the team received approval from the Landmarks Commission.
Carl Rice provided details on what will take place with the bleacher expansion that is scheduled to be completed by Opening Day of 2015.
The revised plans for Wrigley Field “feature a major tear down and rebuild of parts of the bleachers.”- Outside bleachers wall will be torn down in order to be pushed out to expand the footprint of the park.
- Some of the existing metal supports in the bleachers must be removed in order to add space underneath the bleachers. The additional space created would house the new bullpens.
- A support system for the new video boards and advertising signs require sections of the bleachers to be reworked. “Some of the seating bowl concrete will have to be removed and put back in place.”
- Additional rows of seats will be added to the bleachers which will require the patio section to be redone.
- The team has started “replacing the bricks in the outfield wall, starting with far left field last off-season.” The Cubs “eventually will replace the entire outfield wall, in sections, every off-season through the four-year project.”
The Cubs have not announced a specific date as to when the project will begin. But from all indications, the team is getting very close to starting the Wrigley Field project.
- Full Report from the Chicago Tribune
- Full Report from Comcast SportsNet
- Landmarks Commission Unanimously Approved Revised Wrigley Plan – July 10