Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Facilities

Cubs Unveil New Renovation Plan With Added $75M Price Tag, New Bullpen Location

The Cubs yesterday unveiled new images for Wrigley Field upgrades, with the club now saying the project will cost $375M, an increase of $75M over previous estimates. The team has put a renewed focus on three aspects of revenue generation -- constructing hundreds of new seats, five more premium clubs and seven new outfield signs at the 100-year-old facility. A big piece of the project involves relocating the original bullpens down the foul lines to newly protected, climate-controlled spaces underneath a revamped bleachers section. New seats will occupy the old bullpen spaces. Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said the bleachers were most recently upgraded in ’06, but now they will most likely be torn up again to clear space for the relocated bullpens. Kenney added moving the bullpens is something the Cubs players want, in part because the existing bullpens factor into the field of play and become a safety issue for infielders and outfielders chasing fly balls down the foul lines. Currently, Wrigley Field and AT&T Park are the only MLB parks with bullpens fully visible to the fans. In Chicago, the bullpens are part of the ballpark’s charm and for many years have provided a unique connection between season-ticket holders and the relievers sitting along the walls next to those seats. Kenney: “I know some of those fans loved the idea of being able to reach out and touch a player. Like everything else going on at Wrigley, there will be multiple opinions on these changes.” Other projects inside the park will ramp up after the ‘14 season. Kenney said the Cubs are targeting ‘18 for the completion of all upgrades (Don Muret, Staff Writer). 

FIELD OF DREAMS? Kenney noted that the new renovation plan would "add only five seats to the ballpark’s capacity." Cubs VP/Ballpark Operations Carl Rice added that the relocation of the on-field bullpens "would force the Cubs to expand the outfield doors in both areas." Kenney said that it would "not affect the ivy, though there will be some loss to the brick wall so relievers can see out of the bullpens." In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the Cubs by the All-Star break in mid-July plan to "break ground on the plaza to begin construction of a 30,000-square-foot underground clubhouse, which Kenney said is not expected to be completed" until the '16 season. He said that the two video boards in the outfield "would be ready for opening day next year." The players' part of the clubhouse would be "built under the proposed plaza in the 'triangle' area west of the ballpark, while new video rooms, batting tunnels and a training room would be next to the remodeled dugout." Kenney said that it would be the "second largest clubhouse in baseball behind the home clubhouse in new Yankee Stadium" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/28). Also in Chicago, Susan Carlson noted the Cubs want to "add 300 more seats to the Budweiser bleachers and new outfield lighting to eliminate shadows on fly balls, which has long been a complaint by players" (NBCCHICAGO.com, 5/27). 

DON'T POKE THE BEAR: In Chicago, Fran Spielman notes Kenney yesterday "renewed" Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts' threat made last year to leave Wrigley Field "with a new wrinkle -- another site in Chicago -- when asked what the Cubs would do if rooftop club owners succeed in blocking the influx of outfield signs." Kenney: “If we don’t control our ballpark, then we have to look at other options and we would work with the city on that. ... We would first look in the city. That would be what would happen, but those conversations have not occurred at any level. ... Everyone believes this project is moving forward." Kenney said that the Cubs have "worked hand-in-glove with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration in recent months to develop the scorched earth plan that includes seven outfield signs, including two video scoreboards and literally dares rooftop club owners to sue" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/28).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/05/28/Facilities/Wrigley.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/05/28/Facilities/Wrigley.aspx

CLOSE