The Cubs "will begin breaking ground on a new underground home clubhouse in the next couple of weeks," starting their $575M Wrigley Field renovation project, according to a source cited by Paul Sullivan of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts "had no date for the beginning of construction, but said the team is 'moving forward' with the plan after years of contentious debate with the Wrigleyville rooftops owners." The renovation plan, which includes $375M at the ballpark itself, "will feature a major tear down and rebuild of parts of the bleachers." Cubs VP/Ballpark Operations Carl Rice: "The bleacher wall on the outside is going to be pushed out, so that’s all going to get torn down. And some of the metal support work holding up the current bleachers needs to be removed so we can add in some of the space underneath, including the bullpens." The Cubs "will be adding additional rows of seats, requiring them to re-do the existing patio section." Rice said that the project "could be done in one off-season, just as the bleacher expansion was" before the '06 season. They "already have begun replacing the bricks in the outfield wall, starting with far left field last offseason." The Cubs "eventually will replace the entire outfield wall, in sections, every off-season through the four-year project" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/12). Ricketts said of the Chicago Landmarks Commission last week approving the team's renovation plans, "It’s been a long process. We’re just glad that it’s behind us, and I’m not worried about anything that happened in the past. We’re just going to go forward, and we’re looking forward to moving forward" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/12).
