High-ranking Cubs execs confirmed at Saturday's Cubs Convention that delays in the Wrigley Field renovation project "will prevent the popular bleacher section from being ready for at least five weeks of the season and perhaps longer," according to Mark Gonzales of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said that the left-field bleachers "won't open until May 11 at the earliest while late May is the target for the right-field bleachers." Additionally, safety issues will "prevent the center-field section from being open before May 11." Gonzales noted Wrigley Field has approximately 5,500 bleacher seats, which "includes the additional seats in the renovation." About 2,000 season-ticket holders "will be affected by the delay." They can "receive a full refund for home games up to May 11, receive a credit for those games before May 11 or have their seats relocated to the grandstand for home games before May 11." The Cubs believed it would be "wiser to make the decision now so affected fans who elect to be relocated to the grandstand during the construction could be accommodated before individual game tickets go on sale in early March." Meanwhile, all fans will "face the prospect of no wireless service the entire season." A new video board in left field will "operate by the start of the regular season and feature up-to-date statistics of each player with replays and pitch speeds." The right-field board is "scheduled to be ready by late May" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/18).
BLEACHER BUMS: In Chicago, Gordon Wittenmyer reported Cubs officials "vowed no home games will be moved from Wrigley under any scenario." Kenney said that the option "was examined and dropped two years ago." Kenney: "We always knew this (timeline) was going to be a challenge. We were hopeful we could find some time (to make up) in the process. We didn’t find the time.’’ Kenney added that the Cubs are "confident the bleacher opening won’t be pushed back beyond the May dates" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/18). ESPN CHICAGO's Jon Greenberg noted the Cubs have only 12 home games in April and there will be "at least 15 games affected by the construction." But because of the concerns, the team "didn't put bleacher tickets in its mini-plans" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 1/17).
UP ON THE ROOF: In Chicago, Sachdev & Hopkins cited property records and sources as saying that the Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs, "has purchased three neighboring apartment buildings and their rooftop businesses" overlooking the ballpark. The acquisitions "reflect the Ricketts family's desire to control more of the dollars Cub fans spend during the season as well as end a long-running feud with rooftop owners" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/17).
MAD-DON ABOUT YOU: The AP's Andrew Seligman wrote new Cubs manager Joe Maddon was the "man of the moment" at the Cubs Convention, and his reception "was every bit as warm as it was loud." Maddon is "quite popular around town these days, particularly on the North Side." Many believe the "long-suffering franchise is poised for bigger things and he's just the guy to lead them there." Maddon: ''Bring on the expectations" (AP, 1/17).
