Menu
Facilities

On With The Show: Wrigley Field To Be Ready For Sunday's MLB Regular-Season Opener

Despite rumors that MLB was "going to force the Cubs to move" the first game of the regular season to U.S. Cellular Field, "all systems are go for Sunday night’s opener at Wrigley Field," according to Paul Sullivan of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Cubs VP/Communications & Community Affairs Julian Green yesterday "launched an offensive against unnamed individuals spreading rumors that the ballpark wouldn’t be ready" and that the grandstand and upper decks "wouldn’t be safe." Green called them “wild and baseless accusations," and said MLB was not “concerned, mad or disappointed in the team or the pace of construction." He added that there were "no discussions at all" about playing at the White Sox' ballpark. Green was "most upset about a rumor that the stands would not be safe for fans, referring to them as 'absolutely false (and) reckless' reports." Green: "We’ve hit an all-time low for Wrigley Field rumors and myths. ... We’ve said time and time again, we will not cut corners on this project and we’re going to do this project right and responsibly." Sullivan notes the Cubs later yesterday presented "a renovation update" to the media on a conference call, detailing that the left-field bleachers "will be ready by May 11, and the right-field bleachers are expected to be completed by mid-June." The Budweiser sign in right field "also will debut Sunday, and later will be moved above the right field video board" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/1). Green said that MLB "has not intervened in the project." He added the league has been "supportive since the project got underway" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/1). In Chicago, Bruce Miles notes no questions "were taken" during the media teleconference (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/1).

WAIT AND SEE: In Chicago, Rick Telander writes the renovation of Wrigley Field is "stupid in the planning and execution." Telander: "But needed? My God, it is" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/1). Also in Chicago, Steven Goldstein writes one factor lurking is whether the renovations "will change the game itself" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/1).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/2015/04/01/Facilities/Cubs.aspx

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

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2015/04/01/Facilities/Cubs.aspx

CLOSE