Despite plumbing issues on Opening Day, the Cubs say that they are "standing their ground to play every game this season at the active construction site" that is Wrigley Field, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Cubs VP/Ballpark Operations Carl Rice said, "We’re not looking to move to any other venue." He added, "We did not expect that we were going to have the situation we had, and, in hindsight, we should have had the portable restrooms here. We just feel right now that Wrigley Field is where we want to play our baseball games this year." Rice said that two of the three bathrooms shut down for construction "should be opened May 11, when the first bleacher section is supposed to be ready for use." He added that the "valve problem was fixed and the portables the club didn’t anticipate needing for the scheduled closures are to remain until those facilities reopen." Rice also said that the Cubs "met with city officials to assure health and safety standards and that it was the city that recommended the portable solution" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/9). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the crowd for yesterday's Cardinals-Cubs game "was much smaller than Sunday's opener, which helped alleviate the problems, and one fan pointed out that most of the crowd at the opener was male." As for rumors of running out of hot dogs and buns during the opener, Rice said, “It’s totally unsubstantiated that we ran out of food for opening night" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/9).
THE RAIN SONG: In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom writes the Cubs "might’ve been genuine in their decision to cancel Tuesday’s game" due to a threat of rain. But they have "only themselves to blame for the lack of credibility." They "brought on the doubt, conspiracy theories and various national embarrassments after the Wrigley wonks piddled down their collective Armani trousers opening night when fans resorted to peeing everywhere because of the dearth of conventional places." The Cubs’ "opening-night failure and postponement Tuesday look worse when considering their update more than a month ago on the progress of the Wrigley renovation and its impact on facilities, specifically the bathroom facilities." The Cubs "knew they would lose stalls and troughs," and they "knew it a month before the opener" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/9).
LET'S GO TO THE VIDEOTAPE: Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts said that fan feedback on the team's new left-field videoboard "had been overwhelmingly positive." USA TODAY's Aamer Madhani notes the Cubs have said that the videoboard "is an essential tool to improving the fan experience and, perhaps more important, generating the advertising revenue they need to remain competitive." Ricketts said, "Obviously, we want to do something entertaining between innings. But we also have to be careful, respectful of the fans. They don't want a lot of noise. They don't want a lot of distraction. If it's about the team, let's do it. If it's about baseball, let's do it. If it's something else, let's just pass on it" (USA TODAY, 4/9).
EXTENDED STAY: In Phoenix, Parker Leavitt notes the new Sheraton hotel next to the Cubs Spring Training home Sloan Park "is set to open this week as about 100 construction workers race to put on the finishing touches." The 180-room hotel "is the first major component of the 'Wrigleyville West' retail and hospitality district." Ricketts will have an "owners box" suite when visiting the hotel, which is slated to open today. The Sheraton also "boasts a 400-seat sports grill called Stats," where servers will wear Cubs jerseys (AZCENTRAL.com, 4/8).
