The World Series champion Cubs host their home opener tonight against the Dodgers, and fans "will pour into the streets and the new plaza outside Wrigley before packing the ballpark for a banner-raising ceremony." Cubs P
Jake Arrieta: "I expect Waveland, Addison, Sheffield and Clark to be packed." The team "will unveil gold-trimmed hats and gold-lettered jerseys" for today's banner-raising and Wednesday's ring ceremony (
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/10).
The Cubs today also will open a new 8,400-square-foot store outside Wrigley Field, where fans can "view the Cubs' Gold Glove trophies, take pictures in a photo booth or buy a customized jersey or hat." Chicago-based Rank + Rally "will handle the Cubs store's operations." It also "helped create the Cubs' postseason 'Fly the W' merchandise and the Michigan Avenue pop-up shop that opened after the World Series victory" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8).
Meanwhile, the club on Friday released videos of the "changes inside Wrigley Field, including the new bullpens, padded seats behind home plate and new bathrooms in right field." About 700 box seats behind home plate "will include padded seating, and eventually will be part of the 1914 Club, which is still under construction and will not be ready" until '18. The Cubs "also will open a new western gate, adjacent to the new Park at Wrigley" plaza area (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8). View all five videos on MLB.com.
