Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts yesterday revealed that the Wrigley Field restoration project "will take an extra year to complete," according to David Just of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. The project, whose first of four scheduled offseason phases began this past fall, "was expected to be completed" between the '17 and '18 seasons. Ricketts: "The way we project it now is four more years of construction." Ricketts family spokesperson Dennis Culloton said of the original four-year plan, "That could still be the way it works out. But it could take longer. Just take this winter for example, and we have found not only the problem with the weather but the water pipes that we had no control over" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/26). Meanwhile, CBS Chicago's Dave Wischnowsky tweeted a "rumor" that "MLB is now involved with Wrigley construction debacle and may have Cubs working with Sox on a wildly belated Plan B" for some Cubs home games at U.S. Cellular Field (TWITTER.com, 3/25). Cubs VP/Communications & Community Affairs Julian Green called Wischnowsky's report "an absolute new low for Wrigley rumors." Green: "All is proceeding well and we look forward to Opening Night at Wrigley Field" (MLB.com, 3/25).
ALL APOLOGIES: The SUN-TIMES' Just reports Ricketts "apologized to fans Wednesday that Wrigley Field’s bleachers won’t be ready for Opening Day." Ricketts said of how the club may cover the incomplete bleachers: "We’ve got some ideas. Maybe a cool tribute to Ernie Banks. But I’m not sure they’re finalized." Ricketts said that he "doesn’t know how much of the new outfield signage will be ready for Opening Day, but the video board in left field is expected to be up and running." He added that the right-field videoboard "is delayed by the bleacher construction" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/26).
