The Cubs' new left-field videoboard at Wrigley Field made its regular-season debut during last night's loss to the Cardinals, and the new addition "brings a magnified version of flat-screen TV viewing" to the park "without the feared disruptive jolt," according to architecture critic Blair Kamin of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. There "are no silly sponsor races between innings," and ads "are tastefully displayed on the board." Fans "can easily glimpse replays, player statistics, pitch speeds and close-ups of players without having to consult their smartphones." The board "effectively navigates a balance between the digital present and Wrigley's fabled, art deco-tinged past." It also only "obscures the view of one of the three-flats that line Waveland Avenue." In another "crucial move, the board is placed far below the flag-topped apex of the center-field scoreboard." As a result, the outlines of the outfield "still pyramid upward from the edges to the center." Also making its debut last night "was a red, open-backed Budweiser sign that will be set atop a still-to-be-installed video board in the right-field corner" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6). In Chicago, Tim Bannon writes the videoboard is "jarring" but "not as jarring as many feared." Its largely green-and-blue palette "blends well with Wrigley's and Wrigleyville's colors." Also, "despite its dominant size, it somehow does not overwhelm the center-field scoreboard." The live video looks "terrific," and replays "were especially sharp." During play, the board "shows stats rather than live action, so fans won't be staring at the jumbo flat screen all game." Bannon: "Overall: 3 out of 4 stars" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6). ESPN's Karl Ravech called it a "beautiful thing to look at from inside of the ballpark." The Cubs will "continue to have the manually-operated scoreboard for out-of-town scores," as they are "trying to retain some of the traditions of Wrigley Field while at the same time improving it.” ESPN’s Aaron Boone said the videoboard is "great," as it "adds an element that this place needed." Boone: "But the charm still exists" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN2, 4/5).
SOUNDING BOARD: In Chicago, Bruce Miles reports the videoboard "looked to be a big hit" last night, though it "certainly didn't hurt that the Cubs put together a nice tribute to the late Ernie Banks and showed it on the board beyond left field." The Banks tribute and the board "dovetailed nicely as the Cubs unveiled their biggest change in the early stages of the ballpark renovations" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/6). Also in Chicago, David Haugh writes the Cubs deserve kudos for "getting a 101-year-old ballpark under construction to sparkle for such a grand party and aesthetically melding the past with the present in a way that served both masters. Seeing Wrigley without fans in the bleachers "admittedly felt like going to church with empty pews, but chances are those who came got what they wanted out of their Sunday experience." Whoever came up with the idea of covering the bleachers with 10 1,200-square-foot tarps featuring images of Banks "deserves a raise." The videoboard "isn't quite as intrusive" as the one at the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, but it "definitely attracts eyes like magnet to steel." The Cubs "wisely stayed away from cliche in-game stunts like catching couples on a kiss cam or racing candy pieces" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6). The TRIBUNE's Steve Rosenbloom writes the board "looked glorious, brilliantly presenting pictures and video." This "is the new altar at the old baseball cathedral." Cubs Senior Dir of Marketing Alison Miller said that there "are no plans to show 30-second commercials because 'that's us not doing our job if we just resort to showing commercials'" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6).
ATMOSPHERE STILL THE SAME: ESPN CHICAGO's Jon Greenberg wrote the construction around the park "didn’t seem to affect the Wrigley atmosphere, as Cardinals and Cubs fans filled the park as if it were a playoff game" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 4/5). In St. Louis, Derrick Goold reports the Cardinals "complimented the new profile of Wrigley with its modern scoreboard and spoke enthusiastically about the changes ahead" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/6). ESPN’s Curt Schilling said, "Watching this happen in Fenway and the way that (Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein) was involved in it, you look at the end process and you almost feel like they’re going to be printing money here the way the organization is going to be, the position it’s going to be in when all that stuff is said and done.” ESPN’s John Kruk said, “You look at the Spring Training facilities now in baseball. You don’t want to take a step back by leaving Spring Training and getting to your major league ballpark, so the Cubs need to upgrade” (“Cardinals-Cubs,” ESPN2, 4/5).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: The TRIBUNE's Haugh wrote from sunrise to sunset these days, crews "toil on baseball's biggest construction site." The buzz "is palpable, and the noise of cranes and jackhammers will become the soundtrack of summer in Wrigleyville" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/5). In N.Y., Ben Strauss reports an idle crane last night "sat beyond the center-field wall while construction workers in hard hats milled around." The back of the videoboard "remained unfinished, with wires and ladders exposed" on it (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6). In Chicago, Chris Hine writes the unfinished videoboard "looks like the unfinished backstage of a Broadway play." There "are four horizontal sections, each about 101/2 feet high, that are lined with wooden planks, some of those ladders and wires." The metal back of the screen "is visible" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6). Beth Murphy, the owner of a Wrigley rooftop club, said of the ballpark's ongoing construction zone, "This is much worse than I expected. I didn't expect it be very good. But this is very dirty and noisy" (USA TODAY, 4/6).
PLUMBING PROBLEMS: In Chicago, David Just reports the Cubs today apologized for long bathroom lines at last night's game, saying the team was "simply not prepared to handle guests during peak periods." Cubs VP/Communications Julian Green in a statement said, "We have high standards for service and we missed the mark last night." The team will bring in portable bathrooms while the Wrigley renovation continues. Just notes lines "winded around the stadium," which was already "down three bathrooms due to the ongoing construction." Additionally, two bathrooms in the upper deck "went down temporarily, forcing fans down to the main concourse where the stadium was already experiencing issues with long wait times" (SUNTIMES.com, 4/6). YAHOO SPORTS' Jeff Passan reported the long waits "forced desperate patrons to relieve themselves in empty cups and corners of the venerable old ballpark." Fixing the bathroom issue is "priority No. 1 as the Cubs begin" the season. Even if the construction delays on the new Wrigley "are troublesome, its unveiling ... was supposed to be momentous." During the game and after, fans "lit up social media sites with complaints, cognizant that Wrigley never has been the friendliest place for fans in search of comfortable bathroom experiences" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/5). ESPN’s Mike Golic said, “You have the Cubs -- who have the most money bet on them in Vegas for the World Series this year -- getting shutout, leaving 13 runners in scoring position and you can’t go to the bathroom in a timely fashion. So what a great start to the season” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 4/6).
