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Cubs Debut Wrigley Field Renovations, Raise Championship Banner During Home Opener

The Cubs last night raised their World Series banner prior to their game against the Dodgers, and fans were able to "relive the franchise's first championship" since 1908 "thanks to The Park at Wrigley, a plaza that opened Monday afternoon and abuts the still-being-renovated" Wrigley Field, according to Paul Skrbina of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. A large video screen on the team's new office building "showed the Cubs' historic 10-inning victory against the Indians" to win the title and "showed off part of the third phase" of the $750M Wrigley Field upgrade. There was a ceremony "marking the opening of what the Cubs referred to as Wrigleyville's new town square and a year-round gathering place for neighbors, families, fans and visitors." Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts, whose real estate development company designed and built The Park at Wrigley, said, "This park is the embodiment of my family's commitment to being a good neighbor. We are proud to create this space for the community" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11).

A BANNER DAY: In DC, Dave Sheinin notes Cubs players last night were "walking en masse across the outfield, through an opening in the wall, under the bleachers and out to a raised flag court with four empty flagpoles." The ceremony was "delayed for more than an hour by rain in the area, but few seemed to mind" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/11). In N.Y., Tyler Kepner notes Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo came out "carrying the Commissioner’s Trophy high." Ricketts then "held it while throwing a ceremonial first pitch" with his sister Laura and brother Todd (N.Y. TIMES, 4/11). ESPN.com's Jesse Rogers notes four new poles "were installed for the banner raising." Baseball HOFer Ryne Sandberg "got to raise" the 1907 banner, and HOFer Fergie Jenkins "did the honors" with 1908. HOFer Billy Williams "pulled the strings on the NL pennant" before players from the '16 team "raised the final banner commemorating the World Series win" (ESPN.com, 4/11). Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said, "The best part about last year was we all got to be part of something bigger than ourselves, connected to each other and the fans and the organization and the city. They say all glory is fleeting, and it is, but the flag will fly forever" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/11). In Chicago, Paul Sullivan wrote the "joyous ceremony" will "live on in Facebook feeds forevermore" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11).

NEW FEEL, SAME PARK: In Chicago, Blair Kamin writes new features to Wrigley Field -- an outdoor plaza, a six-story office and retail building and a new gate along the ballpark's west flank -- "largely succeed in respecting the visual character" of the 103-year-old ballpark and "bringing something fresh to the table." The most notable addition, the plaza, "promises to enliven its surroundings year-round with outdoor concerts, movies, farmers markets and ice skating" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11). Also in Chicago, Andrea Salcedo writes under the header, "Wrigley Field's New Look Is A Hit With Many -- If Not All -- Fans" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/11). Cubs manager Joe Maddon: "I love all the capital improvements that are made to the building. I also love the fact that it really maintains the original edifice, the original structure, the original feel of the entire building. ... The Ricketts family has done a wonderful job of maintaining the past and building into the future" ("SportsCenter,"  ESPN, 4/10). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Chad Yoder notes the team "added four new rows of seats where the bull pens used to be." Many of these seats will be "associated with premium clubs that are planned for future seasons." The seating areas in the lower bowl behind home plate also "have all been replaced." The area underneath the seats has been "dug out to create the future home of the American Airlines 1914 Club." Construction on the club will "continue throughout the season" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11). The TRIBUNE's Sullivan notes the new bullpen doors are "made of green Plexiglas so that fans looking at them from the outside will see a green Under Armour ad, while players inside can see the action, albeit with a tint" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/11). In Chicago, Lauren Zumbach noted the team opened a new store yesterday "outside Wrigley Field." For sale are "autographed game-used jerseys and balls, a Cubs Fender electric guitar and trendier, more upscale apparel made with brands like Levi's, Columbia Sportswear and Tommy Bahama" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 4/10). 

ENTERING NEW TERRITORY: The TIMES' Kepner notes the Cubs "raised season-ticket prices" by an average of 19.5% this season, but demand has "never been higher" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/11). In Chicago, Rick Telander writes winning a World Series for a "championship-starved populace like the Cubs Nation" means the team can "just about set" its price for Cubs-related goods and services in the future. It is "new territory, for sure." Big-stakes economics have "arrived in Cubdom, and with it has come the pressure to deliver more and better stuff" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/11). Also in Chicago, Mike Imrem writes the question now is "how different the new different will be from the old different because it will be different one way or another now that the Cubs finally won a World Series." Imrem: "Will fans feel more urgency to win a second than they did to win a first? Or will they be more relaxed with the long wait over?" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/11). In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes it was just two years ago that Opening Day was a "disaster, bleachers closed and bathrooms unavailable as the national media -- justifiably so -- had plenty of fun at the Cubs' expense." Since then, all they have done is "rebuild a 100-year-old museum, make it a modern-day palace and win a World Series" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 4/11).

IN MEMORY: MLB.com's Carrie Muskat notes there was a "moment of silence" before last night's game for former MLB Senior VP/Scheduling & Club Relations Katy Feeney and former Cubs GM Dallas Green, who "both recently passed away" (MLB.com, 4/11).

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