Both home and away dugouts were shifted 25 to 30 feet down the lines and widened by 7 1/2 to 12 feetGETTY IMAGES
The Cubs recently showed off the second-to-last phase of Wrigley’s five-year, $750M makeover, and if there is "one word that sums up the renovations," it is "space," according to Phil Thompson of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Construction crews "carved new space out of concrete, earth and walls, or removed clutter such as food kiosks, to create more room for dugouts, fan walkways, the visitors’ clubhouse and new concession stands." Dugouts were "shifted 25 to 30 feet down the lines and widened by 7 1/2 to 12 feet." Additionally, fans will now have "access to faster Wi-Fi in limited areas of the ballpark thanks to a partnership with Xfinity," which also "plans to expand the service inside the ballpark and neighboring campus during the season." Meanwhile, several mobile food stations that had "occupied the ground-level concourse have been relocated to less obtrusive areas or removed entirely." The ballpark will have "more grills and other areas where fresh food can be prepared at the stadium instead of trucked in, and it will be cooked at new concessions stands such as Clark Street Grill or made in lower-level kitchens." Three of four new premium clubs are at "different stages of completion, and construction will go on during the season," but the American Airlines 1914 Club "will be ready for the home opener" today. Next season, the team "plans to add more concession options in the upper decks" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8). THE ATHLETIC's Lauren Comitor noted the "big news" on Friday was the Cubs' multiyear partnership with Comcast's Xfinity brand, as fans now will "experience about 1,000 times more wireless speed and capacity." Perhaps most important to players is that the dugouts now "allow for two rows of benches" (THEATHLETIC.com, 4/7).
STAY THE NIGHT: In Chicago, Tanveer Ali noted the "major addition" to the neighborhood around Wrigley is the 175-room Hotel Zachary across from the ballpark. The hotel "opened a week before Opening Day" and is "set to be home to restaurants." The building also is "home to a new McDonald's" after the QSR's previous location in the area was "demolished to make way for the hotel." The hotel also "has an underground garage" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/8). Also in Chicago, Blair Kamin wrote under the header, "New Hotel Stylishly Complements Wrigley Field, But Can't Match Its Authenticity." The "peekaboo views" of Wrigley from the hotel "speak to what distinguishes the hotel’s design: It’s visually and thematically connected to Wrigley and not just because it’s named for Zachary Taylor Davis, Wrigley’s original architect." Kamin: "The hotel strikes an effective balance between ceding center stage to Wrigley and making its own statement" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/7).
