Cubs Reach Wrigley Renovations Deal, Detail Plans

Officials announced a plan Monday that will allow the Cubs to begin a $500 million renovation of Wrigley Field.

Agreed upon by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, the framework contains many elements and addresses key areas including—community investment, parking, public safety, amenities, the ballpark operations and scheduling.

“Lake View encompasses more than Wrigley Field,” Tunney said. “There are thousands of residents and hundreds of businesses who all contribute to the unique character of our neighborhood. Each of them benefits from the Cubs and there is no doubt our neighborhood is better and more vibrant with the Cubs at Clark and Addison. I’m proud they’ve recommitted to Wrigley Field.”

After weeks of rumors, a video board is confirmed to be a part of the plan. It will be played in left field where the current Toyota advertisement sits, and the Cubs say they plan to work with rooftop owners to minimize impacts of the new screen.

New signage will also be placed inside the park that won’t negatively affect the rooftop seats, like around the seating bowl.

Regarding parking, the Cubs, Tunney and the Chicago Department of Transportation are working together to create 1,000 remote parking spaces with shuttles to Wrigley Field. That’s combined with the new plan for traffic lights down Clark Street.

"We are anxious to work with our community as we seek the approvals required to move the project forward."

The proposal also increases the number of night games the team is allowed to play each season. It calls for 40 night games, 10 more than the Cubs are currently allowed, which includes the times Major League Baseball requires the team to play at night.

The plan will also allow four concerts per year to be authorized by special ordinance, as well as greater flexibility for off-season and smaller events at Wrigley Field.

A new safety plan will also be introduced, adding 30 additional people to the security team.

The Captain Morgan Club on Addison Street will, too, be getting an overhaul. It will soon be a two-story building with a merchandise store and visitor’s clubhouse.

The long-contested use of Sheffield Avenue for street events during games has also been factored into the proposal, with events allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning two hours before a game and ending at the end of 2nd inning.

The framework additionally calls for a number of opportunities for the Ricketts family to invest outside of the stadium, including a hotel that will accommodate 175 rooms, 75 parking spaces, food and beverage, retail and a 40,000 square foot health club, and a pedestrian bridge with public access over Clark Street connecting the hotel and plaza.

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The Ricketts family will be permitted to construct a building at the north end of the Triangle property to house Cubs offices, a hotel meeting space, as well as a plaza that will be managed by the team, retail shops and a kid’s zone. That’s combined with plans to reconstruct the Brown Parking Lot on Eddy Street.

These projects will go through the planned development and other formal approval processes with community input.

The Cubs will be allowed to place signage along the hotel, the office building, and the plaza to accommodate significant advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Included in this sign package will be a four screen video board within the plaza that, in addition to advertising, will allow the Cubs to broadcast Cubs games and “Movies in the Plaza” for the community.

“We are excited about moving forward with the approval process,” said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. “Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Tunney, we believe the Cubs proposal will help us invest in Wrigley Field and the Lake View community. We are anxious to work with our community as we seek the approvals required to move the project forward.”

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