Knot hole a good idea gone bad

[JonnyRed]

When I first heard that the Cubs were building a window out in right field to allow people walking by to get a knot hole view into the games, I thought it was a great idea. What a perfect way to extend the classic architecture of Wrigley Field while also building some better connection with the neighborhood.

 

Now, we understand that the Cubs won't be allowing fans to see into Wrigley on gamedays. They will instill one of those infamous windscreens to block the view during games. So what's the point? Sure, maybe it will be novel the first time or two to be able to look into the infield from outside, but isn't the point of a knot hole to catch all the action? I supported the Cubs when they blocked the view for the rooftops, because they shouldn't have been able to block the bleacher expansion and make a free buck off the Cubs, but this is ridiculous.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Blocking it could be a good idea though. Can you imagine the congestion along the knothole on days of "big" games. I could see a fight starting as drunks jockey for position along the knothole.

[Dr. Cub]

I have to agree with Vance on this one. Making the "hole" available for games is asking for trouble. Can you imagine the mob when the Cubs play the Sox, or if the Cubs were in a pennant or wild card race? Fights would be constant. It would be anarchy.

[sethuel1]

The Giants manage to do it without random street killings.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The Giants manage to do it without random street killings.

 

Don't they have random killings inside the park?

[JonnyRed]

I'm sure the Cubs could figure out a way to manage the crowds. I can't imagine people camping out for the entire game.

 

It's kind of like telling kids them can come inside to the pool, but they can't go swimming. What's the point?

[Peoriaman]

good move. It is definitely a safety issue.

[goonys evil twin]

I thought it was a pretty silly and pointless idea and see no problem with not keeping it open. The area around Wrigley is unlike any other ballpark/community in the country in the way it draws crowds on gamedays. There are just far too many people milling about to keep a small unobstructed street level view to the game open. It's not like this was a 100 year tradition and they are covering it up, it never was, and it never will be.

[hardcorecubfan]

Blocking it could be a good idea though. Can you imagine the congestion along the knothole on days of "big" games. I could see a fight starting as drunks jockey for position along the knothole.

 

shocking !!! are you saying that people drink around Wrigley Field?? Let alone before the game??

 

:roll:

[Magnetic Curses]

you better "knot" mention that again.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Blocking it could be a good idea though. Can you imagine the congestion along the knothole on days of "big" games. I could see a fight starting as drunks jockey for position along the knothole.

 

shocking !!! are you saying that people drink around Wrigley Field?? Let alone before the game??

 

:roll:

 

Wow..adding "rolling eyes" almost ...just almost makes that post informative and add something to the discussion. Almost, but not quite.

[Dr. Cub]

you better "knot" mention that again.

 

Wow, look, it's a talking goat!!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

you better "knot" mention that again.

 

Wow, look, it's a talking goat!!

 

Huh? It's dark, I cannot see you, come closer. Hello?

[Dr. Cub]

you better "knot" mention that again.

 

Wow, look, it's a talking goat!!

 

Huh? It's dark, I cannot see you, come closer. Hello?

 

What's superimposed?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Wrigley is turning more and more gimmicky every year. I really don't see the need to have the "knot hole" if you can't use it during games. Then again, I guess I could see people standing there when the Cubs are on the road and watch the groundskeepers watering and mowing the grass.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My guess is that the Cubs thought it would be nice to let passer-bys look into the park on game days, but after much thought on the issue, they may have realized the safety and logistical problems that it would cause.

 

The Cubs may not be willing to invest the resources in manpower needed to keep the orderly flow of pedestrians in the area and to ensure the safety of those looking through the knot-hole on game days.

 

I think the Wrigley Field area is probably a difficult place to have such a feature. Unlike a lot of ballparks, there is a large amount of traffic around the ballpark on game days that you do not have at other venues.

[Jon]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/21857942.jpg

I hope they're just going to have the regular green doors there when there's a game.

 

That's the actual bleacher box seat location, by the way.

 

And here's the restaurant:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2006-02/21858056.jpg

[2242005CY]

I think the point about the knothole isn't whether or not you think it's a great idea or that in a civilized society people would kill eachother over a GLANCE at a Cubs game through a hole buried in the RF corner of Wrigley, but why in fact did the Cubs, when proposing this idea, proclaim that it was "to give something back to the community"?

 

Then turn around and say that "the person on the sidewalk who hasn't bought a ticket isn't entitled" to a free look at the game?

 

It's this attitude of total contempt and disconnect from Cubs management towards their fans, that I wish I never was born a Cubs fan. I'm too old to disown this team otherwise I would. Another fine reminder that the Cubs, moreso than any other organization, is a whore for the bottomline and TRULY only cares about the bottomline and not WINNING. Before anyone rails me for saying that the Cubs are a business yada yada, save yourself cuz i'm perfectly aware of that. but unlike many other organizations the Cubs refuse to give anything back to the fans (example season ticket holders) without a price.

 

Just when I was starting to get positive and feel good about the oncoming ST and 2006 season, I have to read this slew of garbage.

[Jon]

They probably just realized that it was a bad idea all around to begin with. It's important to remember that the only possible place to have a knothole was in an existing opening. The seats over the two other large openings, in left center and right center, are too deep to allow fans to get even remotely close. That left the right field corner. I don't know why they thought that would be a good spot for it during games, but there's no real way that anyone could see the action from that angle. At least not the batter. You could see into the stadium, but it's not like fans would be able to actually watch the game like fans in the stadium, on the rooftops, or at home.

[2242005CY]

I respectfully disagree with you there Davis. I think the Cubs knew damn well what they were doing. Everything they said when they proposed this originally was all window dressing. This remodeling was originally to accomodate Cub fans and make it possible for more (regular) Cub fans to see the Cubs. WHat it has turned out is a complete and utter corporate project where the RF seats will be $60 ($60!!), where the knothole which was going to be a tiny gift to the community who couldn't get tickets to garner a peak at the game and add a little more "aura" has turned out to be something people shouldn't be able to view without paying and the restaurant has turned into a "corporate luxury box" which I won't even guess how much it'll cost to rent out.

 

Again, whether or not you agree with the idea that you shouldn't be able to see any part of a game for free, really is not the point. The point is they flat out lied when they proposed this. Also, who in their right mind would actually want to stand at that knothole, where viewing would be incredibly limited and watch a game?

 

They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, which irritates me the most. They lied, bottomline. You can not possibly disagree otherwise. The only possible explanation is "bad idea in first place etc etc" and I'm not buying that either.

 

Tell 'em one thing and give 'em something else. That's the Cubs motto for business.

Edited February 9, 2006 by #2242005CY

[J.R.]

I respectfully disagree with you there Davis. I think the Cubs knew damn well what they were doing. Everything they said when they proposed this originally was all window dressing. This remodeling was originally to accomodate Cub fans and make it possible for more (regular) Cub fans to see the Cubs. WHat it has turned out is a complete and utter corporate project where the RF seats will be $60 ($60!!), where the knothole which was going to be a tiny gift to the community who couldn't get tickets to garner a peak at the game and add a little more "aura" has turned out to be something people shouldn't be able to view without paying and the restaurant has turned into a "corporate luxury box" which I won't even guess how much it'll cost to rent out.

 

They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, which irritates me the most. They lied, bottomline. You can not possibly disagree otherwise. The only possible explanation is "bad idea in first place etc etc" and I'm not buying that either.

 

Tell 'em one thing and give 'em something else. That's the Cubs motto for business.

 

Bitter?

[sethuel1]

I respectfully disagree with you there Davis. I think the Cubs knew damn well what they were doing. Everything they said when they proposed this originally was all window dressing. This remodeling was originally to accomodate Cub fans and make it possible for more (regular) Cub fans to see the Cubs. WHat it has turned out is a complete and utter corporate project where the RF seats will be $60 ($60!!), where the knothole which was going to be a tiny gift to the community who couldn't get tickets to garner a peak at the game and add a little more "aura" has turned out to be something people shouldn't be able to view without paying and the restaurant has turned into a "corporate luxury box" which I won't even guess how much it'll cost to rent out.

 

They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, which irritates me the most. They lied, bottomline. You can not possibly disagree otherwise. The only possible explanation is "bad idea in first place etc etc" and I'm not buying that either.

 

Tell 'em one thing and give 'em something else. That's the Cubs motto for business.

 

Bitter?

 

he might be bitter, but he's right.

[2242005CY]

I respectfully disagree with you there Davis. I think the Cubs knew damn well what they were doing. Everything they said when they proposed this originally was all window dressing. This remodeling was originally to accomodate Cub fans and make it possible for more (regular) Cub fans to see the Cubs. WHat it has turned out is a complete and utter corporate project where the RF seats will be $60 ($60!!), where the knothole which was going to be a tiny gift to the community who couldn't get tickets to garner a peak at the game and add a little more "aura" has turned out to be something people shouldn't be able to view without paying and the restaurant has turned into a "corporate luxury box" which I won't even guess how much it'll cost to rent out.

 

They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, which irritates me the most. They lied, bottomline. You can not possibly disagree otherwise. The only possible explanation is "bad idea in first place etc etc" and I'm not buying that either.

 

Tell 'em one thing and give 'em something else. That's the Cubs motto for business.

 

Bitter?

 

As a matter of fact I am. You must be a stockholder for this not to upset you.Sorry sport but I don't like being lied to period. No matter who it is doing the lying.

[Jon]

Just because an architect (not the Cubs, by the way. It was probably just the architect's way of justifying it) said they wanted to give something back to the community doesn't mean that the project was actually going to do that. While there are a decent number of people near the corner of Addison and Sheffield during games, it's not exactly a representation of the general community. They're mostly bar folk. Free key chains would have been a better and more useful gift back to the community than a knot hole in right field. It really wasn't going to serve anyone to begin with. But it's still going to be nice on non-game days, especially for out-of-towners.

 

I have no idea why McGuire said that fans weren't entitled to it since there are a ton of other reasons why it's not a good idea. The bleacher expansion project was to add seats and they did that. The right field box seats are going to account for just 0.6% of the total seating capacity. They're even a relatively small number compared to the other bleacher seats. The knot hole, those seats, and the center field restaurant really don't take anything away from the average fan and are only small parts of the entire expansion project.

[J.R.]

I respectfully disagree with you there Davis. I think the Cubs knew damn well what they were doing. Everything they said when they proposed this originally was all window dressing. This remodeling was originally to accomodate Cub fans and make it possible for more (regular) Cub fans to see the Cubs. WHat it has turned out is a complete and utter corporate project where the RF seats will be $60 ($60!!), where the knothole which was going to be a tiny gift to the community who couldn't get tickets to garner a peak at the game and add a little more "aura" has turned out to be something people shouldn't be able to view without paying and the restaurant has turned into a "corporate luxury box" which I won't even guess how much it'll cost to rent out.

 

They knew EXACTLY what they were doing, which irritates me the most. They lied, bottomline. You can not possibly disagree otherwise. The only possible explanation is "bad idea in first place etc etc" and I'm not buying that either.

 

Tell 'em one thing and give 'em something else. That's the Cubs motto for business.

 

Bitter?

 

As a matter of fact I am. and if you had any self dignity you would be as well (or not a stockholder). Sorry sport but I don't like being lied to period. No matter who it is doing the lying.

 

Where's the dignity in claiming harm where none exists? Unless you were planning to watch all 81 games from the sidewalk I really don't see the source for your outrage.

 

More Cub fans will be able to see games from the bleachers, and will do so more comfortably. Wheelchair seating will be availble where none existed before. The rooftops are still in business, the park's looks will be improved, and the ballclub will make more money. What's not to like?