Wrigley Field

[seanimal]

Its hard to say, there would be far less day games if they moved, the only reasons they play a lot of day games now is because the city wont allow them anymore than 26 or something. It would make it harder for the city fans yes, but fans from the far out burbs would be more likely to head to a location like schaumburg for a game than to head all the way into the city durning rush hour (for night games) for a game.

 

That's a very good point. Another reason why I don't want the Cubs to move: less day games. I understand all the incredibly valid arguments for more night games, but at the same time, it's baseball, a game that used to played in the sunshine exclusively until those darned Reds introduced lights at their ballpark. I value day games for many incredibly invalid reasons, such as more party time after the game, getting drunk in the sunshine, etc. But most of all, for a game that has changed so much but not really changed all that much, a day game at Wrigley Field is probably almost the exact same experience it was 50 years ago. That's pretty awesome.

[papabear58]

Its hard to say, there would be far less day games if they moved, the only reasons they play a lot of day games now is because the city wont allow them anymore than 26 or something. It would make it harder for the city fans yes, but fans from the far out burbs would be more likely to head to a location like schaumburg for a game than to head all the way into the city durning rush hour (for night games) for a game.

 

That's a very good point. Another reason why I don't want the Cubs to move: less day games. I understand all the incredibly valid arguments for more night games, but at the same time, it's baseball, a game that used to played in the sunshine exclusively until those darned Reds introduced lights at their ballpark. I value day games for many incredibly invalid reasons, such as more party time after the game, getting drunk in the sunshine, etc. But most of all, for a game that has changed so much but not really changed all that much, a day game at Wrigley Field is probably almost the exact same experience it was 50 years ago. That's pretty awesome.

 

Day games also can be excluding to people who work at the time. Working in an office myself, I often wish that the Cubs played more night games or I enjoy when they are out of town so that I can watch a game rather then relying on a DVR and hoping that someone doesn't blab the score before I can get a chance to watch it. While it is nice to be able to fast forward through commercials, it's a pain in the butt to have to avoid anything and all things Cubs all day long for fear of hearing a score. I wish we could keep Wrigley and have more night games too.....

[The Voice of Reason]

I may need to reconsider my view -Jay Mariotti agrees with me.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/334586,CST-SPT-jay10.article

 

What a smart owner would do, rather, is knock down the grandstand and build it right back up again. And do it soon, too, before it literally does crumble to the ground.

 

If that sounds sacrilegious, I call it necessary and sensible. Nothing is terribly sentimental about the grandstand, which started showing its age decades ago and became a dangerous hazard in 2004. The tight nets installed then are intact, eerie reminders that one large concrete chunk hit an elderly woman on the foot and another nearly struck a father and his 5-year-old son. The entire structure could be imploded quicker than it takes Alfonso Soriano to steal second base. Once the debris is cleared, you'd quite simply retrofit a state-of-the-art grandstand with luxury suites and all the amenities, bathrooms and eateries.

 

You wrap the new structure from the left-field foul pole to the right-field foul pole. You maintain the same basic shape, including the peristyle entrance and vintage red sign, but you also make sure the sightlines are better and the outfield seating sections angle inward -- like Cleveland's Jacobs Field -- instead of into the street. This would be an easy plan to execute, simply because most new parks have some form of Wrigley's design in their grandstands. Been to San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver, Philadelphia, Baltimore? All have borrowed from Wrigley. Any would work as the new Wrigley.

 

As for the outfield, every element must stay in all its sacred beauty. The walls, the vines, the expanded bleachers, the classic scoreboard -- DON'T TOUCH A THING. And certainly don't install huge outfield billboards as they have at Fenway Park because then you'd be wrecking the most breathtaking panorama in sports, the neighborhood and tall buildings and the lake and boats beyond. This plan should satisfy any concern about Wrigley's landmark status, though a White Sox-loving mayor may play political head games and be as rough the next owner as he was on the sorry Tribsters.

[Magnetic Curses]

Wrigley will always be the best in my eyes, but obviously I'm biased. However, one of the old stadiums that I'll always remember fondly was County Stadium in Milwaukee. That place had character. You have to like a place that has a giant keg and a mascot that slides into a huge mug of beer. I've very disappointed they got rid of that tradition with Miller Park, which is odd since the stadium is named after a beer.

 

Yeah I miss County Stadium as well. Another co-worker that used to live in the Milwaukee area agrees as well. That place was a much more enjoyable place to take in a ballgame.

 

ugh, county staium was little more than a slab of concrete and asphalt. i hated that place.

 

i haven't seen a game at miller, yet. i have tickets to the june 4th game, i'll reserve judgement until then.

 

and i think bernie brewer still slides into a mug of beer, although i may be wrong.

 

yep, i'm right.

 

http://siggy99.mlblogs.com/photos/ballparkstour/millerbernies.jpg

 

He goes down a slide, but I don't see the mug of beer. It's just a slide.

 

true dat. i think they wanted to make the new stadium a bit more family-friendly.

 

wisconsin is a state of alcoholism.

[jersey cubs fan]

I may need to reconsider my view -Jay Mariotti agrees with me.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/334586,CST-SPT-jay10.article

 

I agree with this.

[Derwood]

he doesn't land in a beer mug anymore. Also, Miller Field is an atrocity. I hate that park.

 

As for Wrigley.....perhaps Mr. Zell (or whomever he sells the stadium to) should make a nice financial contribution to Daley's next campaign fund to get a little leverage

[J.R.]

I may need to reconsider my view -Jay Mariotti agrees with me.

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/334586,CST-SPT-jay10.article

 

I agree with this.

 

Me too.

[The Voice of Reason]

It's obvious Jay is lacking in original thoughts and has taken to reading NSBB posts for his ideas.