Talks for Cubs to play at Cell while Wrigley gets facelift?

[UMFan83]

The link is from a BCB Diary, but he claims its from a WSCR update:

 

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/story/2008/2/26/131925/391

 

WSCR "The Score" just reported on one of their news breaks that talks have already been "broached" (whatever that means) about the Cubs playing at least one season in U.S. Cellular Field while Wrigley Field gets a complete facelift, save the bleachers, scoreboard, and of course, the new playing field. Basically, the same thing the Bears did a few years ago, and the same thing the Yankees did in the early '70s when they played two seasons in Shea Stadium. No official sources were listed, but it was reported that this may happen as soon as the 2010 season.

 

Ummm...interesting...

Edited February 26, 2008 by UMFan83

[erik316wttn]

They should play a few games in Milwaukee, too. They'd sell the place out.

[Roast]

Oh wow. Please don't make me go to Hell in a Cell for games...plz cubs.

[UMFan83]

Oh wow. Please don't make me go to Hell in a Cell for games...plz cubs.

 

With our luck, that would the year we'd win the World Series too.

 

Not that I'd mind winning the World Series but still...

[Roast]

Oh wow. Please don't make me go to Hell in a Cell for games...plz cubs.

 

With our luck, that would the year we'd win the World Series too.

 

Not that I'd mind winning the World Series but still...

Ugh. No kidding. I don't know if I could deal with that.

[David]

I heard the update too, but I didn't hear enough about it to post it. But I can confirm that the parts that I heard match up with that.

[David]

Better than the Bears being in Champaign. They'd have to be a little creative with the scheduling to get 162+ games in one park.

[Derwood]

there is a 0% chance Reinsdorf allows this to happen for less than 11 Jabillion dollars. and we know what side Mayor daley would be on that feud

[erik316wttn]

there is a 0% chance Reinsdorf allows this to happen for less than 11 Jabillion dollars. and we know what side Mayor daley would be on that feud

 

Then go north to Milwaukee. The Brewers don't completely hate us, I don't think.

 

Go half and half. 40 games or so in Milwaukee, and 40 games in the Cell.

[UMFan83]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

[Derwood]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

my guess is they'll do something very similar to Soldier Field, wherein they retain the facade of the park and gut all the stands /clubhouses and start over

[David]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

I wouldn't have a big problem with it. You can bet that they'd do it tastefully (as they've done with all the upgrades to the park), and it would be in the same neighborhood, which is a big part of the whole Wrigley thing. I have no problem with a bunch of aging concrete being torn down and replaced.

[UMFan83]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

my guess is they'll do something very similar to Soldier Field, wherein they retain the facade of the park and gut all the stands /clubhouses and start over

 

I guess that wouldn't be too bad. I would like to see a plan first though. You know their main goal is to try to get as many luxury boxes in the park as possible, with little worry about how the rest of the ticketholders are effected.

[seanimal]

there is a 0% chance Reinsdorf allows this to happen for less than 11 Jabillion dollars. and we know what side Mayor daley would be on that feud

 

Then go north to Milwaukee. The Brewers don't completely hate us, I don't think.

 

Go half and half. 40 games or so in Milwaukee, and 40 games in the Cell.

 

What? Playing any more games than they would normally play in Milwaukee makes no sense.

 

I think it'd be pretty awesome to play a season in the cell. "U.S. Cellular Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs". That would have to sting a little for the "good guys".

[Irrelevant Dude]

I would understand if this were to happen, but a summer without a trip to Wrigley Field just wouldn't feel like summer.

[CubinNY]

It is strangely odd that they would be talking about this as they are pushing the sale of the Cubs. What owner would want to pay a billion dollars to buy the Cubs + Wrigley and then have to put in another half a billion or so to retrofit the park?

[seanimal]

It is strangely odd that they would be talking about this as they are pushing the sale of the Cubs. What owner would want to pay a billion dollars to buy the Cubs + Wrigley and then have to put in another half a billion or so to retrofit the park?

 

a good one

[Irrelevant Dude]

What owner would want to pay a billion dollars to buy the Cubs + Wrigley and then have to put in another half a billion or so to retrofit the park?

That's the catch. The owner won't be paying for Wrigley, because it will be sold separately to the state agency.

[erik316wttn]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

my guess is they'll do something very similar to Soldier Field, wherein they retain the facade of the park and gut all the stands /clubhouses and start over

 

As long as they keep the big things that make it Wrigley Field, I'm ok with it. Keep the scoreboard, the Ivy, the brick, the bullpens along the foul lines, and the Wrigleyville atmosphere. Don't give me any damn jumbotrons.

[erik316wttn]

I would understand if this were to happen, but a summer without a trip to Wrigley Field just wouldn't feel like summer.

 

Anything that can ensure that I can take my yet-unborn children to their first Cubs game at Wrigley Field like my dad did for me I'm in favor of.

[hawkcub]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

my guess is they'll do something very similar to Soldier Field, wherein they retain the facade of the park and gut all the stands /clubhouses and start over

 

As long as they keep the big things that make it Wrigley Field, I'm ok with it. Keep the scoreboard, the Ivy, the brick, the bullpens along the foul lines, and the Wrigleyville atmosphere. Don't give me any damn jumbotrons.

 

Quite honestly any new ballpark would get rid of certain things. The Ivy is gone unless they can figure out away to grow it through padded walls. Same thing goes for the brick. Because they would have to build it to code.

[TarzanJoeWallis]

What owner would want to pay a billion dollars to buy the Cubs + Wrigley and then have to put in another half a billion or so to retrofit the park?

That's the catch. The owner won't be paying for Wrigley, because it will be sold separately to the state agency.

 

That's right. I heard the report (it was George Offman) and it basically said that if the the Illinois Sports Authority takes over the ballpark, they want the Historical Landmark restrictions eased so they can do a rehab on the place other than the areas that were mentioned in the post earlier. He said the plan was to gut the grandstand area and rebuild. He reported a cost of around $350 million and said it could happen as early as 2010.

 

I didn't get the impression it would be like Soldier Field though where it looked like a new stadium. I was thinking it would still look like Wrigley, just new (kind of like the Bleachers project).

[David]

The thing that scares me is the thought of it having a Soldier Field makeover. I assume this means that they will tear down the existing ballpark and rebuild one in its place. The good news is that it has to fit on the plot of land it stands on so its not going to be some really spaced out ballpark with luxury boxes completely pushing back the upper deck into irrelevancy.

 

Although they could take out the players parking lot and take over the space where they were planning on building the parking garage and make that part of the ballpark. Hmmm

 

my guess is they'll do something very similar to Soldier Field, wherein they retain the facade of the park and gut all the stands /clubhouses and start over

 

As long as they keep the big things that make it Wrigley Field, I'm ok with it. Keep the scoreboard, the Ivy, the brick, the bullpens along the foul lines, and the Wrigleyville atmosphere. Don't give me any damn jumbotrons.

 

Quite honestly any new ballpark would get rid of certain things. The Ivy is gone unless they can figure out away to grow it through padded walls. Same thing goes for the brick. Because they would have to build it to code.

 

They don't necessarily have to rebuild the outfield wall or the bleachers (which were just rebuilt, anyway).

[FearTheBako]

I'm sure we have all heard the arguement from Sox fans that 75% of the fans a Cubs games are only there to hang out at Wrigley. Were this situation to happen it would be very interesting to see just how the Cubs draw at the Cell.

[CubinNY]

What owner would want to pay a billion dollars to buy the Cubs + Wrigley and then have to put in another half a billion or so to retrofit the park?

That's the catch. The owner won't be paying for Wrigley, because it will be sold separately to the state agency.

 

That's right. I heard the report (it was George Offman) and it basically said that if the the Illinois Sports Authority takes over the ballpark, they want the Historical Landmark restrictions eased so they can do a rehab on the place other than the areas that were mentioned in the post earlier. He said the plan was to gut the grandstand area and rebuild. He reported a cost of around $350 million and said it could happen as early as 2010.

 

I didn't get the impression it would be like Soldier Field though where it looked like a new stadium. I was thinking it would still look like Wrigley, just new (kind of like the Bleachers project).

Hmm, interesting. I thought selling Wrigley and the Cubs in two different deals was a ploy to get the price up of the Cubs.

 

Next question, who would buy the Cubs and not Wrigley? That would seem pretty foolish unless the new owner planned to move them elsewhere.