Janet Marie Smith to the Cubs? Any impact on Wrigley Field?

[Misfit]

I didn't actually watch Chicago Tribune Live tonight, but I did read elsewhere that on tonight's show, Dave Kaplan said that the Cubs have hired Janet Marie Smith, the person who took part in the renovations of Fenway Park. She was with the Red Sox from 2002 and left the team at the end of August, according to several reports (including this link... http://www.fieldofschemes.com/news/archives/2009/08/3798_janet_marie_smi.html -- if you Google search her name, you will find similar stories).

 

If she truly is coming to the Cubs, could this mean that the organization is anticipating (under Rickett's) renovating Wrigley Field or some other plans? Let's face it, the team has probably been brainstorming ideas and such for years now and may already have a plan in place.

 

I haven't been to Wrigley that many times in my life, but compared to the Cell, which truly is a beautiful ballpark, I would love to see some major upgrades to Wrigley, or perhaps, even a new ballpark in a different location. Because I have not been to Wrigley that many times, I don't associate the team with the field, so I wouldn't really feel much of a loss.

 

What do other Cub fans think? Would you rather see a new park built elsewhere or renovations to Wrigley? If you want a new park, would you want a replica of Wrigley or a different style?

[Sammy Sofa]

Between rooting for the White Sox, thinking that the Cell is "beautiful" and your anti-Santo sentiment this is all terribly suspect.

[CubbieBum]

How much is toll troll?

 

Don't associate Wrigley with the team because you haven't been to Wrigley much??? Wrigley is as much a part of the Cubs as anything and its impossible to not associate it a lot with the Cubs. Fans and foes alike associate Wrigley with the Cubs.

[Misfit]

I have been very negative, I admit. I will try to change my tune in the future. Though, I do believe an upgrade to Wrigley or a new ballpark would be cool. I am indeed a Cub fan. Grew up with no cable for the first few years I watched baseball, so I could only watch them on WGN. I think the 1984 era blue jerseys are absolutely the best uniforms ever. I loved Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg and for the time, Sammy Sosa. I watched just about every game of the 2003 post season, and when they lost, I had said it was a worst feeling than a recent breakup I had went through. I thought opening day of 1993 would be the greatest day ever with Tuffy Rhodes hitting three home runs... then I was dismayed when they lost that game. I grew up watching the Cubs and that can never be taken away. The impact of the organization has left me somewhat bitter, however, and I have at times, questioned my loyalty to the team. At the very end, I want to see a World Series for this team just as bad as everyone else here.

[Sammy Sofa]

I've long longed for at least a renovation of Wrigley and would have no problem with a new stadium in Chicago.

[Misfit]

How much is toll troll?

 

Don't associate Wrigley with the team because you haven't been to Wrigley much??? Wrigley is as much a part of the Cubs as anything and its impossible to not associate it a lot with the Cubs. Fans and foes alike associate Wrigley with the Cubs.

 

I've enjoyed most games from the comfort of my home or at the sports bar or at a friend's house. The ball park doesn't mean a whole lot to me, personally. I won't take away it's place or its rightful spot in history.

 

I've enjoyed being a Cub fan without going to Wrigley much... not because I don't want to go there, just because I haven't gone to a whole lot of ball games in my life. Now that I'm out of college and working full-time, I can afford to go to a couple of games a year and don't mind taking the Red Line to get down there. Growing up, my parents never wanted to take me there because of the traffic and parking situation.

[Misfit]

I've long longed for at least a renovation of Wrigley and would have no problem with a new stadium in Chicago.

 

Ideally, it would be nice if they could significantly upgrade and maintain the aura of the Lakeview era. There is nothing like the Lakeview neighborhood on game day. Even if I can't get tickets, it's worth taking the day off and heading down to the area just to hang out.

[jiml60]

but compared to the Cell, which truly is a beautiful ballpark,

 

I've never been there, though I live less than a mile from it, but I would say that one thing that keeps it from being a truly, beautiful park is the Sox fans themselves.

[Sammy Sofa]

but compared to the Cell, which truly is a beautiful ballpark,

 

I've never been there, though I live less than a mile from it, but I would say that one thing that keeps it from being a truly, beautiful park is the Sox fans themselves.

 

That and it's the last of the wave of truly unremarkable and dull cookie cutter parks. Sox aside, it's simply a really dull ballpark.

[CubbieBum]

How much is toll troll?

 

Don't associate Wrigley with the team because you haven't been to Wrigley much??? Wrigley is as much a part of the Cubs as anything and its impossible to not associate it a lot with the Cubs. Fans and foes alike associate Wrigley with the Cubs.

 

I've enjoyed most games from the comfort of my home or at the sports bar or at a friend's house. The ball park doesn't mean a whole lot to me, personally. I won't take away it's place or its rightful spot in history.

 

I've enjoyed being a Cub fan without going to Wrigley much... not because I don't want to go there, just because I haven't gone to a whole lot of ball games in my life. Now that I'm out of college and working full-time, I can afford to go to a couple of games a year and don't mind taking the Red Line to get down there. Growing up, my parents never wanted to take me there because of the traffic and parking situation.

 

Its not the not going to Wrigley its the not associating it much with the Cubs. I've been to Wrigley all of 5 times but Wrigley is the Cubs to me and visa versa.

[seanimal]

I prefer renovating to relocating.

 

Comiskular is a really bland ballpark, unless you like gray. Then it's pizazz city.

[BCVM22]

I love Wrigley like nothing else - there is nothing like taking the Purple Line + Red Line south, spotting the light standards and the flags and the back of the scoreboard from the train, getting off at Addison and being treated to the eighth wonder of the world rising up from the city streets before you, entering below the world-famous marquee at Clark and Addison, climbing the ramps to the upper deck, realizing you're walking behind Santo's golf cart as he's ferried up to the press box (this has happened to me) and then emerging into the light and finding yourself surveying one of the finest vistas in the country, a stadiumscape of the bluest sky and the greenest grass and the ivy shimmering in the summer breeze and the rooftops in the background. There's a reason that players and fans alike treat the place as a cathedral - because it is.

 

Now, with that said, there's no denying that the place could do with some renovations, however minor or major. So the question, folks, becomes thusly: would you be willing to accept the Cubs having to play at the Cell for a season or two while Wrigley Field underwent extensive renovations?

[Abe Frohman]

Wrigley Field is the MECCA of Cub Fandom.

 

People make the pilgrimage to Wrigleyville every day from all over the world. Made my first visit in 1990 as a 15 year old. My income was not a factor. I mowed many a lawn for those tickets that summer. Cub fans will find a way.

[biittner77]

the Cell is to beautiful ballparks what white bread is to spicy food.

 

The only thing at all unique about the Cell is the exploding scoreboard- the only thing they kept from old Comiskey.

[Soul]

I don't care if you've never been to Wrigley even once -- to say you don't associate the Cubs with Wrigley field is downright strange.

 

I'm not saying the Cell is horrible, but after watching games in a bunch of other cities, I'd have to say it's rather nondescript.

[Tyrant]

Between rooting for the White Sox, thinking that the Cell is "beautiful" and your anti-Santo sentiment this is all terribly suspect.

 

There is nothing wrong with an anti-Santo sentiment, at least referring to him as an announcer. He's a joke of a broadcaster.

[Exile on Waveland]

If you think the Cell is a beautiful park you either (i) have never been to another park or seen another park on tv; (ii) have the worst taste ever; or (iii) are a troll.

[Sammy Sofa]

Between rooting for the White Sox, thinking that the Cell is "beautiful" and your anti-Santo sentiment this is all terribly suspect.

 

There is nothing wrong with an anti-Santo sentiment, at least referring to him as an announcer. He's a joke of a broadcaster.

 

Of course he is. That's why he's relegated to being the color guy on the radio broadcast. It would be one thing if the entire radio team was horrible, but given that he's paired with a pro like Hughes it's not like Santo is running the show. You still get the PBP from one of the best in the business and the added bonus of a lovable idiot spazzing out.

[Sammy Sofa]

Now, with that said, there's no denying that the place could do with some renovations, however minor or major. So the question, folks, becomes thusly: would you be willing to accept the Cubs having to play at the Cell for a season or two while Wrigley Field underwent extensive renovations?

 

Of course.

[Moises a loo]

can she play right field

[Garwilly]

Try not to let your bias affect you asseessment of the Cell. Having been to 20 plus stadiums, the post-renovated Cell is a pretty good park. As initially built, the place was a sterile "ballmall". Having completed a half dozen improvements to the park, it has come a long way.

[Prizefight]

I'm all for renovations to the park, pretty against the new stadium idea. I wouldn't object to them playing a season or part of one at the Cell if the schedule can be worked out. Wrigley needs to be more or less gutted from the bathrooms/seats/concourse areas etc. Just keep the field area/scoreboard the same imo.

The neighborhood feel of Wrigley is part of it's charm and I'd hate to lose that.

[Bote McBoteface]

I'm a fan of the Cubs, not of Wrigley Field. Cubs could play their home games at my old highschool baseball field and I'd watch. Renovate Wrigley or get rid of it.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm a fan of the Cubs, not of Wrigley Field. Cubs could play their home games at my old highschool baseball field and I'd watch. Renovate Wrigley or get rid of it.

 

I think this is kind of ridiculous. I'm a fan of the Cubs. My main goal is to see them win a WS. But I really like watching them play live, both on the road and at home. I enjoy the Wrigley experience much more than most other fields, especially suburban parking lot stadiums. I'd hate to watch them at your high school. I'm all for a serious renovation at the current location but would be really pissed if they moved to some suburb.

[SouthSideRyan]

I can't imagine it currently makes economic sense for the Cubs to build a new stadium unless the city paid for it(which will never happen, and I'm morally opposed to that bull [expletive] anyway.)