Wrigley Renovation Thread

[Guest]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/17642294-419/cubs-home-games-will-stay-home.html

 

Sources say the presentation Saturday will not coincide with any funding announcement, contrary to some speculation earlier in the week.

 

While the Cubs want local governments to pay for $150 million of the $300 million cost of the renovation project, the team’s focus for achieving that figure has shifted toward a package combining a smaller financial subsidy with the easing of landmark and zoning restrictions at and around the ballpark, according to sources.

 

Either way, the club’s financial analysis of the renovations’ impact on team revenues suggests it could cover the $150 million in less than two seasons if it paid for it itself.

 

According to a source with direct knowledge of the analysis, the Cubs anticipate $95 million in additional annual revenue directly resulting from the renovations. That’s more than a 30 percent increase from pre-renovation revenue.

[Guest]

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan

As for paying for renovations with future amusement tax revenues, Ricketts confirms that plan is officially dead.

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma When talking to media after session, Ricketts wouldn't say amusement tax option is completely off table. It's just not being discussed now

[Guest]

Looks like phase 1 of renovations will start after this season with the new clubhouse, batting tunnel, and all new concrete/seats in the lower deck, 3B side.

 

Cubs position on funding is basically either ease the restrictions on us and allow us to operate like a team that owns its own stadium, or give us public assistance.

 

As for the drawings, so far all I've been able to find are photos of the big screen at the convention, which aren't great. Hopefully the actual drawings will be released soon.

[UMFan83]

@CarrieMuskat: Restoring Wrigley will cost $300 mill and take five offseasons. #Cubs

 

Is that new news (that it will take 5 offseasons)?

[Guest]

Wish they would've said more about plans for any additional buildings, including the hotel.

[UMFan83]

@CSNChicago: RT @CSNMooney #Cubs considering another LED board in left field as well as a JumboTron for Wrigley.

 

@ESPNChiCubs: More events like concerts and football games plus farmers market and ice rink in winter part of the plan for the wrigley area

 

@LukeStuckmeyer: Wrigley renovation a 5 year, 300 million dollar project. 42% increase in bathrooms, new upper deck, keep historic facade

[Guest]

@CarrieMuskat: Restoring Wrigley will cost $300 mill and take five offseasons. #Cubs

 

Is that new news (that it will take 5 offseasons)?

 

Well, we've never really heard anything official. Up until now, it's all been speculation. So the fact that they're saying they'll start after this season and that there's a definite timeline is definitely news.

[Guest]

@CSNChicago: RT @CSNMooney #Cubs considering another LED board in left field as well as a JumboTron for Wrigley.

 

@ESPNChiCubs: More events like concerts and football games plus farmers market and ice rink in winter part of the plan for the wrigley area

 

@LukeStuckmeyer: Wrigley renovation a 5 year, 300 million dollar project. 42% increase in bathrooms, new upper deck, keep historic facade

 

Sucks that they won't be able to remove any of the poles because they're keeping the exact same existing layout, but I guess that was a pipe dream.

 

They also are putting some sort of party deck in left...didn't look quite the same as the one in RF.

 

[Guest]

left field LED board

 

[J.R.]

I welcome the addition of an LED board in left - it will be nice to restore relative symmetry to the design.

 

It is surprising that they would start with the lower deck, given the crumbling risers in the upper deck and the fact that demolition upstairs will endanger the levels below. They clearly believe that the team facilities and physical plant on the third base side are in need of more immediate work than the upper levels.

 

Reworking the 3B side would also allow them to be ready for a regulation football grid sooner, but offseason construction might make that moot.

 

I have posted my disgust with the negative aural and visual impacts of a potential jumbo video board so many times that I'm tired of writing about it. A corner-to-corner ribbon board across the upper deck facade would be more useful to fans (since MLB video boards never show replays of consequence,) would be a cash cow and would not disturb the outfield view.

[J.R.]

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/photos-wrigley-renovation-to-cost-300m-take-5-years#photo-13025832

 

Clear pics.

[J.R.]

Looks like they want another party "deck" in the upper CF bleachers. I love the "marquee restaurant" concept.

 

Kenney also commented on the controversial topic of funding the renovation, saying if they are going to be restricted by the public, they need help footing the bill.

 

“In most ballparks, if you’re a publically funded facility like our friends on the South Side, there’s an amusement tax, Kenney said. “...If this is such an asset (to the community) and we’re being restricted, we need some help. If they want to treat us like the other 29 (privately owned) clubs, where we can play games whenever, have advertisements, the Ricketts will be prepared to write the check.”

Fighting words?

[Guest]

I'm hoping the latter happens and the restrictions come off... especially if that means more night games (and weekend night games).

[sweetpeteman]

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/photos-wrigley-renovation-to-cost-300m-take-5-years#photo-13025832

 

Clear pics.

 

 

I like how whoever did the drawings clearly has no idea about baseball as the plates in the Batting Tunnels are backwards.

[Sammy Sofa]

http://lakeview.patch.com/articles/photos-wrigley-renovation-to-cost-300m-take-5-years#photo-13025832

 

Clear pics.

 

Love it.

[davell]

Why exactly will this take 5 offseasons to complete? Is it a monetary thing?

[Sammy Sofa]

Why exactly will this take 5 offseasons to complete? Is it a monetary thing?

 

Presumably because they can't do most of it while the season is going on and then the winter. Not a lot of time to actually do the necessary work each year.

[J.R.]

I'm hoping the latter happens and the restrictions come off... especially if that means more night games (and weekend night games).

I agree to a certain extent - it is ridiculous that the Cubs cannot schedule a Friday night game to allow some rest after flying in from the road on a Friday morning. However, complete dismantling of the night games ordinance would inevitably result in day games becoming strictly a Sunday and getaway day phenomenon - TV money would see to that - and I think that would be a shame.

 

Previous discussions were limited to merely loosening the restrictions.

[Guest]

Why exactly will this take 5 offseasons to complete? Is it a monetary thing?

 

It's a lot of work. They are gutting the entire grandstand. And yea, like Mojo said, winter and baseball seasons are in the way.

[J.R.]

Most interesting to me is what the illustrations omit - the facilities planned for the "triangle" parcel on the 3B side, which would conceivably be the location of the Cubs' new management offices.

 

Space currently used by management would be occupied by the new restaurant.

[davell]

Winter in Chicago is a good point. I was comparing it to what the Dodgers are doing this offseason. 100 mill versus 300 mill, but the winters are certainly different, to say the least.

[J.R.]

Here's where that extra $200 million is going:

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/285237369_c1a81c052c_zps1df7e552.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/81ded5f07fc37e482cadbc567a50e290_zpscc908cf3.jpg

 

The changes will allow public spaces to be located where only support steelwork exists today. So you have not only the cost of establishing the public spaces, but also the expense of reconfiguring the decks so that they continue to stand without the existing support steelwork.

 

I'm blown away by the Ricketts' willingness to spend so much on the current configuration. That upper deck is an absolute jewel because of the proximity it allows, and I was convinced that it would be lost in these renovations. The family owns a great ballpark, and they apparently "get it."

[J.R.]

The rest:

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/3fba6492fd4db8f79b29c8545224f245_zps4cc42b72.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/e32ba44412ee0c029acb2b87331c9235_zps7c2eec2f.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/62ee62053ac20394bf9264979f124efa_zps52fcdc47.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/dcdb467fff55e400737c10c58f16d441_zps05ba4750.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/b6917ce4e42a1984c8f00fbe331f9161_zps09289962.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/c3f251bc3c62d39a3d13b5bbbe7f14c1_zps329c8720.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/7beb41b2decc6b79f59f1b6599a9f937_zpsae57bcf4.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/74ffca3026c790e29de56eab7659da18_zpseffde557.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/4c46f183d6c7eeece9a8cb032e3db0b6_zps06524b05.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/b8544dc8bba6e8d19e20d5c64f5e50e_zpsadc901ac.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/bf0ef5ad26a1ea7e6a8c91dd68e6394c_zps7054dfa2.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/8c781b0e9ac9db6b7ddae136a4b5101d_zpsaa49f190.jpg

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/e4c279d6924797bcb5475f17da086bdf_zpse0911258.jpg

[crazycooter]

My only quibble is with the number of backwards hats in the renderings.