Wrigley Renovation Thread

[treebird]

God I just do not miss Wrigley at all

 

You'll be back tearing up Cubby Bear come this summer.

 

watching css on the prowl at the cubby bear will undoubtedly be the highlight of the meetup

[Derwood]

God I just do not miss Wrigley at all

 

You'll be back tearing up Cubby Bear come this summer.

 

watching css on the prowl at the cubby bear will undoubtedly be the highlight of the meetup

 

Unless your sister shows up

[J.R.]

Really no reason to draw this out over several seasons when you could get it done in one.

[Sammy Sofa]

One potential ill affect of this proposal is that there are a lot of Wrigleyville businesses that rely heavily on baseball season and if the Cubs left Wrigley even for one season, it could have a rough effect on them. Baseball season is to them what Christmas season is to retail. I know people who have bar tended at some of those bars, and on a good night game, they can rake in a G. Even the offseason business that they would get could be turned off due to the construction.

 

Wrigleyville is packed nearly every weekend regardless of whether or not it's baseball season.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Sammy Sofa

[Sammy Sofa]

One potential ill affect of this proposal is that there are a lot of Wrigleyville businesses that rely heavily on baseball season and if the Cubs left Wrigley even for one season, it could have a rough effect on them. Baseball season is to them what Christmas season is to retail. I know people who have bar tended at some of those bars, and on a good night game, they can rake in a G. Even the offseason business that they would get could be turned off due to the construction.

 

That's not the Cubs problem. Maybe this'll help Ricketts buy up more Wrigleyville property. Club 162(Since it's re-opening I've seen a total of roughly 3 people in on non-baseball days.) I'm looking at you.

Ricketts will need to bring back the Hi-Tops name. Ever since they switched to Harry Carey's, the middle-aged men buying shots for young girls have taken their business to Sluggers and never returned.

 

I associate that crowd more with Cubby Bear than Sluggers. The Hi-Tops name means nothing now, nobody went there as it died out, and the one in Lincoln Park might be the worst bar I've ever had the misfortune of entering.

 

It's insane to me that the Cubby Bear used to be like an indie rock/alternative/whatever music mecca before Lounge Ax opened up and basically stole that away. I can't picture the Cubby Bear as anything except Douchebag Central.

[questionmarkgrace]

One potential ill affect of this proposal is that there are a lot of Wrigleyville businesses that rely heavily on baseball season and if the Cubs left Wrigley even for one season, it could have a rough effect on them. Baseball season is to them what Christmas season is to retail. I know people who have bar tended at some of those bars, and on a good night game, they can rake in a G. Even the offseason business that they would get could be turned off due to the construction.

 

That's not the Cubs problem. Maybe this'll help Ricketts buy up more Wrigleyville property. Club 162(Since it's re-opening I've seen a total of roughly 3 people in on non-baseball days.) I'm looking at you.

Correct. That blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the City of Chicago. The Cubs have tried to secure funds to renovate Wrigley without any downtime, but have been denied. Maybe this is just a threat, but if it's not, that area is in trouble and have nobody to blame but the city.

 

I tend to think that the blame lies with the tribune more than anybody. Alot of improvements that could have been done in a month or two in the offseason were neglected for years resulting in the mess we have now. Also asking the city for funds in the middle of the recession, which makes sense from a business perspective, is just asking for too much in this climate when teachers and police officers are being laid off. Even if the city did hand them the money the original plan called for the cubs to play else where. they'll get it figured out even if Ricketts has to foot the bill initially with assurances and tax breaks to pay him back

 

Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out.

[bhogg]

just let them play 162 road games. . . . .that would be fun

[davearm2]

And 162 home games the following year

[seanimal]

Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out.

 

that's definitely not true

[UMFan83]

Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out.

 

that's definitely not true

 

They are doing construction in the bleachers as we speak. I'm pretty sure its preparing to install the LCD screen in right.

[questionmarkgrace]

Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out.

 

that's definitely not true

 

 

really it is. there are special mixes you can use with concrete that allow it to cure in really cold tempuratures but it usually begins to crack after a few years. I.e it just wont cure right. Also when it snows no one is pouring concrete anywhere. In a normal winter construction work halts in november and doesnt begin again until march. Its too cold to work outside and when the workers can sit at home and collect unemployment for those frigid months you will have to actually overpay them to work. Sure there are some things you can do interior work etc. but for the most part work slows to a nonexistent pace.

[SouthSideRyan]

God I just do not miss Wrigley at all

 

You'll be back tearing up Cubby Bear come this summer.

 

watching css on the prowl at the cubby bear will undoubtedly be the highlight of the meetup

 

Unless your sister shows up

 

Next time, bring your sister, you hump!

[jersey cubs fan]

Also you have to realize that in a single offseason from oct- march there may only be a month at best two months where construction workers can actually work because of the weather. Concrete for instance just wont cure right when its very cold out.

 

that's definitely not true

 

 

really it is. there are special mixes you can use with concrete that allow it to cure in really cold tempuratures but it usually begins to crack after a few years. I.e it just wont cure right. Also when it snows no one is pouring concrete anywhere. In a normal winter construction work halts in november and doesnt begin again until march. Its too cold to work outside and when the workers can sit at home and collect unemployment for those frigid months you will have to actually overpay them to work. Sure there are some things you can do interior work etc. but for the most part work slows to a nonexistent pace.

 

Road construction comes to a halt, but building construction? I don't think so. Certainly it takes a slowdown, but they can and do continue projects through the winter.

 

Along those lines, any plan for offseason construction is going to be done piecemeal, over the course of multiple seasons like MSG is doing. Essentially a series of small projects.

[Soul]

I'm not a pro when it comes to concrete, but I have heard from a friend who is that it can be done in winter -- it needs to be heated first, and it's more difficult to make it work right. Costs are higher.

 

I know my company is busy building as I write. A large building, and they are heating/pouring concrete for it. It's a mild winter, to be sure.

[Fro]

I really can't see the ducks all getting in a row for this happen by 2013.

[Guest]

I really can't see the ducks all getting in a row for this happen by 2013.

 

It's possible that they are already nearing being in a row, and that's why the rumors started.

 

We really have no idea what has been going on between the city and the team this whole time.

 

But yea, I'd agree that it seems unlikely.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I'm not a pro when it comes to concrete, but I have heard from a friend who is that it can be done in winter -- it needs to be heated first, and it's more difficult to make it work right. Costs are higher.

 

I know my company is busy building as I write. A large building, and they are heating/pouring concrete for it. It's a mild winter, to be sure.

it's not that it needs to be heated, curing concrete creates heat on its own. The issue is that while concrete cures, it needs to be kept wet. The water used to keep it wet needs to be kept from freezing. That's why you temper a space that is receiving a pour. Admixtures help too. but yea, they pour in pretty cold temps in MPLS, they can do it in Chicago too.

[NewUserName]

I'm not a pro when it comes to concrete, but I have heard from a friend who is that it can be done in winter -- it needs to be heated first, and it's more difficult to make it work right. Costs are higher.

 

I know my company is busy building as I write. A large building, and they are heating/pouring concrete for it. It's a mild winter, to be sure.

it's not that it needs to be heated, curing concrete creates heat on its own. The issue is that while concrete cures, it needs to be kept wet. The water used to keep it wet needs to be kept from freezing. That's why you temper a space that is receiving a pour. Admixtures help too. but yea, they pour in pretty cold temps in MPLS, they can do it in Chicago too.

 

I have worked a lot of construction in my life and from personal experience you can pour concrete in some really crappy weather conditions, including very cold. It probably needs to be covered to trap in the heat while curing also.

[Cubswin11]

How big of an issue is Wrigley being a "historical landmark" going to affect things when it comes to renovating the place? That could be one of many stupid things that get in the way of making the process drag out.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I'm not a pro when it comes to concrete, but I have heard from a friend who is that it can be done in winter -- it needs to be heated first, and it's more difficult to make it work right. Costs are higher.

 

I know my company is busy building as I write. A large building, and they are heating/pouring concrete for it. It's a mild winter, to be sure.

it's not that it needs to be heated, curing concrete creates heat on its own. The issue is that while concrete cures, it needs to be kept wet. The water used to keep it wet needs to be kept from freezing. That's why you temper a space that is receiving a pour. Admixtures help too. but yea, they pour in pretty cold temps in MPLS, they can do it in Chicago too.

 

I have worked a lot of construction in my life and from personal experience you can pour concrete in some really crappy weather conditions, including very cold. It probably needs to be covered to trap in the heat while curing also.

well, yea, that's what I'm saying.

[jersey cubs fan]

How big of an issue is Wrigley being a "historical landmark" going to affect things when it comes to renovating the place? That could be one of many stupid things that get in the way of making the process drag out.

 

There's three things in the way, the BS landmark status which is basically just a way for bureaucracy to skim money off the top, the local residents/business interests that protest everything, and the government's willingness to be creative with tax revenue offsets/breaks.

[minnesotacubsfan]

How big of an issue is Wrigley being a "historical landmark" going to affect things when it comes to renovating the place? That could be one of many stupid things that get in the way of making the process drag out.

ohhh, just you wait. I don't remember which designation Wrigley has with the NTHP, but it would certainly be something they need to consider in the design process. And forget tearing it down, that will likely never happen with its designation.

[minnesotacubsfan]

the BS landmark status which is basically just a way for bureaucracy to skim money off the top, .

 

I don't think you know what you're talking about

[jersey cubs fan]

the BS landmark status which is basically just a way for bureaucracy to skim money off the top, .

 

I don't think you know what you're talking about

 

No I don't know the specific machinations involved but it's basically a committee they have to "convince" to let them do stuff every time they want to upgrade.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Umm, have you tried to build ANYTHING in the last 15 years? There are always committees.

 

Besides, Wrigley is only restricted on a few of its historical pieces, such as the ivy, scoreboard and I believe the exterior marque. There is plenty that can be done to it without upsetting "the committee". If you want an extreme example, look at what was done with Soldier Field which had a very simular designation