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Actually, not a whole heck of a lot, for now. It seems that the new owners of Wrigley Field, as well as the Cubs (pending MLB owners' approval), have plans but they're a ways off. Which is understandable, given the boat-load of money they just dropped to buy the stadium and team (and a 25 percent stake in Comcast Sports Net Chicago). Sources familiar with the plans tell Crain's that any work to the stadium won't happen for four or five years and that even then the undertaking won't be as massive as the Tribune Company's renovation plans for the ballpark were; the Ricketts are aiming to spend around $250 million as opposed to the TribCo's $450 million-$600 million range.
Among the upgrades possibly coming? According to Crain's:
The family views as perhaps its biggest new moneymaker the development of the so-called “triangle building” on the stadium’s west side, along Clark Street, one source said. Tribune has had a similar project on the drawing board for years. It would likely include a restaurant, shops, parking and other amenities, but the Ricketts family doesn’t yet have firm plans for the project, the source said.Other elements are likely to include upgraded skyboxes, a lounge area, widened concourses, better bathrooms and concessions, and some sort of fan-friendly space between the triangle building and the stadium, a source said.
So. No dome then. Good.
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Can someone explain how they will manage to squeeze all this stuff in? Is the triangle building going where the 2 parking lots are now?
Yes, in that big area west of the stadium. it doesn't seem that big but it actually is, plus it will probably be a building that is almost as high as the stadium itself. if they stick ticketing and front office facilities in that building it would allow them to widen the concourses, which would be a huge improvement. I also think they need to work on the front exterior of the building, because it looks like an inner city high school
Seriously? Google Map to Wrigley, hit satellite view and look to the west (left) of the field. See the triangle? Congrats, you've found the buildings proposed location!
There is some land around the park that the Cubs would be wise to buy up if they don't own already. For instance, that small parking lot and warehouse that is at the corner of clark and waveland, just NW of the park. I'm pretty sure the Cubs own that since that is where all the vendors meet before the game and also where their ticket scalper is located. I wonder if that area couldn't be built up, maybe a new office building with executive offices. that way you don't have to put it in the new Triangle Building. There's also the McDonald's and it's fairly large parking lot across from the park. I'm curious as to why the Cubs have never tried to buy up that land if they don't own it already.
I can't imagine that McDonald's would want to sell, as it's a guaranteed money maker. I see the place stuffed full of Iowans every time I happen by during a game.
No reason you can't still have a McDonald's there in whatever new structure is put up. work out a sweetheart deal with McDonald's to sell you the land, give them cheap rent
They'd also likely lose their parking (frequently occupied by buses), their drive-thru, and any revenue at all during the reconstruction, and they'd give up control of their structure. Any deal that would be worth it to McDonald's would be way too expensive for the Cubs.
What they need to do is knock down the grandstand after removing the marquee and then find a creative (read--not HOK) way to rebuild it while playing at Comiskey for a year or two. The facade of the park, save for the marquee, may be the ugliest in all of professional sports--seriously, stucco, chain link fences and concrete bars?
You don't need to tear it down to get it back to this. It needs extensive rehabilitation, not demolition. Paint stripping, historic colors, and restored finishes would go a long way to make it one of baseball's most beautiful and authentic stadiums; it certainly fits into Chicago's architectural tradition of form expressing structure.
My link doesn't seem to work. http://reflectionsymmetry.com/photography/Wrigley-Field-1935-World-Series-8X10-$14.99.jpg
I've been looking for a good photo of the facade, which is horrible. But fixing it seems like by far the easiest, cheapest thing to do to the park right away to make it look better. There's no structural changes to make, it's just a facelift.
Leave it and build a REAL stadium.
Sincerely,
Cards Fan
"There's always NEXT year" once again!
It's a shame you can't post that gem of a comment on St. Louisist
Ouch. That hurt. I will have to console myself with the 10 World Series trophies won. A few of them actually in my lifetime unlike the North Side's.