Results tagged “wrigleyfield”

We all know there are some jerks in the Wrigley Field bleachers. And while some hurl beers at the opponents' outfielders, others have been known to hurl insults at an under performing Cubs outfielder or two -- just ask Corey Patterson, Jacque Jones, or Juan Pierre. So does it surprise anybody that Milton Bradley, the Cubs' current waste of $10 million, is whining that Cubs fans say mean things? "I'm talking about hatred, period. I'm talking about when I go to eat at a restaurant, I have to listen to the waiters bad-mouthing me at another table, sitting in a restaurant, that's what I'm talking about -- everything, " explained Bradley when asked on Wednesday to clarify comments made the day before.

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.

The subject of a city-wide manhunt, the young man caught on tape tossing a beer from the Wrigley Field bleachers on to Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino turned himself in to Chicago police on Thursday. Johnny Macchione, a 21-year old college student from suburban Bartlett, turned himself in and spent a few hours being questioned by detectives before being booked at the Belmont Area police precinct. He was charged with two misdemeanors -- battery and illegal conduct in a sports facility. Macchione was released on bond on Thursday evening.

During last night's debacle at Wrigley, one bleacher bum decided it was a good idea to toss his beer on Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, who had just caught a fly ball hit by Jake Fox in left-center field. Another fan. who began taunting Victorino, was ejected by security becuse they thought he was the brew hurler. In fact, he was not but by the time Cubs security could view tape of the situation, the offender has slipped away. The Cubs hope to identify the fan and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. The team hopes other Cubs fans will help to identify the culprit.

Any Chicago sports fan knows the lengthy time that Wrigley Field spent as home to the Chicago Bears' football team (1921 until 1970 when they moved to Soldier Field). But now Wrigley could once again host a football game if several people, including University of Illinois coach Ron Zook, have their way. The story's been bouncing around for a while now, but Zook raised the issue again at today's Big 10 Media Day, asking for a game against Northwestern next year at Wrigley. During the media day, Zook appeared on ESPN 1000 where he said:

An alderman who says one thing in private and something else in public? Considered us floored. Ald. Tom Tunney is the latest political figure to come under a bit of scrutiny over perception versus reality. To hear him talk about his proposal of shutting down vendors within a certain radius of Wrigley Field, it's all about safety. Last month, Tunney told the Trib, "It's a public safety issue. You can't walk to the park." Behind closed doors is another matter though.

Like when we sell a Pitchfork ticket on Craigslist, the Tribune Company has lined up a second party to whom they can sell the Cubs (and the additional assets) should the current deal fall through. It's not really a shock; after all, crazier shit has happened in business and it's certainly one way of strong-arming the Ricketts into completing the deal that has dragged on for a bit. According to the Tribune report:

Anyone who's ever gone to a Cubs game knows the clusterfuck that occurs around Wrigley Field right before game time. Now, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) wants to try to clear that congestion a bit by making it illegal for street vendors to set up shot within a certain radius around the stadium. The proposal, introduced today, would make it illegal for vendors to, as the Tribune explains, "sell food or merchandise from a cart, table or other temporary stand."

The Batter's Eye, the club in dead-center field at Wrigley, is being opened up to individual ticket buyers. Previously available only to parties of between 75 and 100, the club will cost you $165 but that includes "an unlimited food and beverage package." Click here for a list of available games and your chance to purchase tickets.

Yesterday was Earth Day, so to demonstrate the need for more clean energy, some people from Greenpeace attached 16-foot mini stationary windmills to the railing on the west side of the Michigan Avenue bridge. They were put up around 9:00 a.m., and they were taken down by 11:00 a.m. because the organization did not have a city permit. Also, CDOT spokesperson Brian Steele said that the windmills were a danger to pedestrians and to the movable bridge's delicate weight balance. (Uh, just how delicate? Should we be worried?)

More details in the proposed deal between the Tribune Company and the Illinois Finance Authority to sell Wrigley Field - also referred to as "Project Elwood" - are emerging. The Associated Press obtained a memo dated November 19 via the Freedom of Information Act that details a complex agreement which would have had the IFA set up a company to lease Wrigley Field to the news Cub owner at $25 million a year for 30 years with the IFA retaining 95 percent of the interest and the Tribune Company retaining 5 percent; the deal also called for a $300 million state loan for upgrades to the stadium. According to the AP report, the Tribune Company would have netted up to $45 million from the deal.

Safely away from Chicago, Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney mentioned the team's desire to play a total of 50 night games, an increase over the current 30 allowed in an agreement between the club, the city and the local Wrigleyville residents. Speaking to the Marco Island (FL) Sunrise Rotary Club, Kenney explained, "Players like a routine," and that additional night games would relieve the players of playing day games after arriving from road trips in the early-morning hours. In 2009, the Cubs have just one game that falls into that category -- their home opener on April 12 following a night game in Milwaukee.

Sun-Times sports reporter Roman Modrowski wrote over at his Full Court Press blog yesterday about the Cubs opening a new sports bar inside the park at the start of the season. The bar, located at the Addison/Sheffield corner of the ballpark by the Harry Caray "I am Borg" statue, will be open year round, seat 491 patrons, managed by the fine folks behind Harry Caray's (who's Wrigleyville location at the former Hi-Tops space is kitty corner from the new bar), and not have a view of the field. Patrons holding tickets to Cubs games will be able to enter the park proper via a turnstyle in the bar.

In a story that's getting more coverage this early spring than the Cubs themselves, the team is now threatening to block the view of one rooftop owner unless he pays up. You may remember the story of Anthony Racky, who owns Lakeview Baseball Club (3633 N. Sheffield). After a Winter Classic Jumbotron obstructed the view of the field from his rooftop, Racky refused to pay his part of the 2008 profit-sharing plan between the 17 rooftop owners and the team. Now, the Cubs are fighting back and threatening to obstruct his view unless Racky pays up by the Cubs' April 13 home opener. Mike Lufrano, vice president of community relations for the Cubs, said, “We can’t let one rooftop not pay. It wouldn’t be fair to the other rooftops -- nor to us." As for blocking Racky's view, Lufrano added, “We hope it doesn’t come to that. We hope we’ll be able to resolve it." [WBBM]

Some think they're a key element of Wrigley's "ballpark in a neighborhood" charm. Others hold them in disdain for the way they turned a quirky fringe benefit of living near Wrigley into a business, making money hand-over-fist from a stolen product. Sure, the rooftops surrounding Wrigley Field now pay a fee to the Cubs. But they still howl over any proposed enhancements to the ballpark that might limit their sight lines even if it might improve the cash flow for the team that's actually paying the players' salaries.

Yesterday's news that a second Elton John & Billy Joel concert had been added to the summer slate at Wrigley came as no surprise. The summer concert has become something of a tradition over the years, with boomer-centric acts like Jimmy Buffet and The Police playing multiple shows at the stadium and all the shows have sold quite well. Things, however, are starting to get ri-damn-diculous as news comes today that a third concert has been added to the slate for Wrigley. This one will be country rockers Rascal Flatts featuring Darius Rucker (formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish) and will happen on Saturday, July 18, between the two John/Joel dates. [In case you're wondering, the Cubs are out of town for the All-Star Break and trips to Washington and Philadelphia in that time frame.]

Even though we weren't as excited about it as some people, we knew tickets for the July 21 Elton John-Billy Joel concert at Wrigley Field would sell pretty fast. So, too, it seems, did the promoters. In a move that's not really a surprise, a second date has been added. The promoters sent an email to ticket holders informing them of the decision. The original show on July 21 is still on but the second show will now happen on July 16. In addition to the second show, ticket holders for the 21st can stop by this website and apply to have their tickets swapped for "comparable" seats for the show on the 16th if they prefer. The deadline for applying for the seat swap is 5 p.m. this Saturday, February 21. So far, there's no concrete general on sale information for the newly added show but it can't be too far away.

At this year's much-discussed NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, two jumbotrons were erected in the outfield bleachers to give fans with questionable sight lines a chance to see some of the action. But now one rooftop owner, furious over the fact that the video screens blocked the view of the ice for his customers, is refusing to pay the Cubs a 2008 profit-sharing payment out of protest. The owner is Anthony Racky, who owns Lakeview Baseball Club (3633 N. Sheffield). Per the Sun-Times:

Single game tickets for the 2009 season go on sale this Friday, but if you want to get seats from the Wrigley Field box office, you'll first need a numbered wrist band. Wrist bands will be distributed at at Wrigley Field from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday and from 7:00 .a.m - 10:00 p.m. on Thursday. The starting number will be randomly drawn and announced on WGN (720AM) shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Friday and tickets will be sold starting at 8:00 a.m. at the box office (10 a.m. online).

Following a search that has taken almost two years, the Cubs may finally have their new owners. The Tribune Co. selected the bid from the Ricketts family as their favored bid yesterday. It's by no means a done deal, however, as the Ricketts will have to secure financing and pass hurdles with MLB and other team owners. But hopes are to have the deal closed by Opening Day.

Maybe the baseball gods are angry about the Winter Classic hockey game between the Blackhawks and the Red Wing in the Friendly Confines. Or maybe this Zamboni somehow has less grace than Tonya Harding. Either way, it made for an interesting few moments yesterday for the operator. Check it out after the jump.

Image via the Tribune