Wrigley Renovations on Track

The latest renovations of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, are on track and will be ready in time for the team’s home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 8.  Among the most significant upgrades are the new upper-deck concession areas and restrooms, three new clubs inside the park and a new bar where the former Captain Morgan Club/Draft Kings Fantasy Zone was located.  Read more and view over 200 photos here.

Cubs, Gallagher Insurance Announce Partnership

Multi-year strategic partnership between the Chicago Cubs and Gallagher Insurance includes naming rights to “Gallagher Way,” iconic Wrigley Field’s Western Gate, Left Field Bullpen Door and Videoboard Feature sponsoring late inning insurance runs.  Gallagher to become Cubs’ official insurance brokerage, benefits and risk management services partner.  Read more here and here.

Pearl Jam Coming to Safeco, Wrigley and Fenway?

Pearl Jam’s official website accidentally leaked their 2018 North American shows on their website on Friday morning before removing the dates.  Read more here.

Chef Series to Dish Up Gourmet Ballpark Food at Wrigley

The Chicago Cubs are calling in a new lineup that will serve up more than just peanuts and Cracker Jack.  To lead their Chef Series for the next three months, the team is bringing in some of Chicago’s best chefs to serve gourmet, ballpark-inspired dishes at Wrigley Field.  Read more here.

James Taylor to Play Four MLB Ballparks

James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt will team up for four shows at various baseball stadiums around the country, beginning with his debut at Washington’s Nationals Park on July 14 and continuing with a return to Chicago’s Wrigley Field, a stop in San Francisco at AT&T Park and a finale close to home at Boston’s Fenway Park.  Read more here and here.

Comparing the World Series Ballparks

As the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians prepare to meet in Game 1 of the 2016 MLB World Series on Tuesday, Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com has posted his annual comparison of the two ballparks we’ll see in this year’s Fall Classic.  Read more here.  View World Series game schedule here.

Neighbors Sounds Off Over Cubs’ Giants Patio Proposal

More than 100 people who live near Wrigley Field attended a meeting Tuesday night out of concerns about the Chicago Cubs’ proposal to create a giant patio outside Wrigley Field where alcohol would be served.  Read more here.  Watch background news report here.  View renderings here.

 

Celebrating 75 Years of Ballpark Organ Music

On April 26th 1941 at Wrigley Field, Ray Nelson played the first strains of organ music ever heard at a Major League baseball game.  Read more here.

Baseball Magazine Peddler Outside Wrigley Gets Reprieve

An appeals court in Chicago says a one-man publisher can sell his baseball magazine on a sidewalk just outside Wrigley Field after all. Read more here.

Wrigley Video Board Makes Debut

The new video board at Wrigley Field made its debut in Sunday night’s opening game against the St. Louis Cardinals, bringing high-tech to the Friendly Confines without the disruptive jolt feared by baseball traditionalists — at least according to one architecture critic.  Read more and view photos here.  View pre-game Facebook photo here.

Foo Fighters Plan Ballpark Tour

Touring to promote an album that delves into the roots of US music, the Foo Fighters will play some of the country’s most historic baseball stadiums starting next year, including Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.  Read more here.  Watch the trailer for the HBO Original Series, Foo Fighters Sonic Highways, which premiered on October 17.

Wrigley Renovations Set to Begin

Wrigley Field will never be the same again. After months of negotiation and legal challenges, the Chicago Cubs are set to begin the $575 million renovation of the Friendly Confines.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Rooftop Owners Sue Over Wrigley Improvements

Owners of the rooftop clubs near Wrigley Field sued the city Thursday, seeking to block a city-backed plan that will allow the Cubs to expand the aging ballpark.  Read more here

Ballpark Quirks: Wrigley Field’s Brick and Ivy Outfield Wall

In a series called “Ballpark Quirks,” Sports Illustrated takes a look at the distinctive features and oddities that make up each of MLB’s 30 parks. Up now: Wrigley Field’s brick and ivy outfield wall.  Read more and view photos here.

Cubs Score Victory with Landmarks Commission

The Chicago Cubs have taken a step toward with their plan to renovate Wrigley Field, as the city’s landmarks commission on Thursday signed off on a project that includes a second video board, outfield signs as big as 650 square feet, light standards in the outfield and seats replacing the current bullpens down the foul lines.  Read more and watch news report here.  Read more here.

Wrigley Renovations on Deck July 10, Rooftop Owners Agree Not to Sue If…

The Chicago Cubs are on the July 10 agenda for the Commission on Chicago Landmarks and expect to win approval for their revised plan to renovate Wrigley Field, including seven outfield signs — two of them video scoreboards.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.  Meanwhile, the rooftop owners have agreed not to sue if only two signs are erected.  Read more here.

Cubs Positioning Self Against Rooftop Owners

The Chicago Cubs released a revised plan for Wrigley Field’s renovation Tuesday that calls for new signs, including some that would block the view from nearby rooftop venues, and warn that the team’s management would consider moving to another site if they are not allowed to control their ballpark.  Read more here.  Watch video from Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts.  Go to WrigleyField.com.

Wrigley Field renovation rendering, Chicago Cubs Facebook page

Going Back to the 30s at Wrigley Field May 16-21

Wrigley Field will celebrate the 1930s during the next Cubs homestand, and the landmark marquee will return to its original green color with gold trim.  The festivities are part of Wrigley Field’s 100th anniversary party.  Read more and watch video here.  Read press release here.

Wrigley’s 100th in Pictures

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com has posted a photo essay of his experience attending the 100th anniversary celebration of Wrigley Field last week.  Enjoy!  Read more here.

The Biggest Wrigley Field Cake Ever

A 400-pound, 5-foot by 5-foot replica of the Friendly Confines made a 12-hour trip from Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken (NJ) — made famous on the reality TV show “Cake Boss” — to the real, brick-and-mortar Wrigley Field this week for the stadium’s 100th anniversary celebration.  Read more and view photo here.  But a sad ending here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the links.

And Wrigley Field Turns 100!

It was Happy 100th Birthday for Wrigley Field on Wednesday, and according to first-hand accounts shared with us and all the news reports, the celebration did not disappoint.  Read more and watch fans singing “Happy Birthday” here.  Read more about the day and check out the Cubs chairman gushing in the broadcast booth.  Still can’t get enough?  Read the “Friendly Confines Still a Baseball Mecca” by Joe Mock via USA TODAY Sports.  Bring back memories by checking out Mock’s top 13 moments in Wrigley Field history and photo gallery, also via USA TODAY Sports.

Wrigley Celebrates 100 Years

The celebration of the century kicks off Wednesday as Chicago’s Wrigley Field marks one hundred years.  Read more and watch news report here.

Joe Mock Interviews George Will About His New Wrigley Field Book

While working on an article on Wrigley Field’s long history for USA Today Sports Weekly, Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com interviewed political commentator, Pulitzer Prize winner, and baseball fan George Will, who just released a book on The Friendly Confines entitled A Nice Little Place on the North Side.  Read full interview here.  Read more about Will’s book here.

Did You Know These 10 Things About Wrigley Field?

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is turning 100 this year.  Here are 10 things you might not know about the ballpark:  Read more here.

Cubs Prepare for 100th Anniversary of Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs on Friday revealed some of their plans for the 2014 season to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field.  Read more here and here.

Signage Test Run at Wrigley Field Fails with Rooftop Owners

The Chicago Cubs on Wednesday briefly raised a mock-up of a 650-square-foot script sign at Wrigley Field as a test run to allay fears of nearby rooftop club owners who don’t want to see their lucrative views of the playing surface blocked by signage.  The rooftop owners were not satisfied.  Read more here.  View photos here.

Wrigley-Like Rooftops for Ballpark Village

Wrigley Field-like rooftops at the new Ballpark Village taking shape outside Busch Stadium will be part of the St. Louis Cardinals experience when the season opens in April 2014.  Read more and watch video here.

MLB.com video capture with added arrow

Signature Gut Bombs Available at MLB Parks

In ESPN The Magazine‘s Sept. 30 Franchise Issue, Rachel Ullrich takes a look at a number of few gut-busting food items available at six Major League Baseball ballparks.  It’s early Tuesday morning, and we’re thinking PNC Park’s Brunch Burger would hit the spot right now!  Read more here.

Chicago Cubs Unveil Logo to Celebrate 100 Years of Wrigley Field

PRESS RELEASE – The Chicago Cubs today unveiled the logo to celebrate 100 years of Wrigley Field in 2014. Brandon Ort of New Bremen, Ohio, submitted the winning design for the “Wrigley Field Turns 100” logo contest before this season.

DuPage County Wants to Lure Cubs

DuPage County (IL) Board Chairman Dan Cronin says he’s given the go ahead to the county’s economic development board to begin scouting for potential stadium sites for a possible new stadium for the Chicago Cubs.  Read more here.

Cubs vs. Rooftop Owners

Don Babwin from the Associated Press takes a detailed look at the emergent battle between the Chicago Cubs and rooftop owners outside Wrigley Field over the team’s proposed improvements/ signage that could negatively impact views.  Read more here.

Poll Provides No Boost for Cubs, Rooftop Owners

Nearly half of the voters in a Chicago Tribune/WGN poll said they side with neither the Chicago Cubs nor the rooftop owners in the ongoing debate to renovate Wrigley Field.  The team’s efforts were backed by 28 percent of voters, while the rooftop owners were backed by 21 percent.  Read more here.  Meanwhile, the Cubs have launched a new website for their renovation push.

The Wrigley Debate

Bob Nightengale from USA TODAY Sports has written a comprehensive and informative piece about the neighborhood battle raging over proposed plans to renovate Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.  It’s a good read.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe Mock for the link.

Cubs Threaten Move

We think there is a little  huffing and puffing here, but Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is threatening to move the team out of Wrigley Field if ownership doesn’t receive approval from the city for upgrades, including more signs in the outfield and a giant video scoreboard.  Read more here.  Thanks to Joe Mock for the link.

Cubs, City Reach Deal on Wrigley Renovations

The Chicago Cubs have reached a deal with the city of Chicago to give Wrigley Field a $500 million facelift, which will include the installation of an electronic video screen that is nearly three times as large as the hand-operated scoreboard currently atop the center-field bleachers.  Read more here.  Rooftoppers are a tad concerned.  Read more here.

Las Vegas to Advertise at Four MLB Parks

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is partnering with four Major League Baseball stadiums to advertise the fun of Sin City.  The four parks chosen include Dodger Stadium, Wrigley Field, Rangers Ballpark, and Citi Field.  Read more here.

Cubs Will Fund $300M in Wrigley Renovations If City Eases Restrictions

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said Saturday the team will fund an ambitious $300 million renovation plan at Wrigley Field if the city eases some of its restrictions around the stadium.  Read more here.  View conceptual drawings here.

Cubs Unveil Wrigley Renovation Plans

The Chicago Cubs unveiled renovation plans for inside and outside of Wrigley Field at a neighborhood meeting Tuesday evening.  Proposed plans include adding a hotel across the street and a community gathering place for people to come and watch outdoor movies.  Read more here.

Cubs Replace Field at Wrigley, Fewer Events on Tap

At a cost of $400,000, the Chicago Cubs are completely replacing the field at Wrigley Field, which has taken a beating from all the non-baseball events held on the playing surface this past year.  To reduce future wear and tear on the new turf, the Cubs are expected to curtail the number of on-field activities.  Read more here.

Commission Approves Wrigley Upgrades, More Football Possible

By a 5-1 vote Thursday, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks’ permit review committee approved a plan by the Chicago Cubs to move the brick wall at Wrigley Field three feet closer to home plate to make room for 56 premium box seats.  The team also received permission to reconfigure a nearly 12-foot-long section of the wall along the third-base line to make it movable for football games.  Read more here.