Quite a bit going on with the Wrigley Renovation Planned Development Process (I’ve gotta come up with a better way to discuss this stuff … should I just call it the “community approval process”? Is that more clear? Yeah, I think I’ll do that), as the Cubs are meeting with a variety of groups to discuss the renovation and community issues on an ongoing basis.
The biggest news to come out this week comes courtesy of Serena Dai at DNAinfo. Dai reports that, at a Lakeview Chamber of Commerce event yesterday, Chicago Cubs Chairman and Owner Tom Ricketts expressed confidence that this approval process isn’t going to prohibit the Cubs from starting the renovations in earnest after this season. That’s great news. “I think we have the support that we need to get through the proper steps to get started at some point at the end of this year,” Ricketts said in response to a question about what was blocking the renovation. “But that said, we greatly appreciate the support of everyone in this room if they have an opportunity to step up, come to a meeting, … support any way they can.” The goal has always been to start the new clubhouses and player facilities this offseason so that they could be in place for 2014. Assuredly, the Cubs would also like to be able to erect the JumboTron for the 2014 season, as well.
Dai’s piece also includes discussion of the outfield signage and rooftop situation, which remains generally positive.
There is some discussion of the Cubs hiring 270 Strategies, a consulting organization that helps political corporate entities campaign, and how their tactics aren’t making some of the rooftops too happy (the Cubs giving neighborhood folks tickets in exchange for showing up at meetings to speak positively about the renovation plan). Crain’s also has a fair bit more on 270 Strategies. To most of it I say: shrug. This is what political processes are like, and I’d rather see the Cubs playing the game the way it is played by everyone else than sit on their hands and hope folks simply see that the renovation is a good thing. (Politics … SMH … )
The Tribune has a write-up of the Cubs’ advertising requests outside of the ballpark, which are pretty extensive. It sounds like there will be ads adorning every corner of the hotel and plaza, at least in terms of what the Cubs are requesting (I’m starting to suspect they asked for more than they thought they could get). Then again, if you’ve walked around Wrigley, you know that the commercial areas are covered in large ads, earning money for everyone *except* the Cubs. I can understand why the Cubs feel like they should be able to participate in the ad game on their own property, given that the only reason those other folks’ ads generate revenue is because people are there to see the Cubs.
This falls into the “I don’t really want to give this any attention, but folks will discuss it, and I’ll look like an idiot if I don’t at least mention it” category, but Cicero, on the western edge of Chicago, has offered land and what-have-you to the Cubs if they move. Since the city made sure to publicize the offer in a press release (which, in part, refers to the “Rickett’s family”), this feels like little more than an attention grab. So, there. You have attention now.
A little more from the Sun-Times on what a community meeting on Monday looked like (lots of discussion of night game preparedness).
UPDATE: Some additional thoughts on one of the meetings in the comments below from BN’er Ross:
I was in attendance at the East Lakeview Neighbors meeting on Monday night. I have been attending a lot of these meetings over the past couple months. The big take away I had from this is the change in tone from Ald Tunney. Its seems like he is feeling the pressure from the Mayor (who wants this deal to get done soon, and mentioned it many times during the meeting). He spoke favorably about the Cubs plans multiple times (something he never did in the past). This is a very good thing as Ald Tunney sits on many of these Planned Development Boards and has a significant role in pushing these plans through the process.
Another take away, there was a much larger group of supporters of the Cubs plan in the room and seems like it well continue as a ground swell of small groups are making sure local Wrigley Field supporters are being heard at every meeting.
Mike Lufrano (Cubs VP of Community Affairs) also seemed to indicate that if these plans do not get pushed through the PD Process and approved by July (that time-table seems to be the earliest it would be approved given the number of groups who need to approve these plans) the chances of starting the work this offseason are bleak.
Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here.
Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.
Although more established Chicago Cubs prospects are going to get the bulk of the after-season attention for the big years they had, I still think about how incredible Cam Smith's pro debut was. The 21-year-old Florida State third baseman, who...
I do not care about details or nuance. I am choosing to believe this means Vlad Guerrero Jr. is on the trade block and DESPERATELY wants to get out of Toronto. TAKE OFFENSE: https://twitter.com/CBSSportsMLB/status/1841529053834105164 https://twitter.com/bnicholsonsmith/status/1841497396989120963 HOW DARE YOU?! Vladito, you...
Although the MLB offseason doesn't officially begin until five days after the World Series comes to an end, we did hit a couple of key offseason landmarks this week. Yesterday, Jed Hoyer delivered the annual end-of-season press conference. And today,...
One of the more consequential moments in the coming offseason for the Chicago Cubs is more or less going to be entirely out of their control. Shortly after the end of the World Series, Cody Bellinger can walk back into...
The nice thing about the playoffs is just having meaningful baseball games perpetually on in the background in the family room. We can kinda look in, look out, watch when free, focus on other things when not. I don't have...
The 2024 MLB playoffs opened up yesterday with four Wild Card series games, the outcomes of which were generally pleasing to me ... Tigers 3, Astros 1 - Detroit Leads Series 1-0 American League Triple Crown-winning pitcher (that's a thing,...
Some post-season plaudits for a couple top Chicago Cubs prospects, as third baseman Matt Shaw and catcher/DH Moises Ballesteros made the All-MiLB Prospects Second Team. https://twitter.com/smokiesbaseball/status/1841195310804070504 From the MLB Pipeline write-up on each: "3B: Matt Shaw, Cubs (No. 1/MLB No....
The 2024 season opened with hopes that then-top Chicago Cubs prospect Cade Horton could force his way onto big league roster by midseason. The 2024 season has ended with hopes that Horton can have a normal offseason, be healthy for...
Did Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick not realize that lefty Jordan Montgomery is very likely under contract for next season, too? That's about the only explanation I can come up with for this tweet from Bob Nightengale: "The finger pointing...
With the 2024 Chicago Cubs season officially in the rearview, it's time to wrap things up in the form of the annual season-ending press conference from the man in charge. Cubs President Jed Hoyer will meet with the media today...
In a Thursday MLB Playoff slate that features nine compelling contests, the New York Mets versus the Milwaukee Brewers is a game to see.There are usually lots of MLB player prop bets offered for each and every matchup. Scroll down...
Jacoby Brissett and the New England Patriots will face the Miami Dolphins and their fifth-ranked pass defense (162.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.When setting your fantasy football lineup this week, is Brissett...
Tight end Mark Andrews has a matchup against the 11th-ranked pass defense in the league (181.3 yards conceded per game) in Week 5, when his Baltimore Ravens play the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.With his upcoming game versus...
Quarterback Lamar Jackson faces a matchup versus the 11th-ranked passing defense in the NFL (181.3 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, when his Baltimore Ravens take on the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.Should Jackson be someone that...
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon will match up with the 30th-ranked rushing defense of the Buffalo Bills (156.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.With his upcoming tilt against the Bills this week,...
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki will take on the 29th-ranked passing defense of the Baltimore Ravens (257.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.When setting your fantasy football lineup this week, is Gesicki...
Running back Dare Ogunbowale has a matchup versus the 30th-ranked run defense in the NFL (156.5 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, when his Houston Texans play the Buffalo Bills, Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.Is Ogunbowale worth starting in...
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton will take on the eighth-ranked pass defense of the Chicago Bears (174.5 yards conceded per game) in Week 5, at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday.With his upcoming game against the Bears this week, should Dalton...
Nelson Agholor and the Baltimore Ravens will meet the Cincinnati Bengals and their 11th-ranked pass defense (181.3 yards allowed per game) in Week 5, on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.With his upcoming matchup versus the Bengals this week, should Agholor...
In Week 5 (Thursday at 8:15 PM ET), WR Mike Evans and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will meet the Atlanta Falcons, who have the 13th-ranked pass defense in the league (191 yards allowed per game).Should Evans be someone that you...
NEWSLETTER
Quite a bit going on with the Wrigley Renovation Planned Development Process (I’ve gotta come up with a better way to discuss this stuff … should I just call it the “community approval process”? Is that more clear? Yeah, I think I’ll do that), as the Cubs are meeting with a variety of groups to discuss the renovation and community issues on an ongoing basis.
