NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Cubs have taken to the interwebz to generate/continue support with respect to the Wrigley Field renovation project. Today the Cubs launched a new site – www.WrigleyField.com – which includes all kinds of information about the renovation, and asks for community support for the project. In a way, the site is one big sales pitch, but it’s a fun and effective one.
For those who haven’t been following the renovation story as – *eh hem* – obsessively as others, the site makes for a nice one-stop shop on all things renovation, including pictures, videos, plans, etc. On it, the Cubs finally released the cool renovation video they showed at Cubs Convention:
You can also sign a petition to support the renovation on the site, the utility of which isn’t entirely clear to me, given where the process stands (recall: the framework of a deal with Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Tunney is in place, which was widely considered the greatest hurdle to a finalized deal). Perhaps the Cubs will simply use it as another flag to waive before City Council to make sure things get done? Or maybe the Cubs are looking to wrangle some supporters in the community from whom they haven’t already heard?
The site also includes an entire section devoted to “Calling Alderman Tom Tunney,” complete with a suggested script for your call. I know the Cubs want to make sure the plan, as they’ve outlined it, gets through City Council, but wouldn’t this kind of directed support have been more useful three months ago? The leader for that particular page reads, “Want to help keep the Cubs in Wrigleyville?” Is that really still a fear? I’m not criticizing here. I’m really asking.
I don’t entirely understand the point of pushing folks to bend Tunney’s ear today, unless of course the Cubs are concerned that some of the specifics of their plan are subject to serious problems in the Planned Development process. Obviously some neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about the size of the proposed JumboTron, the volume and character of advertising outside of the ballpark, and the height of the proposed hotel. Maybe the Cubs just want to make sure Alderman Tunney understands that a large portion of his constituency that has otherwise been silent wants the Cubs to get what they need.
So, sincerely, if you support what the Cubs are doing and are a member of the community, go ahead and make your voice heard. Those who oppose the plan are certainly having no trouble making their voice heard.
The site has a longer term purpose, it seems (indeed, the “www.WrigleyField.com” domain is very valuable real estate that should be put to good, long-term use). In a statement sent to non-me media, the Cubs apparently indicated that the site will be used to update fans on the progress of the renovation once it gets underway, so it won’t always be about selling the project.
(Related and friendly aside: Hey, Cubs, send me those kinds of statements/renderings/etc. when you’re getting them out to the media. I tend to share pretty much everything related to the Wrigley renovation here at BN because I think it is hugely newsworthy, and we have a considerable readership of Cubs fans, including Wrigleyville locals. So, when you want to get the word out on something like this, BN should probably be one of your stops.)
