NEWSLETTER
Today, the Chicago Cubs made sure to dispel any lingering rumors out there that Wrigley Field wouldn’t be ready or safe for Opening Night.
On a call with the media, Cubs VP of Communication and Community Affairs Julian Green forcefully denied any rumors that MLB ever intervened in the construction, that the Cubs ever talked to the White Sox about opening the season at U.S. Cellular Field, or that the upper deck and grandstand are anything but safe. They are ready, safe, and the City of Chicago wouldn’t approve of anything less.
In other words: game on for Sunday. The gates open early at 4:35pm CT.
Obviously not everything will be open and operational by the start of the season. Although the left field video board will be up and running, VP of Ballpark Operations Carl Rice said the right field board won’t be up until the All-Star Break (though the right field Budweiser sign will be up in right field in a temporary location until then). The left and center field bleachers are still scheduled for a May 11 open, and the right field bleachers are still scheduled for a mid-June open.
Some construction is going to bleed into the seasons in the coming years, and fans will simply have to accept it as the Cubs are trying to make sure the renovation and restoration is done properly, while still accommodating baseball at Wrigley Field. The entire project, originally slated for five offseasons, then pushed to four, is now likely back to five. The Cubs never quite pinned anything down with 100% certain, so there’s always been some flexibility. So long as the primary player amenities are in by next year – that’s still the plan – everything will be swell.
Meanwhile, some of the latest shots from around Wrigley Field with just five days to go before Opening Night …
Just flew over #WrigleyField Do you think the workers will get to take a break Sunday for Opening Day? 😉 #cubs pic.twitter.com/wKr0mWECak
— Sarah Jindra (@SarahJindra) March 30, 2015
Work continues into the night as the lights come on #WrigleyRenovations #WrigleyField pic.twitter.com/zfN2Z9SQEo
— Wrigley Renovations (@WrigleyRenovate) March 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/WrigleyBlog/status/582920686584356864
@WrigleyRenovate @Cubs pic.twitter.com/S2oZEGe1SU
— TylerSlager (@TylerSlager) March 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/WrigleyBlog/status/582946668322119680
Left and Right Field #WrigleyRenovations #LetsGo #WrigleyField pic.twitter.com/Bm2RN9XTmM
— Wrigley Renovations (@WrigleyRenovate) March 31, 2015
https://twitter.com/DP3P0/status/582600306237808640
https://twitter.com/WrigleyBlog/status/582967059564363779
The video board will be operational by Opening Night, and here’s a series of shots from BN’er DarthIvy of the infrastructure going up. That baby’s gonna be huge.
Posted by Bleacher Nation on Tuesday, March 31, 2015
