Wrigley
- Thread starter NJCat
- Start date
I'm fine with it happening whenever against whomever, but I think the novelty has worn off, and I don't like how sterile Wrigleyville is becoming...with what they have planned, they might as well have moved out to Rosemont, put in an Apple store, a Chili's, and a Lulu Lemon next door and left this Wrigleyville alone.
Cubs are finally a professional organization, and a winner. If the price for that is a sterile Wrigleyville, it is a small price to pay. No more loveable losers.
Fitz has sung "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch a number of times. This wasn't his first rodeo
Sheff, it's been six or eight years since I've been back. What are the changes? Have they blocked any of the surrounding streets on game day, Yawkey Way-style?
On tv, the in-stadium changes - video, ribbon board, more bleachers - seem tastefully done. What have they done outside?
(North suburbs kid. Once caught four games over spring break. Skokie Swift. 'Bought outside' peanuts, plus a jug of kook-aid, plus, oddly, a bag of bananas. They used to discount April games... )
They should add something unique, like a Shake Shack.
Or they could have had the State of Illinois bankroll there ballpark. Shef, your jealousy is showing because Wrigley field is still the place to watch a ballgame and go out afterwards,while taxpayers park on the south side is a cement monument to Reinsdorf, surrounded by half empty concrete parking lots.
I'm actually pretty indifferent to baseball in general, but I've lived my entire Chicago life within a couple miles of Wrigley and hate watching places I've gone to for years shutting down in rapid succession to make way for a hotel and lame-*** chains that will cater to out of towners who think it's neat-o to stay near the ball park instead of going back to aurora or kickapoo right after the game.
The owners of the Cubs have bought up most of the real estate directly surrounding Wrigley Field, and are tearing down many buildings and businesses in order to create their own private playground. I can only imagine how much money they had to spend to be able to tear down both a Starbucks and a McDonalds, let alone all of the other businesses that they took over to create hotel complexes and other things. They also own all of the rooftop buildings now as well.
I do agree that the changes inside the park were a) sorely needed and b) well done.
Yeah, Sheffielder. I'm going to miss that McDonald's,too. How dare they tear down such a unique, Ma and Pa restaurant? And that Taco Bell! The character of the neighborhood will never be the same.
I am going to miss Salt n Pepoer. It was the last reasonable place left in Wrigleyville for a few beers and lunch before the game.
Sarcasm appropriate here, but they're also responsible for Goose Island closing along with a slate of other bars along the eastern side of Clark St south of Addison.
For what it's worth, there's a 'Restore Wrigley' Cubs micro site that delineates all the changes. I had no idea of the scope.
I live in ATL - my adopted (pity me) team is leaving the city to move to the suburbs - the first such MLB move since the 70s - to get more space. They're not building a ballpark - they're building an entertainment complex near the mall. Liberty Media management touts the braves as a 'real estate business' as much as a 'baseball club'. Nobody's that sad to see Turner Field go, but the actual action of moving to the burbs (and effectively doing it without public input) rubs people the wrong way.
At least they haven't found a parcel of land in Mt. Prospect. But, from what I can tell, they're stripping Wrigley of its amazing character. There is something about that experience of driving from the South, looking for parking, and - poof - there's a marquee, just in the neighborhood. I assume the future renovated complex will have better signage. ("Wrigley Field 4 Miles")
I'm a Sox fan who doesn't hate the Cubs. I grew up in Mount Prospect with all Cub fans around me. Kind of the reason I began boxing at a young age was because some older kids stole my Sox jacket in third grade and set it on fire. Years later I got my revenge but we will leave that as a private matter. Never really understood the hating of the other team though. Kind of stupid to me.
Another point when I was young I went to some Bear games at Wrigley. They played at that time from First base to left field. I wonder why they changed it for the Illlinois game? If it worked for Gale Sayers it should have worked for college!
The seating layout has changed drastically since the days Gale Sayers roamed Wrigley, especially with more seats at field-level. Those seats are what made it nearly impossible to fit a competition-sized football field into modern-day Wrigley.
As a Reds' fan, I am going to take such evil pleasure in watching the Cubs lose in the NLCS again this year.
As a Reds' fan, I am going to take such evil pleasure in watching the Cubs lose in the NLCS again this year.
Someone out there is taking evil pleasure in watching the Reds' bullpen.
Actually they are restoring a baseball icon from the old and unsafe structure it had become and it looks great. Also the Ricketts family used their own money unlike the owner of that team that plays in taxpayer park on the Southside.
to answer your question as soon as the final phases of the reconstruction are complete. so as of now it is slated to be complete during 2018 ?(so either the fall of 2018 or 2019) NU has a contract that will place a game at Wrigley for 5 seasons all taking place in November.
The interior looks beautiful. The stadium itself has been improved. But it appears that the exterior work will detract from the character of a truly unique "neighborhood ballpark".
At least when Dusty Baker was there, they used to regularly beat the Cubs. But now.... uggh. Pain. A lot of pain.
The Reds' bullpen is an argument in support of death panels.
Actually the exterior of the park is being made to look like it did in the 30's, which is much, much better then the cement slabs that were previously in place. Also isn't the ballpark still in the neighborhood?
Yeah, though aside from homes on Sheffield and Waveland Aves., the building of baseball village will kind of make the whole thing look like the area around the Staples Center. I don't have a problem with it, but I get people might.
Actually "the homes" on Waveland and Sheffield are private clubs owned by the rooftop guys or some now by the Ricketts family. The plaza is actually situated where a train tracks and a silo like structure stood and then later occupied by a donut business and car wash. The McDonalds that was torn down will reappear in or the new hotel. The west side of the ballpark where the players lot was will now have a new west entrance and of course the second largest clubhouse sits beneath it. Guess they could go back to inadequate restrooms, crumbling cement, no elevators or even no lights in an attempt to get that neighborhood feel.
Yeah, this one fits you well, and you are even becoming more Fitzphilic than you would have ever dreamed.
Actually Guthrie's and Gingerman are still pretty much the very enjoyable same they were 25 years ago. Definitely miss Wrigleyville Tap.