CHICAGO — The stage is set for historic Wrigley Field and its environs to undergo a major restoration that city officials hope will rally fans and the community alike. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Alderman Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts have jointly announced the framework that will allow the Cubs to begin the city’s approval process to undertake the $500 million renovation of the ballpark built in 1914 and bounded by Clark and Addison streets and Waveland and Sheffield avenues.
The restoration project is also expected to give Wrigleyville, the neighborhood district surrounding the ballpark, a facelift. The Wrigleyville community is part of Chicago’s Lakeview district.
“For nearly a century, Wrigley Field has been a cherished institution in Chicago and the Wrigleyville community, as well as a cathedral of baseball,” says Emanuel.
“This framework allows the Cubs to restore ‘The Friendly Confines’ and pursue their economic goals, while respecting the rights and quality of life of its neighbors,” continued Emanuel. “I want to thank the Ricketts family for their commitment to Chicago and commend all parties involved for making this agreement without the use of any taxpayer money. It will have a long-lasting positive effect on Chicago.”
The proposed framework includes community investment, parking, public safety, amenities, ballpark operations, scheduling and the restoration of Wrigley Field by the end of the 2013 baseball season.
Building Up Around the Park
The plan also calls for opportunities for the Ricketts family to invest outside of Wrigley Field, including a 175-room hotel that will house 75 parking spaces, a restaurant, bar, 40,000-square-foot health club and a pedestrian bridge with public access over Clark Street.
In addition to the new hotel, the family will be permitted to construct an office building at the north end of the Triangle property for new Cubs offices, hotel meeting space, retailers, a kid zone and a plaza managed by the Cubs.
“We are excited about moving forward with the approval process,” says Ricketts. “Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel and Alderman Tunney, we believe the Cubs proposal will help us invest in Wrigley Field and the Lakeview community. We are anxious to work with our community as we seek the approvals required to move the project forward.”
“Lakeview encompasses more than Wrigley Field,” adds Tunney. “There are thousands of residents and hundreds of businesses [that] all contribute to the unique character of our neighborhood. Each of them benefits from the Cubs, and there is no doubt our neighborhood is better and more vibrant with the Cubs at Clark and Addison. I’m proud they’ve recommitted to Wrigley Field.”
The framework also proposes a two-story Captain Morgan Club on Addison Street with a merchandise store and space for a visitor’s clubhouse. The new establishment will allow for beers sales to extend to the end of the seventh inning, or 10:30 p.m., whichever is earlier.
The team will also use Sheffield Avenue for weekend home games between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning two hours before first pitch and ending at the close of the second inning. Additionally, Chicago would vacate a parking lane on Waveland Avenue for the Cubs to build a new exterior wall.
According to Jason Trombley, vice president and director of retail real estate of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Chicago office, the changes proposed will be uplifting to the Wrigleyville’s restaurant and retail community, as well as the area’s residents.
“While Wrigley Field and its immediate environment are charming and iconic aspects of Chicago baseball history, there is definite opportunity to enhance the overall fan experience and that of those who call the Wrigleyville area home,” says Trombley. “The renovations will not only improve the look and feel of the immediate area from a physical perspective, but also will engender a World Series Championship-caliber standard of expectations from the owners to the players to the hot dog vendors on the streets. Change can be good. Change is what might be needed to bring home that World Series Championship.”
Restoring Wrigley
The ballpark will receive a new video board in left field and a right field sign in the style of the Toyota sign in place now. The Cubs will work with the City of Chicago on the placement of the signs to minimize impact on nearby rooftops. The team will also have the ability to install signage inside the park that won’t impact rooftop views.
The proposal allows the Cubs 40 night games with mechanisms in place for additional night games when required by the Major League Baseball’s national television contract. The 40 night games don’t include the postseason. The framework allows four concerts at the ballpark per year, six 3:05 p.m. starts on Friday afternoons and greater flexibility for offseason events at the park.
The proposed parking plan calls for 1,000 free remote spots with a shuttle to the ballpark. The Cubs will also be allowed to reconstruct the Brown Parking Lot on Eddy Street. The Cubs, Alderman’s office and the Chicago Department of Transportation will jointly develop the marketing campaign to promote the remote parking spaces, as well as alternate travel options. The framework also includes new traffic lights on Clark Street to control game-day traffic.
The new public safety plan, initiated by the Cubs and the City of Chicago, will allow 30 additional safety personnel outside the park after games. The Cubs will also contribute to the School Street Play Lot funding effort and contribute to public projects benefitting the community for the next 10 years. The School Street Play Lot is a new park that will feature a playground, greenspace, trees and benches. The park will be located at 1230 W. School St., a 10 minute walk from Wrigley Field.
The Cubs will be allowed to place signage along the hotel, new office building and the plaza to accommodate advertising and sponsorship opportunities. The signage will include a four-screen video board within the plaza that broadcasts Cubs games and movies as part of the Movies in the Plaza program, in addition to advertising.
— John Nelson