Fractional ownership suites aren’t the only new things coming to Wrigley Field next year:
The Cubs are following the lead of the Boston Red Sox, opening up the space underneath the right-field bleachers for corporate pregame events, and for bleacher fans who may want to come down during the game and watch the action on flat-screen TVs. A pane of one-way glass will separate fans from the right-field batting cage, allowing them to watch b.p. in the area that Guillen claims has been a long-time haven for rats.
But wait, there’s more!
- There will be a “30 percent overall increase in bathroom capacity” and improvements in the womens bathrooms. Not sure how they measure “capacity.” Not sure I want to know. Also, according to the stadium’s manager the men will also have more room, “but the look won’t change much.” Thank God, because we all go there for the ambiance.
- Bleacher advertisements. They messed with this last month, but apparently those were just mockups.
- The rectangular, granite slabs on the sides of the outer walls are being taken down and replaced with fencing, which should let more light in.
- The Sheffield Grill restaurant in the right field corner will be opened up for fans on game days. Previously, the grill was reserved for corporate events, which will be moved to Murphy’s Bleachers. Or maybe to that new area under the bleachers. I’m hearing different things here.
- The left field bricks will be replaced. The right field bricks are cool because of the coriolis effect or centripetal force or something. We got guys working on it.
In all seriousness, though, it’s good to see the Rickettseseses taking the Fenway Park approach. Wrigley Field needs lots of work, but it’s worth saving. Moreover, it’s worth saving slowly, piece by piece in a well thought-out manner, rather than doing what they did to Soldier Field and just dropping some spaceship of a modern stadium on top of some of the old walls and calling it a “renovation.”