All Wrigley Field renovation thread

[Rice Cube]

Triangle Building updates from BN:

Obsessive Wrigley Renovation Watch: The Triangle Building Project is Probably Part of the Deal | Bleacher Nation | Chicago Cubs News, Rumors, and Commentary

 

[brett05]

Is it just me or do you all hear They Might Be Giants every time someone mentions Triangle Building. They gotta come up with something better to call it

 

[Rice Cube]

Is it just me or do you all hear They Might Be Giants every time someone mentions Triangle Building. They gotta come up with something better to call it

Triangle man, Triangle man...gonna make a ton of money, man.

 

[dabynsky]

Is it just me or do you all hear They Might Be Giants every time someone mentions Triangle Building. They gotta come up with something better to call it

No, but I love the reference to They Might Be Giants. My introduction to the band was this...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGeDD_tyZzM]Particle Man by They Might Be Giants (Tiny Toons) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Rice Cube]

Tiny Toons = epic win

 

[GocubsGo223]

I personally think the Cubs should work out a deal with the city to stay at Wrigley until they win a World Series. It gives management more of an incentive to get a world series under their belt, and gives the city plenty of time to deal with local attachment issues. After all it could be another 100+ years. It also gives the fans the comfort of knowing they finally got one while still playing in Wrigley. I love the neighborhood, but if it limits the efficiency of the Cubs program, then they obviously need to make change. They could do something cool like build the new stadium of recycled materials from Wrigley, and try not to move too far

 

[jheeren]

Wrigley is a homage to old ball stadiums and the heritage of baseball. You can't just overhaul part of it. I really hope they keep with the rest of the decor if they do make any changes. They upgraded Fenway without changing too much of it. I mean Wrigley is hallowed ground...some traditions shouldn't be messed with.

 

[Rice Cube]

Wrigley is a homage to old ball stadiums and the heritage of baseball. You can't just overhaul part of it. I really hope they keep with the rest of the decor if they do make any changes. They upgraded Fenway without changing too much of it. I mean Wrigley is hallowed ground...some traditions shouldn't be messed with.

What traditions? The one where they haven't won a World Series there like EVER?

 

[85Bears4life]

Worries about Wrigley Field ... and more - ESPN

 

[dabynsky]

Seems reasonable about Wrigley. Again I wouldn't be shocked if these things being said about Wrigley were somewhat planned leaks to again try to force the city to allow the Cubs to do what they want with the Triangle Building (que They Might Be Giants for Brett) and really relaxing landmark status on Wrigley. This could be the way that Ricketts gets around saying that he has no intention of leaving Wrigley and getting some leverage.

OT, but the part in that article that I liked the most was Stark talk about Jurrjens. Nice to hear that other people have the same thoughts about when the Braves try to trade a pitcher.

 

[Kaz7]

I can't stand when someone's main argument for building a new stadium is because the Cubs have never won a World Series at Wrigley. The stadium has nothing to do with the outcome of the games or the season, it's the players.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Worries about Wrigley Field ... and more - ESPN

This is why I keep recommending the use of Horner Park, there just isn't enough available room to properly renovate the existing structure.

 

[Rice Cube]

I can't stand when someone's main argument for building a new stadium is because the Cubs have never won a World Series at Wrigley. The stadium has nothing to do with the outcome of the games or the season, it's the players.

The players are the more important piece of the puzzle, but if you're going to handcuff management's ability to pay for the best players and facilities due to the limitations of revenue streams and the facility itself, I would argue that is a rather significant factor in addition to the shitty luck ever since World War II.

 

[Kaz7]

I don't what is so bad about the facilities for the players though. Clubhouse? Weight room? I know it's not the batting tunnel because a batting cage is a batting cage. I've been inside of the Reds' batting tunnel at Great American Ballpark and all they have is 2-3 batting cages in there, nothing special.

 

[Rice Cube]

I don't what is so bad about the facilities for the players though. Clubhouse? Weight room? I know it's not the batting tunnel because a batting cage is a batting cage. I've been inside of the Reds' batting tunnel at Great American Ballpark and all they have is 2-3 batting cages in there, nothing special.

Methinks you'd probably just have to ask the players themselves. They make do because they're professionals, but there's always room for improvement outside of the talent level. I've never taken the exorbitantly-priced Wrigley tour so I can't tell you firsthand, but the footprint of the stadium is really small and if we as fans are already cramped in the concourse and our seats, you can sort of imagine how little space there is inside the rest of the stadium once you figure in the space they have to put all the batting practice equipment, the food storage, random office space, etc. The Ricketts seem to be doing their best though.

I'm going to make a friendly wager that no player would complain if they improved the facilities at Wrigley Field

 

[85Bears4life]

Here's the financial deal Cubs want to rebuild Wrigley

So exactly what deal do the Cubs and their owning Ricketts family want from Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the recent talks about how to rebuild Wrigley Field?

Someone who would know has given me the details. Though things are still moving around, the public is being asked to put in both less and more than you might suspect.

On the table is a $500 million or so plan — $300 million to reconstruct the nearly century-old Wrigley and $200 million for the "Triangle" parking, entertainment and multiuse structure off the west wall of the ballpark.

The family and/or team would pay for the Triangle building. That means $300 million is needed for the ballpark proper.

Half would come from the team, presumably in increased revenue from more signage inside Wrigley and retail and other entertainment in what amounts to a game-day carnival on Waveland Avenue on Wrigley's north side and Sheffield Avenue to the east.

And half would come from $150 million or so in bonds to be retired with increased revenue from the existing city and Cook County amusement taxes on ticket sales. Specifically, debt service would get the first 6 percent in growth above a base level of around $15 million a year now.

But it's a little more complicated than that.

The team also wants a 50 percent cut of any increase in amusement tax revenue growth above 6 percent. And unlike the bonds, which would be retired in 30 or 35 years, that would be forever.

I may be missing a detail or two, but that's what they're talking about now.

The team's argument is that all of this is reasonable, since there'd be no growth in revenue for anyone if Wrigley continues to fall apart.

But neither the county nor the state, whose Illinois Finance Authority would issue the bonds, is as yet aboard. The IFA may be asked not only to issue but guarantee the bonds. Gov. Pat Quinn won't like that.

The rooftop guys will yap — and they have a strong ally in local Ald. Tom Tunney, as I reported earlier this month.

And the idea of public help for the team is a hard swallow — much less what amounts to a permanent tax cut for the team.

Mr. Emanuel still hasn't fully committed to anything, though clearly he wants to do something. But it remains very, very, very complicated.

My prognosis: This deal is in guarded condition, at best.

 

[85Bears4life]

Wrigley Field rebuild fight draws lobbyist with Daley ties - Blogs On Politics - Crain's Chicago Business

 

[Sunbiz1]

They need to put a winning product on the field *first, then they'll get the necessary support it will take 2/use public $$.

As long as players suck up the field, there's no reason to give them better amenities.

 

[Rice Cube]

Oh Chicago :lol:

Great Moments in Chicago politics | HardballTalk

 

[MRubio52]

WSJ article on why they think Wrigley should be destroyed.

I think the author went too hard and some of their better points are lost in some of the crap. I am not opposed to tearing Wrigley down at all, but the author could have done a better job.