UPDATE: Cubs Reach Agreement on Wrigley Renovations, Plans Detailed

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts announced today a plan that will allow the Cubs to begin the process to undertake a $500 million renovation of Wrigley Field.

The framework contains many elements and addresses key areas including: community investment, parking, public safety, amenities, the ballpark operations and scheduling.

“Lakeview encompasses more than Wrigley Field,” said Tunney. “There are thousands of residents and hundreds of businesses who 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.”

After weeks of rumors, a video board is confirmed to be a part of the plan. It will be played in left field where the current Toyota advertisement sits, and the Cubs say they plan to work with rooftop owners to minimize impacts of the new screen.

New signage will also be placed inside the park that won’t negatively affect the rooftop seats, like around the seating bowl.

During Monday morning's press conference regarding the plan, Ricketts said he hasn't spoken to the Wrigley Rooftop Association recnetly, and did not comment directly on his plans if the organization plans to sue. 

The association later sent out a statement saying they're happy the Cubs will continue discussions with the community, and they plan to uphold the legal agreement they entered into in 2004.

"We are pleased the Chicago Cubs will participate in a community process to flesh out these details more in-depth," the association said in a statement. "However, no community process, city ordinance, or agreement without our consent can or should dismiss contractual rights granted to us by the Chicago Cubs in 2004.  Rooftop owners reserve the right to use any and all means necessary to enforce the remaining 11 years of our 20-year contract. We, as well as every interested party in the Lakeview neighborhood, will study the plans submitted to the City of Chicago and play a constructive role in moving forward."

Regarding parking, the Cubs, Tunney and the Chicago Department of Transportation are working together to create 1,000 remote parking spaces with shuttles to Wrigley Field, all of which will be free to use. That’s combined with the new plan for traffic lights down Clark Street.

The proposal also increases the number of night games the team is allowed to play each season. It calls for 40 night games, 10 more than the Cubs are currently allowed, which excludes the times Major League Baseball requires the team to play at night.

The framework will also allow four concerts per year to be authorized by special ordinance, six 3:05 starts on Friday afternoon, as well as greater flexibility for offseason and smaller events at Wrigley Field.

A new safety plan will also be introduced, adding 30 additional people to the security team.

"There will be lots of community meetings—lots of discussion, and we will end up with this plan..."

The Captain Morgan Club on Addison Street is also getting an overhaul. It will soon be a two-story building with a merchandise store and visitor’s clubhouse. The long-contested use of Sheffield Avenue for street events during games has also been factored into the proposal, with events allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day beginning two hours before a game and ending at the end of 2nd inning.

The framework additionally calls for a number of opportunities for the Ricketts family to invest outside of the stadium, including a hotel that will accommodate 175 rooms, 75 parking spaces, food and beverage, retail and a 40,000 square foot health club, and a pedestrian bridge with public access over Clark Street connecting the hotel and plaza.

Let Patch save you time. Get more Lake View news like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone with our free newsletter. Join us here!

The Ricketts family will be permitted to construct a building at the north end of the Triangle property—near Clark and Waveland Avenue—to house Cubs offices, a hotel meeting space, as well as a plaza that will be managed by the team, retail shops and a kid’s zone. That’s combined with plans to reconstruct the Brown Parking Lot on Eddy Street.

These projects will go through the planned development and other formal approval processes with community input.

"There will be lots of community meetings—lots of discussion, and we will end up with this plan," said Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts during Monday's press conference. "… The key for us for what we can and can’t do this off-season will be how quickly the process moves forward."

The Cubs will be allowed to place signage along the hotel, the office building, and the plaza to accommodate significant advertising and sponsorship opportunities. Included in this sign package will be a four screen video board within the plaza that, in addition to advertising, will allow the Cubs to broadcast Cubs games and “Movies in the Plaza” for the community.

“We are excited about moving forward with the approval process,” said 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.”

Tunney released a new statement later Monday evening addressing the community input still needed with the project. While Ricketts says "we will end with this plan," Tunney says things might still change.

"I must stress, however, that there remains a great deal of work to do, especially with regard to community input," Tunney said in his statement. "As the (previous) statement notes, the plans, with many more specific details, will be reviewed as part of the Planned Development, Landmarks and City Ordinance process. The Cubs started the process with a comprehensive list of desired elements and outcomes. While I am committed to the framework released earlier today, there is no doubt that the community input is vital regarding several elements that would most affect the quality of life for neighborhood residents and businesses."

Follow Us on Facebook!