The renovated right field bleachers at Wrigley Field officially opened on Thursday, June 11.
The renovated left and center field bleachers opened last month but with the opening of the right field bleachers, the first phase of renovations for the historic ballpark are nearly complete. The bleacher renovations are just the first of four renovation phases for 101 year old Wrigley Field. The first phase included a complete rebuild and expansion of the left and right field bleachers, new large video boards in left and right field, and other new signage around the ballpark.
For the first time this year both left and right field bleachers are open at Wrigley (pic via @AgRiley79). #Cubs pic.twitter.com/hbOFXGCT2W
— MLB Cathedrals (@MLBcathedrals) June 12, 2015
When the 2015 season ends, phase two of the renovations will begin immediately.
The highlights of phase two include a new 30,000 foot state-of-the-art clubhouse for Chicago Cubs players, new bullpens located under the bleachers, and a new plaza and office building in the old triangle lot. The new Cubs clubhouse facility will feature a large locker room, strength and conditioning center, training and hydrotherapy areas, a media center, team offices, and a player lounge. The triangle lot off of Clark and Waveland will be transformed into a retail and office building with an outdoor plaza.
Phase three of renovations will start after the 2016 season at Wrigley Field which includes a refreshed first base concourse, expansion of the visitors’ clubhouse, a new outdoor concourse, and refreshed and expanded luxury suites. The new outdoor concourse will be apart of the left field upper-level enhancements that will also include new concessions and restrooms. A new first-base club as well as a new upper-level club will be added too.
Phase four of the Wrigley Field renovations will take the longest to complete due to the amount of construction that will take place. Phase four will include a new Sheraton hotel across from Wrigley Field, a two-story retail and entertainment complex in the right field corner, and renovated press boxes. The new Sheraton hotel will be located across the street on a site that the Ricketts family purchased in 2011 for $20 million. The lot is currently occupied by a McDonalds but will be replaced by the new hotel by 2018. A new two-story retail and entertainment complex will replace the Captain Morgan Club on the Addison Street side of the ballpark.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts announced this March that the renovation timeline will be extended one additional year because of the amount of work that needs to be done. Other than the new hotel and triangle lot construction, the majority of the renovations have to take place during the off-seasons when Wrigley Field isn’t in use. The Cubs hope to finish the entire renovation project by the 2019 season.
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