Kenney mentioned that all 29 other teams — including the White Sox — get some form of public money to improve their facilities, but the Cubs get none. Part of this is, he said, by choice, but he also hinted that perhaps new ownership could get some public funding, given that Wrigley Field is the third largest tourist attraction in the state.

This whole public funding thing for these billionaire sports franchises is getting out of hand.

As long as the exsisting scoreboard remains the same, and also as long as it looks like it belongs. I think the way they had the jumbotrons during the Winter Classic looked random and out of place. It would be cool and unique if a jumbotron is put on a rooftop let’s just hope they don’t mess up the aesthetics of Wrigley by just throwing in a jumbotron just to have one.

Thanks for reporting this.

Kenney was appointed by Zell, right? What are the odds of him keeping his job once the sale is completed?

He seems very aware of what is REALLY going on, and won’t BS you but can still toe the company line. Pretty impressive.

they are looking at different ways to get security to such a scene faster and more efficiently. There are off-duty Chicago police officers in the ballpark during games, too.

Specifically, the bleachers? I realize I’m approaching “old fart” stage, but every time I go into the bleachers (yes, I do venture inside the ballpark 4-6 times a year), I swear it’s going to be my last time. Whether it’s smoking, excessive drinking (and I do mean excessive), throwing crap at each other and on the field, and of course fighting, it just seems like it’s more and more out of control.

I realize manpower is limited, but a lot of these infractions happen in full view of security personnel. And they do nothing unless it’s really really obnoxious/obvious. If you ask them about it, they just sorta shrug.

Al, you’re in the bleachers all the time – have you noticed any behavioral trends in your area? And the corresponding reactions by security?

…I said I was all for a rooftop jumbotron. Having seen the crap that gets played on the Cell’s jumbotron, I’ve changed my mind. Even if they don’t do the between inning stunts (kiss cam) to start out with, eventually the execs for the Cubs $$$ and change that way. It’s a slippery slope that I don’t want to go down.

I have heard you (in nice article in the Maple Street Press Cubs Annual) and others on this site, envision that in the not too distant future the entire main facility would be torn down and rebuilt. Essentially foul pole to foul pole, leaving bleachers and scoreboard intact.

My question is if something that ambitious were done I would assume it would be easier, if not a prerequisite, that the triangle building not be there. So, the triangle would be step 2, not step 1. Agree? If so, does making the triangle building #1 priority lessen the chances of the larger rebuilding effort?

…before a Sat game that we were actually early arriving to. He walked right by me, and into the Captain Morgan club, so my wife and I went in to check it out because I hadn’t had the chance too as of yet. I walked right up to Craine and we chatted for a few minutes about how the Captain Morgan club came out nicer than he anticipated. He is a straight-up guy, shook my hand a couple of times, and is very approachable.

is what will keep Wrigley around. Anything offered in “new” ballparks needs to be thoroughly investigated here. If Wrigley is allowed to become so out of date that it cannot meet the needs and expectations of the players and fans, the time will have arrived to start over somewhere else. Best example is lights — without lights the team could not stay there. So I say bring on the Jumbotron, wi-fi, bigger press box, triangle building (for batting cages and player accommodations) and any other amenities, trusting that the owners and management will do it right.

Inquiring minds …

How are the Spanish-language broadcasts doing on 1200 AM? Are the Cubs seeing an increase in their Hispanic marketing efforts?

I agree that the grandstand needs updating but my hope is that they can do this without significantly altering the sight lines/distance between home plate and the upper deck seats.

Most new ballparks have raised the height of their upper decks to accommodate more club boxes / club seats. I think the news out of New York suggests that teams can go too far in trying to lure in the supper rich, which diminishes the experience of the majority of attendees. The upper deck box seats are my favorite, best seats in all of MLB, and I would hate to see these seats diminished.

As for the Triangle Building, I think it is a great idea. Hopefully it does not increase the total number of parking spaces over existing. I don’t think the neighborhood can handle more traffic traveling directly to the ball park rather than facilities spread throughout the neighborhood.

Also, the bike valet is heavily used and should be planned for in the building. It is a popular amenity and doesn’t take up a lot of space. The new Nationals ballpark has a heavily used facility and the city is not nearly as bike friendly.

Thanks for the recap, now all we need is a new owner.

and give longtime supporters a chance to have a little Q&A.

Having been on their side of something like that (opening yourself up to public questioning), I can tell you it can be a little worrysome.

Sounds like the group was respectful, asked informed questions and expressed their concerns in a mature manner.

The fact they plan to do this another couple of times means you didn’t scare the living crap out of them ;)

It could go to black (or dark green, or whatever) for each pitch, but at a minimum be turned on between innings, and before and after games. Would bring in a lot more advertising revenue, and could be seen by just about everyone except in the bleachers. It wouldn’t be as big as at many stadiums, but that’s OK.

Dump ’em!

Too bad they couldn’t have thrown some tri-tip on the grill for you guys, Al.

I’m also a fan of Crane Kenney, ever since his comments about wanting to emulate the Red Sox business model. I suppose it’s possible that Tom Ricketts or Mark Utay would jettison the current front office in favor of their own guys, but that all depends on how much Ricketts and Utay fancy themselves as baseball visionaries.

One nice thing about the Arte Moreno era is that he retained the Angels brain trust when he became team owner, from Bill Stoneman on down to Mike Scioscia. Although I’ve been on record as preferring a general manager and field skipper for the Cubs with younger ideas concerning roster construction, I wouldn’t mind seeing Crane Kenny stay on.

People sit there for the entire break, then get up as play starts. Well, if you have to go, you have to go . . . but make people wait until there is a break in the action to return.

As in actually moving it up higher. Where the current LED board runs underneath it, if the old scoreboard was moved up, a new, taller, rectangular Jumbotron could replace the current light board.

While it wouldn’t be a huge square Jumbotron, if could be a long, rectangular board. With the old scoreboard on top, it would maintain the charm of the old board, while providing the replays that fans want.

If a Jumbotron couldn’t go on a rooftop, and plans to put it on the Wrigley roof don’t work, the Cubs might be able to squeeze one in there.

Obviously, space is a limitation because of league expansion.

What I don’t understand is, they’ll be a few “NITE GAME” listings while other matchups are actually happening. Or, sometimes dvisional rivals will be playing but those games aren’t tracked.