Cubs To Host Wrigleyville Block Party This Weekend

by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 12:00 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs News

Like the "Wildcat Way" that was on Sheffield during the Northwestern game last November, the Cubs are going to hold a "Wrigleyville Block Party" during the Yankee series this weekend (and also during the White Sox series in July and Cardinals series in August).

There's one significant difference. The city didn't want to allow the Cubs to close Sheffield, a residential street, for three weekends during busy summer times. So, this event will be held, according to a press release from the Cubs, "on the east side of Clark Street" -- i.e. on the triangle property owned by the Cubs. No streets will be closed. The release also says:

This event will be open free of charge to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT.

Wrigleyville Block Party visitors will enjoy live music on the Budweiser Music Stage from several of Chicago’s top cover bands. Family-friendly activities will be available for kids, such as a sign-making and crafting station presented by EK Success. A basketball hoop attached to PNC Bank’s Virtual Wallet Van will be available Friday, June 17, and a BP Crosstown Cup Photo Booth and Wii Home Run Derby station will be available June 18-19. The newly-launched Cubs Trolley, complete with eight flat-screen TVs, video game consoles and more, will be present at the Wrigleyville Block Party as well.

Here's how I see this: I'm glad they're not closing off Sheffield -- that's far too much disruption for a residential area. "Wildcat Way" worked because the Cubs were trying to create a bowl game atmosphere around a college football game. I have my doubts that the same kind of atmosphere exists, or can be created, around a handful of regular season baseball series, even with opponents like the Yankees, White Sox and Cardinals. It's just not the same thing.

I suppose if it brings in some money for the team, it's worth doing... as long as that money eventually goes to improving the baseball side of the equation.

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TR is passionate about baseball...............

marketing.

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 12:03 PM CDT reply actions

How bout a DUNK A RICKETTS booth?

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 13, 2011 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

Haha, that may make enough money to offset the low attendance totals.

$2 a ball. DONE!

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

He would probably be wearing those dumb Harry glasses too

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

All the more reason to dunk them

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 13, 2011 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I bet you could more than that and have people lined up around the block

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Close Sheffield to what? Walking Traffic?

Because Sheffield gets closed down to motor vehicle traffic during each game. Obviously this would have been for a longer time period before each game. But Sheffield is probably effective shut down earlier than the actual street closing, as driver avoid the congestion at Wrigley.

"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 13, 2011 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

Right...

… but in this case it would have been closed 24/7 for five days (one for setup, three for the party, one for teardown). That’s just not feasible.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotcha.

Then I re-read and say the hours of 11am to 8pm. That in itself is a long time.

"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 13, 2011 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Are they this hard up for money?

God I can’t express how sick I am of the Ricketts doing stupid gimmicky things like this.

by kanderber on Jun 13, 2011 12:30 PM CDT reply actions

Well, yeah.

They’re hundreds of millions of dollars in debt and no one goes to the park.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Jun 13, 2011 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

In addition to Wrigley

needing mega-millions worth of renovations.

"The cheaper the hood, the gaudier the talk" - Philip Marlowe

by ForTheLoveOfBiitner on Jun 13, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Also, it's kind of ridiculous to assume that they wouldn't do things like this even if we were in 1st and had no debt...

It’s a nice thing to do. Complaining about this is like complaining about the add ons season ticket holders get, there’s absolutely no point.

It’s not like there’s a $5 cover to get in, it’s a free event, go enjoy it if you so choose.

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

but this feeds into the whole sterotype

of the “Wrigley experience” Yes it is free, but how many people are going to go and spend zero $$$

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

A lot of the festivals around the city

charge money to get in. Funny thing is – in a lot of them – you can just walk right by the person because the fee is “recommended” and not required.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I've never...

paid to go into a streetfest in Chicago, and I never will. Why would I pay money to walk down a public street?!

by kanderber on Jun 13, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

But these things cost the team a LOT of money to put on.

Setting this up, getting bands, paying workers, etc isnt cheap. I would feel pretty safe in saying the team sees very little, if any profit from these types of events. It’s just a nice thing to do for a classic series.

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions

That explains the activity I saw the other day

Workers were removing the gray chain link fencing alongside the employee parking lot on the Clark end. Not sure how far down they went because on the Waveland end of that long lot (essentially Seminary St.) you’ve got players overflow parking.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jun 13, 2011 12:31 PM CDT reply actions

I wouldn't be shocked if Wrigley turns into Yankee Stadium East this weekend

I already know the Cubs are going to get slaughtered, but I’m actually curious as to how bad the turnout is going to be for the home fans.

WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station

by Gibbon Jockey on Jun 13, 2011 12:32 PM CDT reply actions

Ummm....yeah.....West.

Idiot.

WWOZ.org - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station

by Gibbon Jockey on Jun 13, 2011 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

depends on how far you want to swim/fly/train

east…

by hansman1982 on Jun 13, 2011 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Krakatoa

East of Java!

And Yankee Stadium.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 13, 2011 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

This weekend

Coming from Oswego, NY to see Friday and Saturdays games. Have been twice before but not in 8 years. A couple of questions. One, have section 33 tickets for Friday and know these are pretty good seats, but on Saturday we have bleacher seats in section 318. I know most of the bleachers are general admission, but I heard sections 316-318 are reserved. Is this true. Second, will it be easy to find my brick outside the stadium if I have the number? GO CUBS!!!!

by jabber811 on Jun 13, 2011 12:35 PM CDT reply actions

Regarding seating...

… you have bleacher boxes for Saturday. Those are reserved. They’re down the RF line.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Regarding your Brick

You need to know what section it is in. I would contact the Cubs with the information that you have and they will have an intern hunt it down. Call (773) 404-CUBS or go to the Cubs contact page – <a href="https://secure.mlb.com/help/email.jsp?c_id=chc&primarySubject=Other&secondarySubject=None&dest=fanfeedback@cubs.mlb.com" target="new">here.

I know where my brick is and I still forget!

"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver

by RiskyBusiness on Jun 13, 2011 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I hear the bleacher boxes are terrible.

No leg room.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jun 13, 2011 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

better than the bleachers - you have an actual seat with a back

by El Borto on Jun 13, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Any talk of throwback uniforms from either 1932 or 1938?

by EalyEagle on Jun 13, 2011 1:32 PM CDT reply actions

Either of those...

…would be better than the throwup uniforms from 2011

Gallows Humor – Catch It!

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jun 13, 2011 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

They really should wear throwbacks every day, like I suggested in my post a couple of weeks ago.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope this is more family and fun

then booze and music

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 2:13 PM CDT reply actions

If the Cubs are going to model things after the BoSox and Fenway ...

Why not the street closing? Start with the Cards series and go from there. Perhaps this is just a starter where they already have a bit of a blueprint (Wildcat game and Winter Classic).

If the Cubs plan this well and think it out, there would be no reason why they could not evolve to a Yawkey Way. But instead of Yawkey, from Brookline to Boylston, they’d do Waveland from Clark to Sheffield and Sheffield from Waveland to Addison.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jun 13, 2011 2:16 PM CDT reply actions

Those are residential streets.

Yes, people live in the buildings where the rooftop clubs are located.

The difference in Boston is that those are commercial streets where no one lives.

You can’t replicate the Fenway thing in Chicago. Can’t be done.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

As much as I would like to think it would be easy to shut that down for a few days

For those who are in the neighborhood when there is not a game – it is full of parked cars. I am guessing it is hard enough there when the street cleaners come through – but for 5 days it is too much.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

It can if they do it on the parcel where the parking is and where they

are going to do this one, but yes they have to stop thinking they own all th blocks surrounding
Wrigley.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 13, 2011 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

When I lived on Kenmore

we pleaded with the city for a stop sign at Kenmore and Grace. Such an unexpected dangerous intersection. How easy would that have been?? Probably pretty easy – shutting down a whole block?? Sorry I will not get political.

(seriously though they need a stop sign there)

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

totally agree, I'm at Clifton and Grace

and u always have to look up at that intersection, I’m surprised there aren’t more problems.

by MikeJW on Jun 13, 2011 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

The fact that dangerous intersections have to be politcal (not only in Chicago)

is wrong on so many levels.

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Isn't that somewhat the feel they will be going for

in the space between the Triangle Building and Wrigley?

"The cheaper the hood, the gaudier the talk" - Philip Marlowe

by ForTheLoveOfBiitner on Jun 14, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll give you 78 reasons why this can't be done - as in Engine Co. 78

As long as the fire station is there, there’s no way they’re closing down Waveland and fill it with festivities. Yes, it’s blocked off now during games, but fire engines are able to get through easy enough.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jun 13, 2011 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Better still, hold open baseball tryouts during the weekend.

Might help. Couldn’t hurt.

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Jun 13, 2011 2:20 PM CDT reply actions

I've never played baseball.........

but put me in left field I couldn’t be much worse. It could be the whole marketing of a female left fielder.

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

What is there to party about?

Seriously, why would you wan tto create a party atmosphere and celebrate the garbage that is occurring on the field?

Management needs to get their priorities straight. Put a decent team on the field and you don’t need stuff like this.

by ZeoBandit on Jun 13, 2011 2:40 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs

Can't disagree.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Agree

I prefer a party in November that shuts down a major street in the city

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't care if they want to do stuff like this.

So long as at the end of weekend Tom isn’t befuddled as to why events like this aren’t boosting attendance.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Jun 13, 2011 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

The same could have been said NW and Illinois.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jun 13, 2011 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

How about a radar gun challenge

to see how many fans throw faster than our bullpen starter/re-tread experiment?

by bazfan1234 on Jun 13, 2011 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

I'll answer for you...

None.

No one is going to walk up and throw a 90 mph fastball. I understand these aren’t be best pitchers in the game, but to act like any fan can walk up and replicate what they do is rude at best.

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I have seen a lot of those speed pitch things...

… where some young guy walks up, looks like he might have been a HS athlete, throws real hard… and gets to 70 MPH.

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by Al Yellon on Jun 13, 2011 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I used to pitch...

And I never impressed anyone with my fastball, but even when I was playing I was hitting high 70s. I fancied myself in front of one of those little machines thinking I’d get close to touching those numbers, if not throwing harder now that I’m older… I don’t believe I even touched 70. Throwing a ball is easy. Throwing a ball flat footed without warming up and without a mound is NOT.

I’d do it again but I fear I’d be like that commercial with the “professional dart player” except instead of sticking a guy with a dart I’d crack him with a slowball.

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Do you think maybe people saying that are extending the truth a bit to prove a point?

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

of how disgusted with this team they are?

by Madison Cub Fan on Jun 13, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Understood, but it isn't the players fault they aren't great at baseball...

As someone who used to play sports, I find it unnecessary to even joke about random people being better than below average major leaguers while calling them things like “retreads or washed up.” Just a pet peeve of mine.

by bdlugz on Jun 13, 2011 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not particularly pleased with this team

but I’m far from disgusted. At least they’re not a bunch or arrogant a-holes. I truly think most of the players are trying, but just aren’t as skilled as we might like them to be.

One thing I know: working in Daytona was an eye-opener. Here were guys that were struggling in advanced A. I was a 22 yr old who played on a state champion HS team. These guys made me look like a paralyzed yak.

"The cheaper the hood, the gaudier the talk" - Philip Marlowe

by ForTheLoveOfBiitner on Jun 14, 2011 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I should have posted...

that I was only kidding and adding onto the posts above about the tryouts.

by bazfan1234 on Jun 13, 2011 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions

No time to stretch out and

you are throwing from about 45 feet so anything over 70 is decent. The Cubs bullpen may suck but if somebody could throw 90 mph they would be or already have played at least in the minors somewhere.

by Cubsfan Waveland on Jun 13, 2011 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Happy Holidays guys

Tomorrow is Lebron James day – everyone gets to leave work 12 minutes early.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 3:59 PM CDT reply actions

....

DWade asked LeBron for $1 before last night’s game. LeBron gave Wade 75 cents. Wade asked LeBron, where’s the rest? LeBron replied, I don’t have a 4th Quarter

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jun 13, 2011 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I think he's going to re-sign with Cleveland.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 13, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

There's going to be a iPhone 5: LBJ Version.

No ring, just vibrate.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jun 13, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Dumb

Their priorities are all out of whack.

"They sell every ticket to every game, win or lose!" - Tom Ricketts

by bluemagic9 on Jun 13, 2011 4:17 PM CDT reply actions

yay, i cant wait until one tiny little thing seems out of place...or something minor happens...

so we can hear how much of a disaster it is, and how stupid the owners are.

They both (stats & bikinis) show a lot, but not everything. - Infielder Toby Harrah

Poster formerly known as Wrigster.

by bilbosbuttons on Jun 13, 2011 5:03 PM CDT reply actions

Kronos Foods is at Wrigleyville Block Party

Not only will fans have access to mouthwatering Kronos gyros sandwiches, tasty pita chips & hummus as well as refreshing Greek yogurt parfaits at the booth, but they can purchase a "This is the Gyros " T-shirt that puts a fun spin on the hopes of Cubs’ eternally optimistic fans everywhere, with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Fisher House™ Foundation. For great food and fun you can find us in the parking lot owned by the Cubs that borders Clark Street on the west side of Wrigley Field. park foods.

Menu at the Wrigleyville Block Party:
Gyros $7
Hummus & Pita $4
Greek Yogurt Parfait $4
T-shirt $10

http://kronosgyroscafe.com/cubs-wrigleyville-block-party.php

by Kronos Foods Inc on Jul 3, 2011 1:00 PM CDT reply actions