Wrigley Bleachers Will Not Be Ready Opening Night

At the Cubs Convention Saturday, Cubs executives revealed that the Wrigley Field bleacher project won't be finished for Opening Night, April 5 against the Cardinals.

So for those of you who felt that way (I didn't; I thought they'd make it), you were right.

The Cubs have sent emails to bleacher season-ticket holders laying out three choices for them for the 15 home games that will be affected. Here's the text of those three choices:

As a Budweiser Bleachers Season Ticket Holder, you have the opportunity to select one of three options: receive a credit, receive a refund or relocate to the seating bowl for home games prior to May 11. You have until Thursday, January 29, to confirm your selection. If we do not hear from you, we will automatically leave the credit from those games on your Season Ticket account.

Please note you can only select one of the following options:

    * A refund for home games prior to May 11.
          o If you paid by credit card, we will credit the credit card you used to pay for your Budweiser Bleachers Season Tickets. If you paid by check or cash, we will refund you via check.
          o The refund will cover the total dollar amount of the Budweiser Bleachers ticket(s) in your account for games prior to May 11.
    * A credit on your account for home games prior to May 11.
          o We will apply a credit for the total dollar amount of the Budweiser Bleachers ticket(s) in your account for games prior to May 11.
          o You may apply this credit for additional tickets to Cubs home games during the 2015 regular season (pending availability). You may also apply the funds toward your 2016 Chicago Cubs Season Ticket balance.
    * Relocation of your seat(s) for home games prior to May 11.
          o Several options will be available within the seating bowl for those who choose to relocate.
          o If you choose less expensive seats, you will receive a credit for the difference. If you choose more expensive seats, you will be responsible for paying the difference.

If you select "relocation," you will receive follow-up email communication informing you of the date and time you will be able to select your relocated seat(s). You will have access to an online platform through your “My Cubs Tickets” account that will be set up exclusively for Budweiser Bleachers Season Ticket Holders who choose to relocate to the seating bowl.

They've thought of just about everything regarding bleacher season-ticket holders... with one exception.

One of the things that's unique to the Wrigley Field bleachers is unreserved seating. Thus, as a season-ticket holder I can still have people who can only come to a few games sit with me. This (apparently) isn't going to be the case for the relocated seating.

I realize it might be nearly impossible for the Cubs to coordinate some sort of "unreserved" seating area within the grandstand to allow such things. However, it will be something those of us who have been used to such things for many years will miss.

It's only for 15 games, so I suspect I'll be able to live with it. I can't speak for other bleacher season-ticket holders. Based on the schedule, the following games are affected:

April 5, 7-8: Cardinals
April 13-14-15: Reds
April 17-18-19: Padres
April 27-28-29: Pirates
May 1-2-3: Brewers

I'll keep you posted if I hear other updates or changes to this plan. And I'll have a full wrap of Cubs Convention activities later today.