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Wrigley Field construction update: October 13

It was a busy day around the ballpark on Saturday.

By Al Yellon
  • The Taco Bell on Addison Street, that will be demolished shortly David Sameshima
  • Another view of the soon to be demolished Taco Bell on Addison Street David Sameshima
  • A view of the Taco Bell on Addison Street, with the Cubs cap visible on the restaurant sign David Sameshima
  • The front of the Taco Bell on Addison Street, with the W flag flying above the enrance David Sameshima
  • A closeup of the Taco Bell sign, with the Cubs cap David Sameshima
  • View of Wrigley Field, from the front of the Taco Bell David Sameshima
  • The construction gate on the Addison Street side, in front of Wrigley Field David Sameshima
  • The Draft Kings Sports Zone being demolished, at the corner of Addison and Sheffield David Sameshima
  • Workers clearing the Addison Street side, near the corner of Addison and Sheffield David Sameshima
  • The remaining framework of the Draft Kings Sports Zone, at the corner of Addison and Sheffield David Sameshima
  • Another view of the remaining framework of the Draft Kings Sports Zone, at the corner of Addison and Sheffield David Sameshima
  • Waste hauler pulling in on Addison Street, to haul away the Draft Kings Sports Zone debris David Sameshima
  • View through the open construction gate of the work taking place in the former Sheffield Grill/Decade Diner space, along Sheffield Avenue David Sameshima
  • View through the open construction gate of the remaining Draft Kings Sports Zone structure David Sameshima
  • Shooting into the sun, the fenced off bleacher entrance at Sheffield and Waveland David Sameshima
  • Shooting into the sun, the work taking place in the left field corner, along Waveland Avenue David Sameshima
  • The grassy portion of Gallagher Way remains open to the public, during the off season construction David Sameshima
  • Scaffolding going up, along the outside western wall of the ballpark David Sameshima
  • Construction barricades extending out in the plaza, in front of the western ballpark gate David Sameshima
  • Irregular configuration of the construction barricades, on the south end of Gallagher Way David Sameshima
  • Scaffolding going up, near the main ticket windows, on the south end of Gallagher Way David Sameshima
  • Another view of the irregular arrangement of the construction barricades on the south end of Gallagher Way David Sameshima
  • Another view of the scaffolding going up, near the main ticket windows, on the south end of Gallagher Way David Sameshima
  • View of the south end of Gallagher Way, from across Clark Street David Sameshima

It was, for the first time in a couple of days, sunny and pleasant in Chicago Saturday afternoon. BCB’s David Sameshima went to Wrigley Field, took the photos above, and filed this report:

I visited Wrigley Field midday. One thing I had to document today was the Taco Bell on Addison, since its days are numbered. It’s just an ordinary Taco Bell, but it’s the Wrigleyville Taco Bell. I had to photograph the sign with the Cubs cap one more time, with demolition scheduled to begin November 1.

Workers were in the process of dismantling the Draft Kings Sports Zone (originally built as the Captain Morgan Club). This is to make way for the multilevel restaurant/bar/gift shop that will be built next to the Wintrust Gate (formerly Gate D), at Addison and Sheffield. Trucks were pulling in, using the gate on Addison, and hauling away debris, using the gate on Sheffield.

I did learn that two 7-Eleven storefronts will open in the Addison & Clark development. One location will be on the Addison Street side, and one on the Clark Street side.

The bleachers are completely fenced off, on both The Sheffield and Waveland Street sides. As Al has previously photographed, scaffolding has been erected in the left field corner.

Portions of Gallagher Way have reopened to the public, now that the construction fencing is now in place along the western side of Wrigley Field. The current arrangement of the construction fencing is quite irregular, leaving a very odd shaped layout for Gallagher Way. The Cubs still plan to set up a public skating ring this winter, in this space.

One story I have to share with you. At the northwest corner of Clark and Addison, a wedding group was gathered, with a photographer. As I got to the corner, they started entering the Dutch and Doc’s restaurant. I heard someone in the group call out “We’re all going in. They’re letting us in to take photos upstairs.” There are large picture windows on the second floor. It was nice of management to let them do this inside, with the ballpark in the background, rather standing in the street, in front of construction fencing. I just missed being able to take a photo of the wedding party going inside.

We’ll have more photos of the Wrigley construction here later this week.

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