clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Wrigley Field Construction Update: April 1

On a sunny Saturday, things looked nearly ready to go at the ballpark.

By Al Yellon
  • Crowds walking around the ballpark, and buying souvenirs. Clark and Addison David Sameshima
  • Work taking place along Clark Street, outside the ballpark David Sameshima
  • Hotel Zachary, at Clark and Addison David Sameshima
  • The plaza building, viewed from Clark Street David Sameshima
  • View of the new street lights, and the various posts and columns going up in the plaza David Sameshima
  • Another angle showing the various work taking place along the plaza David Sameshima
  • View showing the planter boxes that were installed along Clark Street. Note how they only have left room for a normal width sidewalk David Sameshima
  • Supplies stacked up, in front of the Clark Street ticket windows David Sameshima
  • Work being done on one of the new light columns David Sameshima
  • Work being done on one of the new posts. Not sure what these are. Speakers? Lights?  David Sameshima
  • Another view of one of the new light columns David Sameshima
  • View showing Clark Street temporarily closed, while work equipment maneuvers on Clark Street David Sameshima
  • The opening between the planter boxes, along Clark Street David Sameshima
  • View of the new west gate, designated Gate H David Sameshima
  • View of the plaza, with the ballpark in the background. Traffic backed up due to equipment being moved along Clark Street David Sameshima
  • Flagman controlling traffic along Clark Street, due to construction equipment being moved David Sameshima
  • View of one of the light columns, with the interior still exposed. They were attaching plates to cover up the interior of the structure David Sameshima
  • Traffic being stopped on Clark Street David Sameshima
  • Traffic stopped on Clark Street, to allow work equipment to pass David Sameshima
  • Street and sidewalk resurfaced, at Waveland and Clark David Sameshima
  • The plaza building, at Waveland and Clark David Sameshima
  • Concrete truck on Clark Street, as work is being done to complete the sidewalks and street at Waveland and Clark David Sameshima
  • View of the new Clark Street sidewalk, in front of the plaza building David Sameshima
  • Another view of the work being done, at Waveland and Clark David Sameshima
  • Tight clearance for this work vehicle, along the open access path on Waveland Avenue David Sameshima
  • Open loading dock bays, on the Waveland Avenue side of the plaza building David Sameshima
  • The open space between the ballpark and the plaza building. The restored former groundskeeper's cottage is on the left David Sameshima
  • Gate J/K with the new championship logo completed. The logo was not yet completely painted in the last update David Sameshima
  • Work, or inspection, being done on the foul pole and the support column for the safety net support cable David Sameshima
  • Photo showing the reconstructed supports for the new Nuveen signage David Sameshima
  • A view for the ballhawks, showing the new support arrangement for the new Nuveen sign David Sameshima
  • Another view for the ballhawks David Sameshima
  • This is for the ballhawks. Watch your step. The Peoples Gas work crew did not level off this patch, on Kenmore Avenue David Sameshima
  • The area inside the bleacher gate, being hosed down David Sameshima
  • The program book selling carts moved out of the way, for the work crews hosing down the area inside of the bleacher gates David Sameshima
  • Another view of the program book selling cars, inside the bleacher gate David Sameshima
  • The area inside of the bleacher gates, being hosed down David Sameshima
  • The front of Murphy's Bleachers David Sameshima
  • The display along the side of Murphy's Bleachers David Sameshima
  • Gate Q open, allowing access to the field David Sameshima
  • Another view of the field, through Gate Q David Sameshima
  • The area in the right field corner being restored, after it was opened up to allow work equipment onto the field David Sameshima
  • Gate D, seen from Sheffield Avenue David Sameshima
  • Another view of the Gate D area, from Addison Street David Sameshima
  • View along the Addison Street side of the ballpark, inside the construction fence David Sameshima
  • View along the Addison Street side of the ballpark, outside of the construction fence David Sameshima
  • View of one of the new light poles installed, along Addison Street. Supports to hold banners are being attached David Sameshima
  • View of Hotel Zachary David Sameshima
  • Another view of Hotel Zachary David Sameshima
  • The new view of Wrigley Field, from the front of the Taco Bell on Addison Street David Sameshima
  • A sign that baseball season is right around the corner: Police traffic barricade horses stacked, at the corner of Addison and Racine David Sameshima

For those of you concerned that the Wrigley Field offseason construction wouldn’t be finished in time to start the season, I present this photoset to you, taken by BCB’s David Sameshima on Saturday.

That’s a full nine days before the Cubs and Dodgers will meet for the home opener April 10, and it certainly looks like they’ll be ready. To be sure, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done on the plaza, but it’s at least taking the shape of what it will look like for Opening Night.

Someone asked about a Cubs logo on the plaza building. You can see they’ve added that.

The Hotel Zachary is coming along very quickly, though it’s still a year or so away from opening. I’d say the outer shell of the building should be finished sometime this summer.

Most of the story is told through the photo captions, so I encourage you to read those (if you haven’t already). The city of Chicago has also completed installing new light poles on Clark Street and also done some resurfacing on Waveland adjacent to the plaza building.

One week from today -- baseball at Wrigley Field!

Whether you’re a baseball junkie or casual fan, games are better at the ballpark. Grab seats from our partner StubHub and be part of the action at Wrigley Field. And, download the StubHub app to choose the perfect seats with 360* views from your section.

More From Bleed Cubbie Blue