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Left Field Video Board at Wrigley Field Will Be Ready for Opening Day: Cubs

By Ariel Cheung | March 31, 2015 2:16pm
 The Wrigley Field expansion would include video boards behind the left and right field bleachers, as well as five signs.
The Wrigley Field expansion would include video boards behind the left and right field bleachers, as well as five signs.
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Chicago Cubs

WRIGLEYVILLE — While statues of Ernie Banks and Ron Santo will be back in place for Opening Day, fans won't see Harry Caray this season.

In their final update before Opening Day, the Chicago Cubs laid out traffic and pedestrian plans for Sunday's game and laid out plans for the next phase of construction on Wrigley Field.

The left field video board will be shining bright on Sunday, while the right field video board will be operational by the All-Star break, said Carl Rice, vice president of ballpark operations.

The famed Wrigley Field ivy is still largely intact, although "fans will notice some gaps, as we had to do a lot of work on the walls," said Rice, who expects the ivy to be back in full bloom by mid-summer.

 The cold winter delayed work on the bleachers at Wrigley Field, and officials said the left field bleachers will not be functional until May 11. Steel workers were assembling beams for the left field bleachers and video board on Monday, March 2, 2015, one month before Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs. Renovations have been ongoing since the end of last season.
The cold winter delayed work on the bleachers at Wrigley Field, and officials said the left field bleachers will not be functional until May 11. Steel workers were assembling beams for the left field bleachers and video board on Monday, March 2, 2015, one month before Opening Day for the Chicago Cubs. Renovations have been ongoing since the end of last season.
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Ariel Cheung/DNAinfo Chicago

Rice said renovations were still on pace to have left field bleachers ready May 11, with right field following in mid-June.

With a harsh winter interrupting the construction schedule, the Cubs said in early March the bleachers would not be ready in time for Opening Day.

Last week, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said while he was disappointed the bleachers would not be ready for Opening Day he wanted to make sure "we do it right." Fans who bought season tickets in the Budweiser bleachers were offered rebates or tickets in a different section to make up for the delays, Ricketts said.

With two parking lots (blue and brown) unavailable this season, the team is strongly encouraging fans to use public transportation, promising the CTA buses will stick to the same schedule and level of service.

A free shuttle service will be offered for fans parking at 3900 N. Rockwell St., off Irving Park Road. The bike check will be across the street from the Wrigley Field marquee north of the Cubs store.

With traffic down to one lane on Clark Street, pedestrians will be restricted to the west side of the street near the ballpark. From Clark Street to Sheffield Avenue, Waveland Avenue will be closed to traffic, and pedestrians will be restricted to the north side of the street.

Sheffield Avenue will also remain closed to traffic, with pedestrians limited to the east side. Traffic gates will be stationed at all restricted areas to help direct traffic flow.

Overall construction will likely take one more year than originally anticipated, and the Ricketts family has now invested $50 million more than originally planned, Rice said Tuesday.

As phase one nears completion, construction will continue through the baseball season as the Cubs begin work on the team clubhouse and office building, Rice said. By the end of the 2015 season, the team hopes to close the surface to work on the surface.

The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the team.

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