I couldnt agree more.


Cubs warm to idea of new park
By Paul Sullivan | Chicago Tribune reporter
September 17, 2008


There's no doubt the Cubs enjoyed their two-day stay in the Brewers' home clubhouse at Miller Park, and not just because they allowed only one hit in two victories over Houston.

After his no-hitter Sunday, Carlos Zambrano went as far as to say: "This is a beautiful ballpark. Gosh, I wish we could have a new ballpark."

Is Zambrano crazy, or should the Cubs abandon Wrigley Field and build a modern facility like Miller Park?

"Miller Park is beautiful," center fielder Jim Edmonds said Tuesday before the Cubs' game with the Brewers. "I have a much greater appreciation for that field now that we saw the other side. I don't [know] what they should do with [Wrigley] because this is a great place, a place people have been coming to for almost 100 years.

"Everyone is going to have a different opinion. It's like old Busch Stadium. People didn't want it torn down, even though [the Cardinals needed a new ballpark], because it was still a great place."

The biggest complaint from ballplayers concerns the Cubs' cramped clubhouse, the smallest in the league. Players can't dress without bumping into reporters, especially during a pennant race.

"That's what we have in front of us, and what we deal with," Edmonds said. "I mean, I enjoy it, and I enjoy the history. Of course it's always nice to have a new place. The weight room in Milwaukee is as big as our clubhouse, and they have whirlpool and weight rooms and batting cages, but it is what it is."

Jason Marquis loves Wrigley, too, but wouldn't mind a replica built on the current site.

"You never want to see a landmark taken down, a place with so much history," Marquis said. "The fans love it. That being said, the game is changing, stadiums are getting updated. There are better facilities, not only for the players, but for the fans—better food concessions, comfortable seats, better views. …

"If I had a personal choice, I think they should knock Wrigley down and build a replica in the exact same spot to give it that same feel. The same colored seats, same ivy, same wall, and throw up a Jumbotron, but have it look like a replica of the scoreboard that's up there now, try to give it the same feel, in the same spot. I wouldn't be opposed to that."

Alfonso Soriano was wishy-washy on Wrigley, saying he likes playing there but also likes the new parks as well.

"If we get something new, OK, but I have to think that we have this," he said. "I like Milwaukee's park. It's beautiful. But I can't think, 'Oh, I want to have something like this,' because then I'll be upset. And I don't want to be upset. I want to be happy. It'd be nice to have a new one, but we don't, so let's enjoy what we have. I know I have a lot of fun here."

I like Wrigley as much as the next guy, but yeah, its time to move on. Tear it down and do it over again.

_________________

Unless they find a new site out in the burbs, any new "Wrigley" build on the current site would be just as small and cramped.

_________________

I am not against the idea, but do you realize the financial impact moving Wrigley would have to that community?

_________________

I have always said to move to the burbs or west side, build the same park, build some bars, resteraunts and call it wrirley town for all I care, just build a fricken real MLB ballpark.



I dont care, they have made a lot of money over the last 20 years, they should have no complaints.

I dont think the Cubs should ever have to worry about community. Unless they are planning on moving, which they wouldnt. Taking a season or two to rebuild Wrigley would hurt them, but these are also the same places that have lived off the fruit of the Cubs years.

_________________

Look, there's tons of nice bars and restaurants up there. And a nice nieghborhood. But that stadium is 100 years old. Without being shutdown for a year and totally revamped, they will have to build a new park sooner rather than later. That thing simply will not last forever.

And if the games Sunday and Monday taught us anything, if the Cubs have to shut down Wrigley and play a chunk of home games in Milwaukee, attendance will not be an issue.

_________________

Revamping it just doesnt make sense to me, like frank said, the park is 100 years old, the cost isnt worth it, might as well build a new one.

Look, been to the cell and miller park, at this point, those are the only two parks I will go to see the cubs. Its just a more enjoyable expeirence park wise.

A couple of thoughts..

1) I am all for new stadium. I have to make a huge ordeal out of trying to get my 83 yr old dad into and out of Wrigley. It works...but it "ain't" easy.

2) New ballpark = higher costs. be prepared.

3) Just win a world series

_________________
Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

The big problem with Wrigley Field, is that they landmarked it. They have some things like the scoreboard, the Bricks/Ivy and the Marquee that are specifically named in the Landmark documents, which means they cannot be altered. If they rebuild the park, they would have a tough time building anything with a retractable roof, because they would have those things to have to keep in place. Any new park, should have a retractable roof, so when bad weather moves in, the roof is closed and the game goes on. But assuming they rebuilt the main area of the park, keeping the bleacher area intact, they could easily build a bit larger upper deck section, even perhaps a third level of seating. I wouldn't want to sit there, but I'm sure the tickets would sell. In any case, if they do build a new park, it should be at the same location, with the team playing for a year in Milwaukee for their home games. I like that park far better than U.S. Cellular. Thats not a shot at the Sox ballpark, just the truth. I like U.S. Cellular. I just like Miller Park a lot more. Plus, the parking is just $8.00 there and there aren't crack-heads and sterno sippers walking around that park. Plus, the people there are very nice. I would hate to see the old park torn down, with all its history, but I am sure it will happen and probably in the next 10 years. I am resigned to the fact it will happen. I just hope that when it does, they get it right.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

I'm thinking someday we might see the rooftops and bleachers connected with some sort of a walkway over Sheffield and Waveland. It could add some standing room only space but if they build up to the roofs it could add a bunch more bleacher tickets.

_________________
... In my opinion.

This is what I think. If they're going to build a new park, I'm okay with that, but it has to be at Clark and Addison.

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Curious, what is it about the experience that you can't tolerate?

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

if they tear down Wrigley, I'm sure they could do SOMETHING to rebuild it in the same footprint but add extra stuff. Having said that, they'll lose their fan base if they put people farther away from the action, because their ticket prices will be steeper. The Sox are hoping the day comes, because they could own this town if the Cubs are forced to move or play elsewhere for a year or two...the shoe would be on the other foot...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Thats the Dumbest post I have read in a long time. Cub fans will not switch over to become Sox fans. Playing a year at Miller Park or U.S. Cellular would just make for one inconvenient season. Then, tickets would be in even greater demand, when the new ballpark was opened. In any case, it will not happen in the next several years anyway. Plus, once this season is over, Cub mania will be at an all time high, after :THE CUBS END THE WAIT IN 2008!!!

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

How many Bears fans turned into Packer fans when the bears were playing at U of I?

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

If Elmhurst Steve or anyone thinks there's a chance in hell of the Cubs playing a full 81 home game schedule in Miller Park for a season, you're crazy.

Should the Cubs have to play somewhere else for a season or two, you better start warming up to US Cellular. There isn't even the slightest chance that Richie Daley or anyone in Chicago/Illinois politics would let that happen.

There's a reason the Bears played there home games for a year at U of I and not in South Bend (like they internally wanted to). People at City Hall and down in Springfield will have the ultimate say in this.

I thought the Bears played at U of I because they allowed them to sell beer whereas ND wouldn't.

_________________

All of 'em. They all did. Every one of 'em.....

_________________

Count me in the "what's so bad about Wrigley?" column. I just don't get the haterade.

_________________
Fire Phil Emery

Yeah, the players' complaints I understand; I'm sure the *clubhouse* there sucks compared to newer ballparks. But for fans? I don't get it. Oh, shit, I can't get a churro.. woe is me.

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Steve, I go to Cubs games probably as much as you do since I'm a season ticket holder. And I can tell you, 50% of the fans on a day to day basis in that ballpark are there for the atmosphere OR the ballpark, not the team. Can't you remember back beyond 1983? It wouldn't make hardcore Cubs fans Sox fans, but you could sway the casual fan with disposable income in no time at all.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Dude, that is bullshit.
If people were there for that atmosphere, then the place would have been packed in 1983, not empty.
I am sick to death of hearing people say this.
Sure, there's some tourists, and there's Wrigley goers, but when I go I mostly see people watching the game, getting up in tense situations.
I went to a game with Favrefan earlier this year. He told me he was amazed at how into the game the crowd was after all he'd heard.
It;s a myth, and it ain't true that the fans aren't watching/enjoying the game.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I think you can add to the list, The Brewers as a party that would not let the Cubs use Miller Park for an entire season, unless they got one hell of a compensation package for breaching into thier territory. Not everyone who buys a ticket will be from Chicago, some will be locals who otherwise might have spent their entertainment dollar on the Brewers.
I personally enjoy Wrigley Field, and would be sad to see it go. I know I'm biased 'cause it was my Dad's team and I went to alot of games there when I was a kid. But, if I want to enjoy baseball in a modern stadium, I goto the Cell. So it doesn't bother me personally as much as others. I like having the option. Plus I could give two shits that the clubhouse is too crampt for the players. My wife would like a walk-in closet, but we don't have the room, so deal with it!
Boston made Fenway work, why can't we keep Wrigley viable?

Wrigley's broken down, smells like piss. Time for a new place. They could make it look like the current one (brick & Ivy), but with some improvements like a scoreboard with a screen, better/bigger clubhouses, some better music and food.

I'm a Cubs fan
I'm a season ticket holder
I'm an objective person
And I'm a man and I'm 40...I just think there's tons of stupid people who come to the games to drink and ogle the babes. The success of late ('03-'08 or '98-'08) makes people pay MORE attention to the game, but it is just my opinion that the Sox would take over for a few years if the Cubs were gone for a year. It's very hard to mimic Wrigley, I just think they'd screw it up...

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Fuck that "better music" noise. I went to Yankee stadium, and they had the PA in full fledge. Gay. As. Fuck. I don't want them playing some homo "cheer your team" garbage at 180 decibels at Cubs games. As for the food... I don't get the obsession over food. Games are typically 3 hours; how is it everyone but me seemingly can't do without a meal for the 3 hour duration of a baseball game?

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

I didn't say "some homo 'cheer your team' garbage," I said, "better music". No more "It's a beautiful day for a ballgame" no more jimmy buffet, etc.

Parking is a pain in the ass
getting in and out of the park is like being in the middle of a cattle drive
bathrooms are horrible
the people who live around the park for the most part at asswipes

Listen, its a nice park with a great history, but so is yankee stadium and they are building a new park, its time to give cub fans a stadium that accomadates the fans.