Acknowledging that Wrigley Field needs a lot of TLC, incoming Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the city can’t afford to give up proceeds from an amusement tax to fund improvements to the home of the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs had floated a plan where revenue from the amusement tax would be diverted to pay off […]
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From the Frontier League to Cubs PA announcer
Former Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) public-address announcer Andrew Belleson is the new PA announcer for the Chicago Cubs and is slated to make his Wrigley Field debut on April 1. The 24-year-old Belleson spent part of five seasons in multiple broadcasting roles with the RiverHawks. At 15, Belleson joined RiverHawks home radio broadcasts in […]
Ricketts: Not so fast on Wrigleyville West
Despite telling Mesa voters that development would be part of the mix at new Chicago Cubs spring-training complex, owner Tom Ricketts now says Wrigleyville West will need to wait until the new ballpark opens — if it happens at all. The issue is pretty simple: early feedback indicates there’s little demand from retailers and restauranteurs […]
A guide to spring-training practices
Die-hard spring-training fans aren’t content with just sitting in the stands and watching a game: they want to watch a practice and get close to the players. It’s a great experience, as long as you know what you’re in for: most teams train on practice fields, not the ballparks, and so the creature comforts are […]
Smokies, Cubs extend PDC
The Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) and the Chicago Cubs extended their player-development deal through the 2014 season. “It is a great privilege and honor to extend our PDC (player development contract) with the Smokies organization,” said Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita. “The East Tennessee community, Brian Cox, Doug Kirchhofer and […]
Wrigley Field damaged in heavy snowstorms
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, was damaged yesterday by heavy snowstorms ripping through the heart of the country, as several tiles from the top of the press box were torn off; streets in the area are shut down for the cleanup. The tiles caused enough of a mess to force city officials to […]
Feeding frenzy expected for Cubs spring facility work
When the city of Mesa releases a “request for qualifications” notice in coming weeks, we’ll see a feeding frenzy as architectural and construction firms jockey for position — and we hear the process is expected to be wide open. Discussions of the new facility were fast and frequent at the Winter Meetings, as lots of […]
Poll: Voters oppose public funding of Wrigley Field renovations
Despite the immense popularity of the Chicago Cubs, more than half the Chicago voters polled by the Chicago Tribune and WGN oppose public funding of renovations to Wrigley Field. The Cubs proposed earlier this year for the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to borrow $250 million for Wrigley Field renovations, with the bonds repaid by growth […]
State funding of Wrigley Field renovations dies as Assembly adjourns
Tom Ricketts’ proposal to have the State of Illinois fund $250 million in upgrades to Wrigley Field died yesterday when the General Assembly adjourned out of veto session yesterday — but expect it to return when the 2011 session opens in January. The hope was that the Assembly could consider funding during the veto session, […]
In memoriam: Ron Santo
Ron Santo, who had a clear passion for the Chicago Cubs both as a player and as a radio broadcaster, passed away last night in Arizona because of complications from bladder cancer. He was 70. Santo had been battling several health issues over the last decade, including a bout of diabetes that led to a […]
Who needs a full end zone at Wrigley Field, anyway?
Oldtimers remember that the NFL’s Chicago Bears played with an eight-foot-deep end zone at Wrigley Field because of the football-unfriendly dimensions there, and apparently no one did the actual math when placing a football field at the Friendly Confines; as a result the Northwestern/Illinois game will be played with only one end zone. The Big […]
College football returns to pro ballparks this weekend
College football, once a staple in pro ballparks during the offseason, is returning to MLB venues in a big way this weekend, as both Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium are hosting high-profile BCS matches. In New York City, Yankee Stadium is hosting the first of two college football games this season with the high-profile Army-Notre […]
Notable managerial moves: Sandberg to Lehigh Valley, Riordan to Florence
Two notable managerial changes in the minors have been announced: Ryne Sandberg, successful as manager of the Iowa Cubs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) last season and passed over as Cubs manager, will pilot the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International League), while Fran Riordan, the winningest manager in Frontier League history, will lead the […]