Wrigley Field in "Brutal Shape?"

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You know what else is more than happenstance? The sudden increase in reports of the deteriorating condition of Wrigley Field. Publicly, Cubs management continues to profess its love and reverence for Wrigley. But privately, the same group is making sure people in baseball are well aware that it would take a massive infusion of dollars to keep Wrigley functional for much longer -- and even that might not be enough.


[+] Enlargehttp://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/0621...rigley_300.jpg Rob Grabowsk/US PresswireAlthough Wrigley Field is a beloved ballpark, it might not be usable for more than a few more years because of its deteriorating condition.




"Honestly, I don't know if that place can survive for five years," said one of those baseball people. "The infrastructure is in brutal shape."


Asked whether Wrigley was even a candidate for a Fenway-style renovation, the same source replied: "To be honest? I'd have to say no way."


But you won't see anyone in baseball publicly suggesting the Cubs move out of their own little national historic monument. Wrigley is too beloved to mess with -- in any way other than allowing the word to get around that, beneath the ivy and the bleachers, it's no longer the perfect, idyllic ballpark it appears to be. So if you think you've heard the last of this, guess again.

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Young Florida Marlins should expect tough love from 80-year-old interim manager Jack McKeon - ESPN

I'm all for them building a new park. You could keep all the design elements of the old park and have a way nicer place to go to a game. I love what the Cardinals did with their new park.

I love the old place, but if it needs replaced, and it eventually will no matter what the timeframe really is, then it needs done.

The Yankees replaced Yankee Stadium. The Cubs will need a new park sooner or later.

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Originally Posted by Bobber

I'm all for them building a new park. You could keep all the design elements of the old park and have a way nicer place to go to a game. I love what the Cardinals did with their new park.

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:shocked:

Yea, I love Busch Stadium. It captures all that is good about St. Louis and yet has real bathroom fixtures.

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Originally Posted by Haverhill

:shocked:

Yea, I love Busch Stadium. It captures all that is good about St. Louis and yet has real bathroom fixtures.

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How can anyone go without the trough?

This would be interesting. I wonder if they would play 2ish years at the Cell, if a new park was built in place of the old one?
The tough part about rebuilding there is, there isn't a lot of extra room around the stadium to expand.

can't imagine the cubs playing anywhere else. if they move, they have to keep the ivy and the scoreboard.

I am a Cubs fan, a disgusted one, but nevertheless a Cubs fan. It needs to be torn down, the place is a dump. Seeing Miller Park changed my mind on this issue, it's so nice, and the experience was so much better. Tired of crawling over people to get to my seat.

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Originally Posted by istater7

can't imagine the cubs playing anywhere else. if they move, they have to keep the ivy and the scoreboard.

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They do need those things. They can do those in a new building if they need to.

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Originally Posted by istater7

can't imagine the cubs playing anywhere else. if they move, they have to keep the ivy and the scoreboard.

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Until they open the new place and people go "Holy ****! This is awesome!" I know plenty of people who freaked about old Yankee Stadium closing and then as soon as the new one opened (with some elements of the old one) their tune changed quickly.

Wrigley needs to be replaced not only for the brutality fans can see, but the amenities for the Cubs are awful. We got the stadium tour and the manager's office is a joke, the clubhouse is tiny, the indoor batting cages are terrible, etc.

What makes a "new Wrigley" tough is they are pretty much locked into the same site. And as everyone knows, it is just one odd-shaped city block.

How do you build a new stadium on the same site when it's needed April through September for games and the months of October through March --- in Chicago --- are generally brutal for weather? Can they erect a "construction bubble" that big?

Cubs would have to play somewhere else for a season, maybe two. Can you imagine them playing home games on the south side? 1000 yuppies would be roughed up by thugs every night!

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Originally Posted by istater7

can't imagine the cubs playing anywhere else. if they move, they have to keep the ivy and the scoreboard.

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....the skyscape, pressbox overlooking the lake, the bleachers, deep overhanging balcony areas that shelter the lower terrace, the outside architecture with the overlooking terrace and wrigley sign.

There is so much that defines that place....

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Originally Posted by guitarchitect7

....the skyscape, pressbox overlooking the lake, the bleachers, deep overhanging balcony areas that shelter the lower terrace, the outside architecture with the overlooking terrace and wrigley sign.

There is so much that defines that place....

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They aren't impossible to mimic in a new stadium. Yankee Stadium had just as much crap that defined it and they seemed to do alright putting together the new one.

I don't understand why they can't just do what they did at Fenway.