The New Wrigley

[Sunbiz1]

I have a question. How is it the now Miami Marlins were able to build a brand new ballpark in this economy?. The housing market collapsed down there right after their victory parade in 03', tourism has been way down, and Florida has no state income tax. Almost nobody outside of Cubans and Dominicans follow this team, and even less show up for games.

Yet, fans here were flocking to Wrigley like cattle up until a few weeks ago. To a park that is beyond renovating. It needs to be torn down, the structural issues are so great that a remodel would be just as extensive as a re-build.

Somehow Florida, which is one of the most ass-backwards states in the union managed to get the job done, while fans in a larger market are spoon fed excuses year after year.

[85Bears4life]

Ricketts want to spend $400 million to renovate/redo wrigley...but he wants chicago/illinois to help him pay for it

So far chicago has said No...looks like if he wants to renovate HE has to spend all the money doing so

[Sunbiz1]

Originally Posted by 85Bears4life

Ricketts want to spend $400 million to renovate/redo wrigley...but he wants chicago/illinois to help him pay for it

So far chicago has said No...looks like if he wants to renovate HE has to spend all the money doing so

The only way to do it is jointly with private investors, perhaps a large retailer such as a Macy's etc. That was the original architectural rendering anyways. The new Marlin stadium is already a disaster, they used credit for bonds to finance a deal that will kill taxpayers for years. Chicago cannot afford it, and the Mayor wouldn't allow it anyways. And there's no reason to renovate it(not cost effective over the long haul), spend the extra $$ on a new foundation and build it across the street...then use the bricks etc.

[85Bears4life]

So you want the cubs to leave wrigley field and just build a new state of the art ballpark?

That will cost 2x as much as just to renovate wrigley...

[MSOADE54]

I hate it when teams like the Cubs, Bears or really any historic stadium changes shit up... even though I do like Soldier Field other than the bullshit excuses make when they lose in Chicago.

[Rice Cube]

Originally Posted by 85Bears4life

So you want the cubs to leave wrigley field and just build a new state of the art ballpark?

That will cost 2x as much as just to renovate wrigley...

It's Wrigley Field, not the Roman Colosseum If it's feasible I think it's worth saving, but they pretty much have to gut the place anyway so they might as well build from the ground up.

[85Bears4life]

Originally Posted by Rice Cube

It's Wrigley Field, not the Roman Colosseum If it's feasible I think it's worth saving, but they pretty much have to gut the place anyway so they might as well build from the ground up.

Only part of wrigley that need to be gutted and replaced are...

everything down the foul lines and behind home plate...all of that needs to go and be replaced

The outfield was remolded in the mid 2000s...they dug up the field itself and put in a new drainage system and leveled the playing surface....

Plus they can build that triangle building they have been talking about for many years as well

[Rice Cube]

They need to make the insides look less like a dungeon.

[Sunbiz1]

Originally Posted by 85Bears4life

So you want the cubs to leave wrigley field and just build a new state of the art ballpark?

That will cost 2x as much as just to renovate wrigley...

That is not correct. The entire upper decks need replacement, which means the roof and adjoining walls as well. Once you're that far into a job, you mine as well start from scratch. If you build across the street, Cubs won't have to go anywhere.

[Sunbiz1]

Originally Posted by 85Bears4life

Only part of wrigley that need to be gutted and replaced are...

everything down the foul lines and behind home plate...all of that needs to go and be replaced

The outfield was remolded in the mid 2000s...they dug up the field itself and put in a new drainage system and leveled the playing surface....

Plus they can build that triangle building they have been talking about for many years as well

I don't know what you do for a living, but it isn't in the construction industry. You missed all the plumbing, electrical, clubhouse etc. All of the existing has to be removed/replaced by opening up walls.