Wrigley Field rightfield bleachers delayed by cold weather
Construction on the Wrigley Field rightfield bleachers has been delayed by record cold temperatures in Chicago, reports the Chicago Tribune.
On Monday, the Cubs opened the construction site at Wrigley to reporters for the first time since renovations began last year. The rightfield bleachers will now be delayed until early June, Cubs president of baseball operations Crane Kenney said.
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The left and centerfield bleachers are still expected to open May 11, though Kenney said the Cubs may request 24/7 work hours from the city to ensure that timeline is feasible. Cold temperatures in Chicago prevented steel construction from being done on five of the last nine days, Kenney said.
[daily_cut.mlb]In January, the Cubs announced the full bleachers—about 5,000 seats—wouldn't be completed by the April 5 home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. The May 11 target date for the left and centerfield bleachers will affect a total of 15 Cubs home games. Only the left and rightfield bleachers are being rebuilt, but the centerfield bleachers won't open until the leftfield construction is completed due to safety concerns.
Bleacher reconstruction is the first phase of the $375 renovation project.
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Late last month, a federal judge allowed construction to continue on a new 3,990-square-foot video board in left-centerfield. The video board has been met by opposition by rooftop owners who argue the Cubs' renovation plans violate both a 2004 revenue-sharing agreement and federal anti-trust laws.
In January, the target date for a video board in rightfield was pushed back until May.
- Mike Fiammetta
