What's new, improved at Wrigley Field this season
With the home opener set for Monday, Chicago Cubs officials unveiled some of the new improvements fans will see at Wrigley Field this season.
Among the most significant changes: larger concourses to improve foot traffic flow, improved Wi-Fi service, new food and drink options, plus another private club opening for season ticket holders.
The Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 1:20 p.m. game on Monday at the 104-year-old ballpark, and players will have a new perspective as well as the dugouts were moved 25-30 feet down the foul lines and expanded with more headroom. In addition, new batting cages have been built for both teams, plus a new weight and video room.
“We have eight new concessions stand that are coming online, four of which will be ready on opening day,” Cubs spokesman Julian Green told reporters Friday.
Four more concessions stands are expected to be operating by June, Green said.
The changes are part of a five-year, $750 million improvement plan for Wrigley Field that began at the end of the 2014 season.
Among the new food choices will be the Clark Street Grill and a new cocktail concession stand.
The 600-seat American Airlines Club 1914 is located behind home plate and will serve premier ticket holders.
Outside the ballpark, visitors will notice the new Hotel Zachary as well as several news restaurants and shops in the area.
The Hotel Zachary, a 175-room hotel across from Wrigley Field, is now open and it includes the Mordecai cocktail bar, the Big Star taqueria, a McDonald's restaurant and the West Town Bakery and Tap.
According to a Sun-Times report, a 2.5-acre project at Addison and Clark will be completed by the end of baseball season. It will include apartments, a 10-screen movie theater, bowling alley, a Shake Shack, 7-Eleven stores, a Harley-Davidson store and a baseball apparel store.
• ABC 7 and the Chicago Sun-Times contributed to this report. For related coverage, check chicago.suntimes.com and abc7chicago.com.