Baseball is back at Wrigley field, but so are problems
CHICAGO -- Major league baseball was back Sunday night with the Chicago Cubs hosting the Cardinals at historic Wrigley Field.
The Cards won, 3-0.
Wrigley is undergoing a four-year $575 million renovation, which had it not quite ready for prime time.
Winter-weary baseball fans were ready for Opening Night.
But the Midwest's baseball cathedral, Wrigley Field -- open for business during the massive makeover, is far from ready for its closeup.
"Not having the bleachers is definitely not a good thing today, but they'll be back," said one fan.
Wrigley's famed bleachers were torn down last October. Since then, a harsh winter, a Chicago-style legal battle, and inevitable construction delays made a mess of things.
The left field bleachers won't be open until next month and the seats in right won't be ready until mid-June.
Over the dormant ivy-covered wall, there is debris, equipment and gaping holes where seats are supposed to be.
It would have been great for Opening Day to be 100 percent done," said another fan. "With construction. it's going to be pushed back with that nasty winter we had."
The outfield holes are covered with tarps decorated with memorable moments from the career of Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub," who died in January.
There are supposed to be two tremendous new video boards. The one in left field was ready to go Sunday night, but work on the one in right field was stalled in court.
Rooftop business owners say the new field video board blocks their bird's-eye view, and will force them to close. They say a 2004 revenue-sharing agreement with the Cubs prohibits the team from blocking their views.
But on Thursday, a federal judge denied their request to stop construction.
Most Cubs fans are taking the setbacks in stride.
"I gotta give them credit at least for trying to get it together," said another fan.
When you've been waiting since 1908 to celebrate your next World Series championship, delays are part of the game.