Cubs Opening Day: Fans return and businesses open at Wrigley Field
CHICAGO (CBS) – A time of renewal and high hopes -- opening day finally arrived Thursday after stalled labor negotiations between MLB players and owners.
The Cubs opened their season at home Thursday. A look from earth cam at Sports World just outside Wrigley showed quite the bustling scene despite not-exactly-pleasant weather.
CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reported from Wrigley Thursday on how this is a day of celebration for everyone – including businesses.
Between the pandemic and the MLB lockout, many business owners and fans in Wrigleyville may have thought this day may never come. But it did, and the fans showed up to welcome baseball back, For some fans, baseball means business.
Toussaint Stevens has been a street vendor outside Wrigley Field for 17 years.
"It's always a good day for baseball," he said.
He's put his kids through college by selling hats and peanuts along Waveland Avenue. For him – it's a family affair.
"Up and down this whole street its cousins, uncles. We love the excitement," Stevens said.
But the MLB lockout and the pandemic put his business on hold.
"It's been a rough two years, we had to adjust," Stevens said. "Thank God for jobs and the ability to get passed this."
But now, Wrigley is up and running in full force. The lines are long, bars and restaurants around Wrigley are packed once again and the fans loud and proud.
"It's been rough but we're back and were ready to roll baby," one fan said with excitement.
And for Toussaint, that means his business is back with baseball and this year -- opening day is that much more special.
"You get to see everybody in person. The masks come off you get to see the persons face you see the smiles, you see the pretty teeth," Stevens said.
For fans, "Go Cubs Go" is forever etched in stone for Matt and Elizabeth Dooley how say they have been life-long Cubs fans.
In Christmas 2020 they bought a $200 brick outside Wrigley Field. And today, decided to play hooky so they could see it for the first time in person.
"We call this our church so we decided to do it," Matt said.
Opening day met with wind and rain -- typical for the Cubs who are traditionally met with some tricky weather to open up the home schedule. The weather didn't stop fans from showing up. They even had a message for Mr. Cubs himself, Ernie Banks.
"We love you we miss you always in our hearts and help us win today."
And even for the youngest fans -- today is a big day.
"It's an awesome feeling."
Its Logan's first game at six months old and parents Kelsey and Tyler call this a full circle moment.
"We got him all bundled up so he's a Chicago boy," Tyler said.
"Our first child very excited," Kelsey said.
And whether this a first or a 50th' opening day, fans say the sights and sounds of Wrigley are a much needed "welcome home."
The team has a lot of new players on their roster but in those two years a lot about the ballpark hasn't changed except a lot of what's inside is now digital -- hoping to cut down on wait times.