Cubs Want City Permission To Work At Wrigley Field Around The Clock
CHICAGO (CBS) — The Cubs plan to ask the city of Chicago if they can start working on the Wrigley Field bleacher renovation around the clock so that it can be ready for opening day on April 5, reports WBBM's Steve Miller.
The Cubs have already said the bleachers wouldn't be ready until May 11, and now Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney says that is for the left field bleachers. As for the right field bleachers, Kenney says they will probably be ready by early June.
"It is all dependent on the weather at this point and the steel has really not even begun in right field, and we're focusing on left field to make sure we can get left field up and running as well as center," Kenney said. "That will take care of our season ticket holders."
The Cubs say they would like to work 24/7 on Wrigley Field. Right now they work 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and need to get permission from the city to work 24 hours a day.
Jim Spencer, chairman of East Lake View Neighbors, does not support the potential for round-the-clock construction, saying neighborhood residents have given up plenty already.
"There are people who live here," he tells CBS 2. "(The Cubs) knew all along this construction wasn't going to be done by opening day, and it's ridiculous."
"We don't owe the Cubs anything," he added.
The team said a new left field video board should be working by opening day. The loss of bleachers means about 5,000 fewer seats, officials said.