The Bernstein Brief: Cubs' Security Measures A Sign Of The Times
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) No team wants to inconvenience its fans, particularly one that has used the word "friendly" for decades to describe its home ballpark.
But the Cubs decided that the friendlier thing to do was to work harder to keep the fans safe.
The news came over the weekend that the massive, nearly impossible challenge of securing Wrigley Field will be aided by metal detectors at entrances this season, and the team lobbied the city for an extended police perimeter around the park on game days, though news came Tuesday morning that the mayor's office had given the thumbs down on closing Clark and Addison streets during games.
These measures came after what one source called "a significant discussion" in team offices -- something common across sports in the wake of the Paris attacks.
Law enforcement remains daunted by the prospect of tens of thousands of people converging through multiple access points to a single area for several hours, one that also has television coverage and the presence of celebrities. Add in its location in the middle of a fashionable, densely populated neighborhood in a major city, and the task of keeping watch on Wrigley Field is specifically burdensome.
Massive crowds are expected for what's now a marquee MLB team, and the Cubs will be working with both government officials and private consultants to make sure every reasonable precaution is taken.
Wrigley Field is once again a high-profile place, amid unpredictable and often unfriendly times.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.
