Wrigley Field bleachers WILL NOT be ready until JUNE

[soxhop411]

The Chicago Cubs are opening the 2015 season at 7:05 p.m. on ESPN2. But one of the most iconic parts of Wrigley Field might not be ready for its closeup. 

Speaking to a group of Cubs bloggers Tuesday, Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney said there have already been delays in the gutting and total reconstruction of the left and right field bleachers, and that those sections might not be fully open for the start of the season, according to several writers who attended the forum and wrote about the question-and-answer session. 

I think there is a chance that some of the bleachers are not open for opening night, Kenney told the group, according to a transcript posted by Wrigley Renovations, a blog dedicated to the estimated $600 million Wrigley Field renovation project. 

Cubs vice president of communications Julian Green said the delays are more the nature of the business than it is a concern, citing weather and infrastructure concerns, among other obstacles. The Cubs have a contingency plan in place for season ticket holders in that area and don't anticipate a long hold-up in finishing those sections. 

As we progress in this project, there are things we know about and things we dont know about and well have to adapt, Green said in a phone call with ESPN Chicago. 

Weather has been an obvious concern, one the team and its construction firm has obviously planned for, including recent high winds that prevented use of heavy machinery for a day. 

When the city began digging behind the bleachers on Sheffield Ave., after the season ended, it decided a water main needs replacing as part of infrastructure improvements. That has delayed work on rebuilding the right-field bleacher area, and is an ongoing issue. 

Here is the main chunk of Kenneys answer to a question about the renovation timeline, as transcribed by the Wrigley Renovations blog. 
 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28155/wrigley-field-bleachers-might-not-be-ready-by-opening-day


@PWSullivan: Oy. Wrigley RF bleacher now wont be open until sometime in June, Cubs say. @ChristopherHine is on Crane-Rice ballpark tour.

 

[soxhop411]

 
 
The Cubs say 4,500 seats will be unavailable to begin the season. It's expected the left field bleachers will be ready to open by May 11, with the right field bleachers opening later the same month. Construction will continue even on game days to make sure those goals are reached. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/cubs-confirm-bleachers-won-t-be-ready-by-opening-day-203145353.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

[charlieoscar]

Can games before then be counted as sellouts?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Determining sell outs is such an inexact science.

 

[kieckeredinthehead]

They'll have at least one sell out every time Lester pitches

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Sounds like a team that hasn't won in over a 100 years. It's not like the stadium was used much in October either. Is the front office surprised by bad weather in Chicago in the winter?

 

[Soxfan in Fla]

Sounds like a team that hasn't won in over a 100 years. It's not like the stadium was used much in October either. Is the front office surprised by bad weather in Chicago in the winter?

it hasn't even been that bad, especially compared to last winter.

 

[soxhop411]

@PWSullivan: Oy. Wrigley RF bleacher now wont be open until sometime in June, Cubs say. @ChristopherHine is on Crane-Rice ballpark tour.

 

[SoxJox]

They should have hired Janet Marie Smith.