Cubs Unveil New Expansion Plan For Ballpark
Team Hopes To Please Neighbors With New Design

A new Wrigley Field bleacher expansion plan was unveiled by the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

NBC5's Natalie Martinez reported that the design transplants some of what's appealing on the inside of the park to the outside, including ivy-covered walls, brick sidewalks and an open area where pedestrians can peer into the park.

Sheffield and Waveland would reflect the charm of the 80-year-old landmark, according to Mark McGuire, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Cubs. They'll taper some seating, bringing the original expansion number from 2,600 to 2,100 seats and pull proposed columns closer to the exterior wall.

"We tried to eliminate about every other column so there are fewer columns than there were in the last design," McGuire said. "Then we brought in a landscape architect, and he added features like ivy growing on the exterior brick walk, a brick sidewalk going from foul pole to foul pole, an opening where we now have metal field gates where you actually could walk on the sidewalk and look through it."

Martinez said that some neighbors welcome the expansion, which would equal about 5 percent of the current capacity.

"More people having a good time down here, basically," one fan said. "The more the merrier."

A Wrigley Field neighbor told Martinez that he sees nothing wrong with the new design.

Additionally, a new group calling themselves "Wrigleyville Neighbors" was so excited, they took a letter of support to the mayor today.

If you look at the sidewalk now, it's a pretty broken up sidewalk," said "Wrigleyville Neighbors" spokesman Kurt Volkman. "It needs to be landscaped and well lit."

The Cubs' plan will do just that.

Some supporters argue that those against the expansion include nearby rooftop owners who want to make money off the spots they sell to fans on roofs overlooking Wrigley Field.

"They don't pay anything to the Cubs for the licensing rights," says Volkman, "so why should they benefit off it?"

But others say not only would these changes compromise the nostalgic feeling here, they'd create problems.

Alderman Bernie Hansen says 25 to 30 groups he represents are opposed.

"They really feel that would be a detriment to pedestrian and car traffic. They think it would create a canyon, like underneath the el or Lower Wacker Drive," Hanson told Martinez.

The expansion is to be funded entirely by the Cubs.

The next private meeting on this is Tuesday night and if all goes well for the organizers, the plan will get moving by October. The Cubs are hoping to be ready for fans on opening day, April 5th.

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