Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester delivers in the fifth inning.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiView of the new left field scoreboard and a rooftop facility.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiMike Olt strikes out in the ninth inning.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiView of the new left field scoreboard.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCase Grady of Daktronics watches from the unfinished left field bleachers to see if Chicago Cubs players hit the new video board during batting practice on opening night at Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiOpening night at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs left fielder Chris Coghlan plays in front of the new video board.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiStarlin Castro gets a hit in the sixth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiA sign advertises future restrooms at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs relief pitcher Hector Rondon warms up before the game.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiWaveland Avenue rooftop venues on opening night.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiWrigley Field in black and white on a video camera during batting practice.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiFall Out Boy performs before the game at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe new video board, left, before opening night at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiMatt Holliday's RBI single drops in front of right fielder Jorge Soler in the fifth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiArismendy Alcantara strikes out to end the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiChicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals fans arrive at Clark and Addison before opening night at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs shortstop Starlin Castro and teammates stretch before the game.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiAnthony Rizzo chases a fly ball in the sixth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe Cubs and Cardinals remember Ernie Banks before the game.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiFans wait for practice balls to fly over the bleachers during opening day at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCatcher Welington Castillo before the opener at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiA new Budweiser ad in right field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester delivers to the Cardinals in front of the new video board in the second inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester reacts to getting through the fourth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs President Theo Epstein speaks in the dugout before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs fans check out the field before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe grounds crew paints the batting boxes as Fall Out Boy performs.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiCubs players leave the field after batting practice on opening night at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs manager Joe Maddon meets Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs manager Joe Maddon and his team stand for a tribute to Ernie Banks before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs manager Joe Maddon looks over his lineup card in the dugout.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiNew advertising sign in right field.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiT-shirts outside Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiNew right field scoreboards.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiA look behind the new video board in left field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiCubs fans watch a performance by Fall Out Boy.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe Chicago Cubs warm up before opening night at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiBases honoring Ernie Banks after the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiAnthony Rizzo throws his bat down after striking out in the third inning.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiFans await opening night at a rooftop facility across from Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiFans enter Wrigley Field for opening night.
Armando Sanchez, baiduhaiFans enjoy the view of opening night at Wrigley Field from a rooftop venue.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiNew menu boards at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo takes the field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester takes the field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiA Cubs fan wears bunny ears to Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel at Wrigley Field before the first pitch.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs relief pitcher Jason Motte delivers to the Cardinals in the sixth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiFans walk the concourse near a new stairwell before the opener.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs pitcher Jake Arrieta signs an autograph before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiErnie Banks photos cover the right field bleachers.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiFans watch the Cubs play the Cardinals from a Wrigleyville rooftop
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs and Cardinals fans arrive at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs second baseman Tommy La Stella catches a pop fly as Starlin Castro falls in the fifth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs manager Joe Maddon before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiESPN broadcasts from Clark and Addison before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiMike Olt and the Cubs take the field for Sunday's opener.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs relief pitcher Hector Rondon delivers to the Cardinals in the ninth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiChris Coghlan reacts as his long fly ball is caught on the warning track to end the sixth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs fans walk by a photo of new manager Joe Maddon.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe Cubs warm up before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiSigns advertise future restrooms on the partially rebuilt concourse.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiWorkers atop the new left field scoreboard.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe scene pregame at Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiCubs fans wait for the gates to open on opening night at Wrigley Field.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiView of the new left field scoreboard and rooftop venues on Waveland Avenue.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiAnthony Rizzo chases a fly ball in the sixth inning on opening day at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester delivers to the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter in the first inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs legend Billy Williams in the dugout before the game.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiCubs fans watch batting practice on opening night.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs manager Joe Maddon greets his team.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs third baseman Mike Olt in front of the new Budweiser sign in right field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiStarlin Castro reacts to striking out to end the eighth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCardinals center fielder Jon Jay catches a long fly ball by David Ross in the second inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe scene at Wrigley pregame.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiDexter Fowler walks away after striking out against Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright in the fifth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiErnie Banks' widow, Liz Banks, on the field before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe new video board with Ernie Banks photos over the unfinished bleachers.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiScenes on Waveland Avenue rooftops on opening night.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs relief pitcher Phil Coke celebrates getting out of the top of the fifth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiA fan holds a sign about the video board before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe grounds crew prepares for batting practice.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs and Cardinals fans arrive at Clark and Addison before the game.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal and catcher Yadier Molina celebrate the 3-0 win.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe concourse, under construction.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiGuest services ambassador "Mary" gives a gift to fan Michael Savidge on his 71st birthday on opening day at Wrigley Field.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs starting pitcher Jon Lester departs in the fifth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiCubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop delivers in the eighth inning.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiKathleen Klaeser wears a bleacher bums helmet.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe Cubs take batting practice before opening night at Wrigley Field.
By Ed Sherman
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
While the Cubs and the Wrigley Field bathrooms failed to live up to expectations Sunday, the ratings did.
The telecast of the opener on ESPN2 pulled a 7.87 local rating. With 1 ratings point being the equivalent of 35,000 homes, that means an estimated 275,000 homes were tuned into the game.
The opening night audience was a huge jump from the 1.5 average rating for Cubs games on Comcast SportsNet last year (less than 50,000 homes).
It was a definite sign that Cubs ratings will be much improved in 2015 with the anticipated turnaround at hand. Of course, all bets are off if the Cubs fail to live up to expectations.