Expect a lot of double-takes from Cubs fans at Wrigley Field in 2016.
Much of what they encounter at the Friendly Confines will be familiar, including the recently returned historic marquee. The bleachers will be open starting on opening day this time, too, and owner Tom Ricketts says the restroom situation has been improved (thank goodness).
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But there are plenty of new features to navigate once fans get past the construction dust surrounding the ballpark. Here is RedEye’s primer on the new-ish Wrigley.
Don’t lollygag
As has been the case at U.S. Cellular Field and other major league ballparks, Wrigley now will require fans to enter through metal detectors. (The Cubs were granted a reprieve from this mandate last year because of the renovations.) Which probably means the bars and restaurants in the neighborhood will be packed even sooner than usual. Plan accordingly.
Be prepared to learn
No, not math or marine biology (although that would be cool), but rather insights into the lives of the players. Expect plenty of #TBT-inspired moments on the video board, from pictures of them in Halloween costumes and grade school to other facts previously known only to their friends and families.
“We have guys who are going to be with this club for a while, and we think it’s an opportunity for us to introduce them to the fans,” said Alison Miller, the Cubs’ senior director of marketing. “[Fans] obviously know what they’re like on the field, but it’s a chance to show what they’re like off the field, what their habits are, their favorite things, and also their journey to getting [to the Cubs].”
Music in particular tends to be common ground.
“Anthony Rizzo has divulged that he’s trying to learn the piano,” Miller said. “A couple of the guys are guitar guys or play bass.”
The Schwarber ball is back
So as not to mess with their mojo, the Cubs let the Kyle Schwarber home run ball from the series against St. Louis in the 2015 NLDS remain atop the video board where he hit it. Then they took it down for a while, and now it’s back, because Cubs fans are nothing if not superstitious.
Speaking of Schwarber …
Those who collect bobbleheads will want to circle these dates:
July 5: Anthony Rizzo tarp catch
July 20: Jake Arrieta
Aug. 1: Kris Bryant
Aug. 16: Joe Maddon
Sept. 16: Kyle Schwarber video board home run. “The idea being that we could have a bobblehead that represents that historic event at Wrigley Field,” Miller said. FYI, the design on this giveaway is still being developed.
Sausage is still king
Thinking of new accoutrements for hot dogs, or any other sausage sandwich, would seem to get more difficult each year, though somehow ballpark chefs find ways to top themselves.
Among the new menu items at Wrigley are three craft sausages (Caprese, Aloha, and Beef and Cheddar) that will stretch traditionalists’ expectations of what a hot dog should be.
“We take maybe something from another food group or another sandwich and we’ll top it with that,” said David Burns, an executive chef with Levy Restaurants who designs Wrigley’s menu. “We did that a few years ago when we came up with Decade Dogs when we did the 100th anniversary [of Wrigley Field].”
The reuben variation is one that surprised Burns in terms of how well the flavors meshed. There’s another that makes the list as well.
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“The TV Dinner Dog,” he said. “I’m like, mashed potatoes and gravy with some roasted corn? And that one actually tasted really good.”