Wrigley Field Before And After Renovations

Wrigley Field Then And Now has seen a lot of notable changes over the years. It was opened 109 years ago and cubs started to use it 2 years later.

Here is a comparison between Wrigley Field's "Now" and "Then" (from a historical perspective):

Then (Historical)

• Opening: One of Major League Baseball's oldest ballparks, Wrigley Field, or Weeghman Park, first opened its doors in 1914.
  
• Ivy-Covered Walls: Wrigley Field is known for its famous outfield walls covered with ivy, which were first introduced in the 1930s.
• Manual Scoreboard: Since its inception, Wrigley Field's hand-operated centerfield scoreboard has been an iconic feature.
• Seating: There were fewer modern facilities and a smaller number of seats. The overall comfort level for fans was lower, and several seats had obscured views.

Babe Ruth's "called shot" in the 1932 World Series was one of several historical baseball events that took place at the stadium.

Now (After Renovations)

• Video Scoreboard: In left field, a sizable video scoreboard was installed to give spectators access to quick replays, statistics, and other information.
• Added sitting facility: The number of seats was increased to 41,649, providing greater comfort options, extra suites, and new sitting sections.
• Player Facilities: In order to satisfy current MLB requirements, player facilities have been updated and improved.
• Wrigleyville Development: The Wrigleyville surroundings underwent major development with the addition of new restaurants, bars, stores, and a hotel, turning the region into a popular entertainment hub.
• Historical Preservation: The renovations made a strong attempt to maintain vintage features like the outfield walls covered in ivy, the marquee at the main entrance, and the atmosphere of the ballpark in general.
• Accessibility: Ramps, elevators, and accessible seating have all been improved to better accommodate spectators with disabilities.
• Modern Amenities: Concession stands and restrooms have been updated to provide a broader range of food and drink options.

The goal of these improvements was to preserve Wrigley Field's historic appeal while giving spectators and players a more up-to-date and pleasant experience. Wrigley Field renovations pictures depict the way of renovating the ballpark balancing the historical importance as well as modern priority of the ballpark.

New Wrigley field renovations Timeline includes five phases from 2014 to 2019. The renovations were started in 2014 after 100 years of the stadium.

The Chicago Cubs announced their original design for a $575 million redesign of Wrigley Field in January 2013. Five years were allocated to the project. They completed evaluating and documenting the current century-old steel structure in 2014, ahead of the start of the season and created a new reinforcement system for it.

Here is the timeline of the Wrigley Field Renovations:

Phase 1: 2014- 2015

The west parking lots for the future Triangle Plaza and the new Cubs office building were the main emphasis of this phase of construction. New snack stands, restrooms, outfield group terraces, and a reconfigured third-base concourse were among the renovations that included structural modifications.

The foundation and structural work for the Cubs' new clubhouse and office structure, as well as an outdoor plaza and retail space, went on throughout the 2015 summer. Opening Day 2016 saw the completion of the Cubs' clubhouse, and a six-story office structure with administrative and retail space was planned to be done by the end of the year.

Phase 2: 2015- 2016

After the 2015 campaign, construction on a 30,000-square-foot facility for players' facilities, lounges, a media center, and team offices started in the area just west of the pitch. A theater, new offices, improved dugouts, and batting cages would all be added to the old clubhouse.

All of the seats from left field to the main gate were renovated, and new concessions and restrooms were added, along with additional premium club spaces. Along the roofline of the right field, a concourse was created for the upper deck.

The renowned neon marquee, which has been in existence since 1933, was taken down in November 2015 for renovations and put back together in April 2016. Harry Caray, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and Ernie Banks statues were moved to different locations of the stadium.

The upgrades included brand-new terra cotta and steelwork, restored ticket windows, plaques recognizing Cubs Hall of Famers, signage, a repainted center field scoreboard, display cases highlighting the history of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, and new hot dog stands.

Phase 3: 2016- 2017

After the 2016 World Series, work on the third stage of the five-year project started. Here are some of the improvements in this phase:

• Wrigley field bullpen renovations were done by moving beneath the bleacher seating, while the right field bleachers received structural upgrades.
• New cushioned seats were added behind home plate, and seating was repositioned around the right and left field foul lines.
• In order to display World Series flags, new flagpoles were erected.
• At the intersection of Addison Avenue and Clark Street, the south facade and main entry gate were repaired.
• In order to get ready for the 2017 season, the outfield turf was resurfaced.
• The Hotel Zachary undertaking went forward.
• It also included "The Park at Wrigley," which is located above the Cubs players' locker room, and a new Cubs administration building with a Cubs Store.

Phase 4: 2017- 2018

Following the 2017 season, the fourth phase of off-season improvements got underway which includes:

• The 600-seat American Airlines 1914 Club was built behind home plate.
• Players' dugouts were moved and widened for better movement and to make room for more clubs.
• Installation of elevators to provide access to higher levels.
• Fan safety netting was extended to each dugout's end.
• Hotel Zachary opened its doors across from the park.

Phase 5: 2018- 2019

All seats were reorganized as part of the 1060 Project's final phase to comply with MLB regulations. The following modifications were made:

• Extra elevators were added, along with wheelchair-accessible seating and upper deck access.
• Construction of the 400-person Catalina Club was finished.
• Extension of the concessions and restroom patios on the upper deck.
• A two-story venue took the place of the Captain Morgan Club and the Draft King Club Zone in right field.
• The setting up of a 75-person standing space in the left-field corner of the stands.
• Former Gate F was renamed Gate 3.

Wrigley Field renovations renderings include expanded outfield seatings and new scoreboards. Renderings at the ballpark have created stunning views of the ballpark.

The improvements to Wrigley Field featured artistic renderings showcasing:

• A spectator area in left field.
• Expanded concourses and suites.
• The exterior facade has been restored to its 1930s appearance.
• Marquee View
• Concourse
• Upper-Level Concourse 
• Fan Amenities Cross Section
• Retail and Entertainment ComplexPlaza
• Wrigley Field Outfield
• Clubhouse
• Locker Room
• Locker Room Hallway
• Left Field Porch
• Bleacher Cross Section
• American Airlines 1914 Club
• Suite Corridor
• VIP Entrance

These structural alterations came along with bigger, more modern clubhouses that had indoor batting cages that were open during games. The infrastructure was completely overhauled as part of the restorations, and the seats in the lower and upper decks as well as the concrete and wood roof were all replaced.