Immediately after this thrill ride of a Cubs season ends, some heavy-duty construction will commence again at Wrigley Field that will make the Friendly Confines that much more friendly _ and likely more expensive _ to fans with season tickets behind home plate.
As part of the 1060 Project, an overhaul to the stadium and the area surrounding the venerable ballpark, the Cubs revealed plans for the first of four "premier experiences" on Tuesday and launched a waiting list for those interested in plopping down a $500 deposit to secure their place on the priority list for the right to some exclusive amenities.
The American Airlines 1914 Club is scheduled to be in place for the beginning of the 2018 season and will be underneath the club box seating bowl running between the home and visiting dugouts.
After the last out of the 2016 season, crews will begin excavating the lower bowl behind home plate to build the shell for the club, which will not provide a view of the field but will give fans with tickets in the area a place to go before and during games for food and drink, shelter from the elements and restroom facilities. The re-done seating area will be ready for the '17 season, and construction will continue underneath.
"We've done a lot of research over the past several years _ focus groups and surveys _ with the fans sitting there in season tickets currently," said Colin Faulkner, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Cubs. "They're paying up to $350 a ticket in that area, and the value that we're providing them right now is not in line with what they expect."
To accommodate the approximately 600 seats _ expected to be more comfortable than the current ones, the Cubs said _ and the club itself, the home and visiting dugouts will be moved slightly farther down the lines. Capacity for the park is expected to remain nearly the same, however.
Tuesday's announcement and launch of a website (www.cubspremier.com) detailing the changes and presenting renderings were done with the intent to inform those with season tickets in the area of the plan and if they choose not to participate, begin the discussion of relocating their seats.
"There are fans that have been down there for a significant amount of time, and based on the research and the conversations we've had with those fans, this is something that they want and they're looking forward to," Faulkner said. "But we're certainly cognizant that there may be fans down there who say, 'you know what, this just isn't for me' so we want to provide them basically two off-seasons to help find them a different seating location down there that's not part of the club."
The waiting list for the new premier area will be separate and specific from the current unpaid season-ticket list that exceeds 88,000 fans. Current holders of the seats behind home will get first priority at joining. Pricing will be announced at a later date.
In following years, three more "premier experiences" will be built, including underneath the stands down the left- and right-field lines and below the current press box.
