April 12--Cubs fans flocked Monday afternoon to a freshly painted Wrigley Field in anticipation of the team's home opener, spirits and expectations high after a promising 2015 season and the team's quick start in 2016.
The corner of Clark and Addison streets was abuzz hours before the first pitch against the Reds. Fans lined up at the newly installed metal detectors outside the ballpark gates, eager to be among the first into the stadium. Some lucky fans snagged standing-room-only tickets at the box office.
"Happy New Year!" one concession worker said to a co-worker on the concourse behind home plate, where fans can enjoy a new, unencumbered view of the main entrance below the restored Wrigley Field marquee.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts mingled with fans on Waveland Avenue, smiling for photos. Fans clambered for a 2016 pocket schedule; a few angered ticket staff said there was a strict one-per-person limit. The neighborhood bars were busy. Inside the park, the team took batting practice on a sun-splashed field free of snow and ice, no small fact given the wintry conditions on the South Side for the Sox's opening series over the weekend.
"Let's hope they win," said longtime fan Frank Ruiz, 84, who lives near the ballpark. "It's about time."
poconnell@tribpub.com
