11-01-2009, 07:29 PM
<!--quoteo(post=67758:date=Oct 31 2009, 01:55 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Oct 31 2009, 01:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=67750:date=Oct 31 2009, 02:22 PM:name=HemisFear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (HemisFear @ Oct 31 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=67747:date=Oct 31 2009, 01:33 PM:name=Mikey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mikey @ Oct 31 2009, 01:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The All-Star Game would be part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field. By that time, the Ricketts family is expected to have spent between $200 million and $300 million in renovations on Wrigley.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is the single biggest thing that I wanted to see the Rickets family do. I know that most people thin Wrigley is a shrine to baseball, and it definately holds it's own charm, but I refuse to take my boys into such a pit of a baseball field. I'm really happy that they will be bringing the field up to speed in terms of cleanliness and making it more family freindly.
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A pit of a baseball field? I've taken my six-year-old daughter to Wrigley plenty of times and have never had a problem in any way. What do you want to see changed before you're able to bring your kids?
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1. The bathrooms are probably the most disgusting cesspools of filth out of any ballpark I've been to, and I've been all around the league. One issue that I constantly hear from Cub fans is that it's "not that bad" but the truth is, when you've been around the league and you see just how clean other stadiums are as compared to Wrigley, you begin (at least I do) to put things into a different perspective. I'll give you an example. When my firstborn was about 3 months old, I was going to take him to his first game but at the last minute he got sick and I couldn't go. Just so happens that I wander into the bathroom, and there is not one, but two heaping piles of feces sitting in the men's bathroom. As I was making sure I wasn't going to stand in too much piss on the floor, all I could think to myself was 'thank God I didn't bring Kyle'
2. Wrigley's interior smells like ass. Now I realize I'm discussing this in a "the Cubs and Wrigley are the holy grail of all things sports related" but I'm a realist and I hold the manufacturers of the products I support accountable.
3. Wrigley isn't "young family freindly" / improved security. I can't begin to tell you the amount of loud mouthed, know it all, "tough guys" who constantly want to show their ego off at any cost anytime I go. Now I haven't had too many problems at all and you're going to run into this sort of thing anytime you go to any sporting event, so this isnt' necissarily Wrigley specific, but I really would like to see a shift in the culture from a touristy, "happening" place for 20 30-somethings to hang out at.. to focusing more on bringing in a longer term strategy of a more family focused enviornment.
4. Food - Again, after having visited so many other parks around the country, it bothers the hell out of me that the Cubs, especially considering they live in the middle of yuppieville, dont' offer a more kid freindly assortment of food. Go to San Franscisco, Washington, hell even go to Miami and see the types of items you can get for yourself and your family while at the park. The food at Wrigley is some of the worst value and overall expereince in baseball.
The reality of Wrigely is two fold in my personal opinion. The field itself is everything it is billed to be. It's beautiful, it takes you back to a time that no other ballpark in the country can really take you to. It's just a unique experience that focuses on baseball rather than pomp and circumstance.
The guts of the place however, including the clubhouse is the worst in the league. Again, just my opinion, but I find nothing impressive about a dank, small, crammed, aged, foul smelling, park that is falling apart.
I guess I could be wrong.....but....if I were the Ricketts wouldn't be spending 200-300 million on renovations to fix the park.
I'm glad that they are doing what they can to REALLY give the fans a TOTALLY positive experience.
Butch - I'm glad that you haven't had any negative exeriences with your child at any games that you have been to. Out of the parks that I've brought my children to, I've never had a bad experience either.
This is the single biggest thing that I wanted to see the Rickets family do. I know that most people thin Wrigley is a shrine to baseball, and it definately holds it's own charm, but I refuse to take my boys into such a pit of a baseball field. I'm really happy that they will be bringing the field up to speed in terms of cleanliness and making it more family freindly.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A pit of a baseball field? I've taken my six-year-old daughter to Wrigley plenty of times and have never had a problem in any way. What do you want to see changed before you're able to bring your kids?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
1. The bathrooms are probably the most disgusting cesspools of filth out of any ballpark I've been to, and I've been all around the league. One issue that I constantly hear from Cub fans is that it's "not that bad" but the truth is, when you've been around the league and you see just how clean other stadiums are as compared to Wrigley, you begin (at least I do) to put things into a different perspective. I'll give you an example. When my firstborn was about 3 months old, I was going to take him to his first game but at the last minute he got sick and I couldn't go. Just so happens that I wander into the bathroom, and there is not one, but two heaping piles of feces sitting in the men's bathroom. As I was making sure I wasn't going to stand in too much piss on the floor, all I could think to myself was 'thank God I didn't bring Kyle'
2. Wrigley's interior smells like ass. Now I realize I'm discussing this in a "the Cubs and Wrigley are the holy grail of all things sports related" but I'm a realist and I hold the manufacturers of the products I support accountable.
3. Wrigley isn't "young family freindly" / improved security. I can't begin to tell you the amount of loud mouthed, know it all, "tough guys" who constantly want to show their ego off at any cost anytime I go. Now I haven't had too many problems at all and you're going to run into this sort of thing anytime you go to any sporting event, so this isnt' necissarily Wrigley specific, but I really would like to see a shift in the culture from a touristy, "happening" place for 20 30-somethings to hang out at.. to focusing more on bringing in a longer term strategy of a more family focused enviornment.
4. Food - Again, after having visited so many other parks around the country, it bothers the hell out of me that the Cubs, especially considering they live in the middle of yuppieville, dont' offer a more kid freindly assortment of food. Go to San Franscisco, Washington, hell even go to Miami and see the types of items you can get for yourself and your family while at the park. The food at Wrigley is some of the worst value and overall expereince in baseball.
The reality of Wrigely is two fold in my personal opinion. The field itself is everything it is billed to be. It's beautiful, it takes you back to a time that no other ballpark in the country can really take you to. It's just a unique experience that focuses on baseball rather than pomp and circumstance.
The guts of the place however, including the clubhouse is the worst in the league. Again, just my opinion, but I find nothing impressive about a dank, small, crammed, aged, foul smelling, park that is falling apart.
I guess I could be wrong.....but....if I were the Ricketts wouldn't be spending 200-300 million on renovations to fix the park.
I'm glad that they are doing what they can to REALLY give the fans a TOTALLY positive experience.
Butch - I'm glad that you haven't had any negative exeriences with your child at any games that you have been to. Out of the parks that I've brought my children to, I've never had a bad experience either.