A letter from Mr. Ricketts

[Butcher]

Dear Mr. Butcher M. Esquire, III,

I look forward to seeing you at Wrigley Field on Opening Day! It's been a busy off-season and I thought you might appreciate a preview of the changes you will see when you return to the Friendly Confines this year. Over the past five months, we have invested in almost every area of the ballpark to improve your experience and provide better training facilities for the ballclub. The improvements include:

- Restroom Upgrades. The left field men's and right field women's restrooms in the main concourse have been expanded, and most other lower grandstand restrooms were renovated.

- Batting Tunnel Arcade. A batting tunnel arcade has been added under the right field bleachers. We will host events that allow fans to watch batting practice during pre-game warm-ups in the arcade. The batting tunnel arcade includes new food and beverage facilities operated by Levy Restaurants.

- Expanded Menu at the Sheffield Grill. The Sheffield Grill will now be open to the public and a rotating menu of new food and beverage items will be available, with changes following each homestand.

- Captain Morgan Club Expansion. The Captain Morgan Club has been expanded to create a second seating pavilion to protect fans from the elements. The Captain Morgan Club is open to the public every day during the baseball season.

- PNC Club of Chicago. New this year is the PNC Club of Chicago, a 71-seat club offering members high-end catering, a full-service bar, concierge service and indoor/outdoor seating for an all-inclusive game day experience.

- Scoreboard Renovation. The historic Wrigley Field scoreboard has been renovated to its original 1937 condition. As one of the iconic features of Wrigley Field, the scoreboard façade has not been restored in more than 70 years.

- Concrete and Steel Repair. Portions of the seating bowl and ramp system throughout the ballpark have been repaired or replaced. Steel and concrete were replaced in various locations to strengthen and improve the appearance of the grandstand seating and high-traffic areas of the ballpark.

- Concrete Panels Removed. Many of the precast concrete panels on the Addison Street side of Wrigley Field have been removed, opening the ballpark to views of the City and providing welcome sunlight to the ramps, stairwells and concourse.

- Clubhouse Expansion. A new and expanded weight room, kitchen and nutrition center, and player's lounge were added to the clubhouse, in the first significant expansion since 1984.

- Left Field Sign. A new creative advertisement will be added in left field. The proposed Toyota sign brings important new resources to the team for player development and the preservation of Wrigley Field.


In addition to the physical improvements to the ballpark, we have also implemented certain operational changes that will enhance your day at Wrigley Field. Jahaan Blake was hired as the team's first Director of Fan Experiences. Jahaan will direct a team of 25-30 Wrigley Field Ambassadors whose job will be to improve your day at Wrigley Field and monitor the service level we are providing. You can reach Jahaan at cubsfanfeedback@cubs.com with any suggestions you have.

Additionally, we will continue our text messaging service that allows you to call our attention to issues in the ballpark without leaving your seat. Text us at 88019 with the keyword FAN and a description of your seat location and issue and we will respond to your request as soon as possible.

New concession items, including a new Sara Lee "ultimate" hot dog, High Plains bison burgers and franks and other healthy choice food options will be introduced this year. A site directory for all of our food options can be found at www.cubs.com/sth. As mentioned above, the Sheffield Grill will rotate different food and beverage items throughout the year, so please monitor this website for changes.

We are committed to playing championship baseball and preserving and improving Wrigley Field. Thank you for the tremendous support you have provided to the Cubs organization over the years. It is because of your support that we will accomplish our goals. See you Opening Day.

Tom

[Clapp]

I'll give Sara Lee an ultimate hot dog.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Jahaan Blake was hired as the team's first <b>Director of Fan Experiences.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They're getting ready to have trivia games, the juggling hats and the dancing boy, once they install the jumbotron.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=87438:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:02 PM:name=Destined)-->QUOTE (Destined @ Apr 9 2010, 01:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Jahaan Blake was hired as the team's first <b>Director of Fan Experiences.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They're getting ready to have trivia games, the juggling hats and the dancing boy, once they install the jumbotron.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was hoping for a hot tub somewhere near the bleachers.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=87439:date=Apr 9 2010, 11:03 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87438:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:02 PM:name=Destined)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Destined @ Apr 9 2010, 01:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->Jahaan Blake was hired as the team's first <b>Director of Fan Experiences.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They're getting ready to have trivia games, the juggling hats and the dancing boy, once they install the jumbotron.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was hoping for a hot tub somewhere near the bleachers.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
They could put one on top of the Batter's Eye Lounge. Then Grace can come out of retirement and try to christen it.

[jstraw]

It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=87447:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Sara Lee is a local company, even though their Ballpark Franks and Kahn's brands suck.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=87451:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87447:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Sara Lee is a local company, even though their Ballpark Franks and Kahn's brands suck.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If I can't get Vienna inside Wrigley I'll eat something else. It's just kind of ridiculous to serve any other brand there. Sara Lee fucking sucks these days...it didn't use to be such a lousy brand.

Did anyone else ever do the Sara Lee tour as a school field trip as a kid?

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=87453:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87451:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87447:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Sara Lee is a local company, even though their Ballpark Franks and Kahn's brands suck.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If I can't get Vienna inside Wrigley I'll eat something else. It's just kind of ridiculous to serve any other brand there. Sara Lee fucking sucks these days...it didn't use to be such a lousy brand.

Did anyone else ever do the Sara Lee tour as a school field trip as a kid?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep, we did a couple of times. That and the Hostess plant tours were awesome.

I also just realized that the only decent hot dog brand that Sara Lee ever produced, Best's Kosher, was discontinued 2 years ago. Their encased meat business really has gone down hill recently.

[veryzer]

No mention of bringing in better ball players?

[biggz]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->We are committed to playing championship baseball...<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Expect Castro next week.

[jstraw]

<!--quoteo(post=87456:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:25 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87453:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87451:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87447:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Sara Lee is a local company, even though their Ballpark Franks and Kahn's brands suck.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If I can't get Vienna inside Wrigley I'll eat something else. It's just kind of ridiculous to serve any other brand there. Sara Lee fucking sucks these days...it didn't use to be such a lousy brand.

Did anyone else ever do the Sara Lee tour as a school field trip as a kid?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep, we did a couple of times. That and the Hostess plant tours were awesome.

I also just realized that the only decent hot dog brand that Sara Lee ever produced, Best's Kosher, was discontinued 2 years ago. Their encased meat business really has gone down hill recently.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I consider you an expert on the encased meat business.

[MrSheps]

<!--quoteo(post=87456:date=Apr 9 2010, 11:25 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87453:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87451:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Apr 9 2010, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=87447:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Apr 9 2010, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's Chicago for crying out loud. Hot dogs from Sarah Lee?

That said, I'm appreciative of the rest of it. The scoreboard renovation sounds great to me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, Sara Lee is a local company, even though their Ballpark Franks and Kahn's brands suck.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

If I can't get Vienna inside Wrigley I'll eat something else. It's just kind of ridiculous to serve any other brand there. Sara Lee fucking sucks these days...it didn't use to be such a lousy brand.

Did anyone else ever do the Sara Lee tour as a school field trip as a kid?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yep, we did a couple of times. That and the Hostess plant tours were awesome.

I also just realized that the only decent hot dog brand that Sara Lee ever produced, Best's Kosher, was discontinued 2 years ago. Their encased meat business really has gone down hill recently.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Damn, I didn't know that about Best's Kosher. To me they were far and away the greatest hot dog available. I just thought they stopped selling them around here because I could usually only find them at one place anyway. I just went on a mission to find some prior to opening day and came up empty. Now I know why.

I agree though with the notion that it should be Vienna Beef inside Wrigley and only Vienna Beef.

[veryzer]

When I slide a wiener down my throat, I prefer it to Viennaese.

[Kid]

<!--quoteo(post=87431:date=Apr 9 2010, 01:50 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 9 2010, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Dear Mr. Butcher M. Esquire, III,<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
See ... even he refuses to spell it "Geoff."