Cubs Offer a Detailed Look at the Future Plaza for Wrigley Field

Will it be a space for neighborhood events, a haven for beer-chugging recent college grads or something else? There's been a lot of speculation on how the new Cubs Plaza will fit into the Wrigleyville neighborhood and what kind of purpose it'll serve as the plan has spent many months being ironed out. Last year when the Cubs organization announced that the plaza would host live music events, there was considerable backlash from community members who were concerned about having amplified sound reverberating through Wrigleyville. However, the plan continues to evolve, and the team has released some refined images that give a much clearer understanding of how the space will look when completed. According to DNAinfo, who received the new renders from the team, programming for the plaza is still being discussed and decided on by Wrigleyville residents.

One of the most noticeable changes in the plan is the name of the project. The renderings have "Brand Plaza" listed as a placeholder, but this indicates that the name of the new space won't be Cubs Plaza when it is completed. Similar to the video boards and the landmark marquee at the entrance of the ballpark, the new Cubs Plaza will sport corporate signage and take the name of its sponsor once it has been opened to the public. In addition, the new renders reveal what looks to be a large green space. The original plan for Cubs Plaza was for an open, paved space lined with merch and concession vendors. And while the newer renders reveal a more contemporary design for the team's offices and plaza, the original design from 2013 seems to fit better with the historic character of the ballpark.

Discussions will continue regarding the events and programming at Cubs Plaza. Meanwhile, the Cubs organization is gearing up for the construction of Wrigley Field's new hotel.

·See What The Cubs Are Building This Off-Season For Wrigley Plaza, Clubhouse [DNAinfo]
·The Future Cubs Plaza Is Basically A Frat Bro Disney World [Curbed Chicago]
·Rumble at Wrigley archives [Curbed Chicago]