New Wrigley Field plaza makes debut ahead of Chicago Cubs home opener

This morning, Wrigley Field officially cut the ribbon on its new 50,000-square-foot outdoor plaza ahead of tonight’s home opener for the World Series defending Chicago Cubs. Replacing a surface lot previously reserved for player parking, the new Park at Wrigley attraction adds new pavers, planters, and a grassy lawn to a triangle-shaped wedge of land just west of the Friendly Confines. It is joined by a new multi-story building featuring administrative offices, a flagship merchandise store, a Starbucks Reserve, and an upcoming “tavern-style” restaurant. Dubbed Brickhouse, the latter will be operated by Chicago-based Four Corners Tavern Group, reports Eater.

While the town square-like space will be open exclusively to ticket holders during games and concerts, the park will be primarily programmed for public events the remainder of the time. An outdoor movie series hosted in partnership with Chicago’s Music Box Theatre is set to kick-off June 14th with a screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Subsequent films in the lineup include The Jungle Book (June 28), Rookie of the Year (July 12), the original Ghostbusters (July 26) and The Sandlot (August 9). Also starting in mid June, the Park at Wrigley will serve as the newest location for Chicago’s Green City outdoor farmers market.

Photo courtesy of Tweed Thornton

Photo courtesy of Tweed Thornton

The new green space isn’t the only update to Wrigley Field. Over the offseason, the ballpark has added enclosed bullpens, revamped concession and concourse areas, and a western ‘H’ gate. The immediate area surrounding Wrigley Field also continues to transform as the seven-story Hotel Zachary and a massive mixed-use development take shape at the respective northwest and southeast corners of Clark and Addison.

• The Park at Wrigley [official website]
• Cubs Plaza Outside Wrigley Getting Two-Story Restaurant From Four Corners [Eater Chicago]