Cubs, White Sox Prepare For Home Openers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- On the North Side, continued renovations of Wrigley FIeld will make life a bit more difficult as fans flock to the Cubs' home opener Monday against the Reds.
"Parking will be at a premium," Alderman Tom Tunney said. "I suggest Cub fans leave their vehicles at home or park in the remote lots.
One of the biggest additions to Wrigley Field this season will be newly installed metal detectors.
"Every single entrance will have metal detectors," said Julian Green, vice president of communications for the Cubs.
Major League Baseball mandated that all 30 teams around the nation install walk through metal detectors or use hand-held wands.
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Green says the MLB mandate is now in place and fans should expect delays and to plan accordingly.
"If you're the customer that's across the street at your favorite restaurant or bar and you wait until Wayne Messmer to sing the national anthem, you're going to have some problems," he says.
The White Sox installed metal detectors in 2014. Green says they've learned a bit from other ball clubs, but it will still be a work in progress.
"While you can learn from different teams, how to expedite it, you won't be able to tell until boots are on the ground and lining up," Green says. "We have to figure out how they will cue, how they are entering, that's the things we have to figure out when we welcome upwards of 40,000 people."
"Fans who were with us last year, have some familiarity with the metal detectors, so anyone who is new to coming to the ballpark on opening day, we want you to be mindful that it is a bit of a slower process but we feel like we have the process down pat," says Christine O'Reilly, vice president of community relations for the White Sox.
CBS 2's Jim Williams reports it's still a construction zone at the ballpark, but the Cubs say the work won't hamper opening day.
Rich Warwick has lived around Wrigley Field his entire life, and with all the construction at the ballpark. He's thankful he no longer carries passengers in a pedicab.
"If I was still riding a pedicab I would hate this," he says.
Addison and Clark are both narrowed and heavy equipment and construction crews are everywhere, and will be for some time to come, with the project one third complete.
Still, there's been progress since the Cubs 2015 season ended in the NLCS loss to the Mets. Terracotta is replacing concrete and ornate fencing has been added. Thousands of seats have been replaced and the famous red marquee has been restored and will go back up over the main gate Wednesday. A new Cubs administrative building is under construction.
You'll also notice the McDonald's outside the park for many year is gone. What you don't see is the new 30,000 square foot clubhouse for the Cubs, which is underground.
Alderman Tunney says he and his constituents have to be patient.
"It's been a rough season, offseason, the construction has been 365 days a year," he says.
Rich Warwick knows it all too well.
"I think the changes are good, it's just that they're taking so long, it's chaos," he says.
The White Sox host the Indians in their home opener Friday at 3:10 p.m.. Parking lots open at 11 a.m. and the ballpark at 1:10 p.m.
Gates at Wrigley will open Monday at 4:35 p.m. for a 7:05 p.m. start.
