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Levine: New Clubhouse Amenities Part Of Cubs' Allure

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An array of new features at Wrigley Field are now in place for Cubs players, and not just in the form of a new 30,000-square-foot home clubhouse. There's also a weight room, three pools for rehab, a yoga room, coaches' lounge and celebration room for victory parties.

Batting cages are just another portion of the huge new underground city the Cubs have built for their baseball family. This undertaking was the second phase of a five-phase rehab of Wrigley Fiel that could cost more than $600 million when it's scheduled to be completed between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

The new digs include a circular clubhouse with a circular bar and lounge chairs, where meetings can bring teammates face to face throughout a mood-lit room.

"This is just spectacular man," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's just so different. This is great for the guys now, but as you continue on the next several years to be able to attract future players, it's a great recruiting device. That is beyond the city itself, beyond the organization. The facility just screams out to the player and players family."

The 102-year-old ballpark has its new finished basement, and the players have new toys and a game room to enjoy. Still, this is about a competitive edge on the field as well.

"Little things go a long way in this game," first-year Cubs outfield Jason Heyward said. "That is especially true because it's such a long season. There are a lot of good things for your body and your mind, good day or bad day. They made sure they didn't miss out on any detail, big or small. Anything you need is to be found somewhere very close to you."

For years, observers would say the Cubs' ancient clubhouse and batting cage were a black mark for the team in free agency. That will no longer be the case.

"This really helps us get everything done that we need to without the weather conditions or lack of space being a factor," shortstop Addison Russell said. "With this clubhouse, there is nothing we will not have to help us get our work in."

Russell and his teammates will no longer have to endure the close quarters of the old clubhouse. Clubhouse attendants, reporters and players previously had next to no room to move around each other.

"We all had challenging moments at times, but we worked around it," Russell said. "We always have our job to do and no matter what the amenities are, we go about our business the same way."

The longest-tenured Cubs position player, Anthony Rizzo, had to deal with the old Wrigley underworld for four seasons.

"I don't know," Rizzo responded when asked if the new facility can equate to more home victories. "At the end of the day, once you step on that white line, it doesn't matter if you got ready in a parking lot, you got to play baseball. Now we are in a country club, so when we step on those lines, we better be ready to go."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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