Plans for a Jumbotron at Wrigley Field aren't in the team's immediate future, though the Cubs are looking at bringing instant replay to fans with smartphones.
If you can imagine 40,000 people staring down at their phones after a close play at first and simultaneously booing afterwards, then you can probably envision the future of Cubs baseball at Clark and Addison Streets.
The Cubs, of course, remain the last major professional sports team without an electronic scoreboard with replay capacity, which is one of the charms of going to Wrigley Field. But with all the lost revenues from not having a Jumbotron, some wonder how much longer the team can hold out from installing 20th Century technology, especially in an economic downturn.
But team president Crane Kenney said he's never heard chairman Tom Ricketts broach the subject of a Jumbotron.
"I don't know where we would (place) one," he said. "Certainly you're not going to touch the scoreboard we have, except for the re-facing (of the back)."
If you can't go big, go small. Kenney said the Cubs are looking at the possibility of installing an intranet at Wrigley for fans carrying iPhones and other smartphones, giving them access to stats and instant replays. He said San Francisco and San Diego are among the organizations with technology giving fans at the ballparks access to game information on handheld devices.
The historic centerfield scoreboard has no room for video replay, and is landmarked anyways and can't be touched.
"We know there is a little bit of an information desert at Wrigley that doesn't exist anywhere elsewhere, and we are going to tackle it in other ways," he said. "But I don't know if we'll do a Jumbotron."
There's been no decision on whether the Cubs would have the intranet in place for the 2010 season. But changes are coming to Wrigley Field, as the Ricketts family has said all along.
Crane Kenney and Tom Ricketts before a game at Wrigley. (Nuccio DiNuzzo / Tribune)
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This page wasnt working earlier i tried accesing it but it timed out 4-5 times now i can access it. Why Does this happen? Am i the only one having this issue?
Who cares? As long as I can continue naked trough diving while picking up hot guys in the mensroom I'm a happy camper.
I remember a number of years back that the Sun Times PhotoShopped a picture of a possible new look for wrigley field, and it showed a Jumbotron installed on the roof of the Horseshoe Casino building. Its the only unobstructed space left, and considering that they are erecting walls this year to block it out, it seems like in a matter of time the Cubs might just buy the building and put a Jumbotron up there. As for me, I can do without all of it. If I want instant replay, comforable toliets, and teh ability to switched channels during pitching chnages, Id stay home.
Wrigley gets sold out consistently, win or lose. If you find that contemptible, fine, then go to the south side. The point is that it's a unique place to enjoy a ball game, relax, get schnonked, whatever. If jumbotrons ever had any charm, it's gone now that big screen tv's are commonplace. Cubs fans actually SOCIALIZE between plays instead of gazing at a screen (as if they were at home). It'd be refreshing if Sox fans just supported their team and ignored the other: that's what I do. Didn't even watch the World Series when the Sox won it, don't care. Baseball is a complete experience, not just a score, to anyone with any knowledge or who ever played with any skill. Enjoy your fireworks shows...
What I like about Wrigley --
No Jumbotrons
No mascots
No distractions
The restrooms could be modernized.
As for the scoreboard, all I need is to know who is batting, what the count is (in case I lose track), the out-of-town scores, and the number of hits and errors. It's not that I am old school. It's that I know enough about the game where I don't need the extra crap.
Well, to Mr. Clown Kenney (yes I heard that on the radio this weekend), you CAN'T touch the scoreboard as it is protected by the landmarks commission.
Wondering what happened to the idea of a decade ago of placing replay screens at each end of the grandstand?
Maybe " PREMIUM GAMES" means they are bringing in the Yahkees to play the Red Sox. The last "premium" game at Wrigley Field was in 1945 World Series , the WWII year we win the pennant. This is the WORST park to see a game in all of sports. Restrooms and snack stands are far, far and few between. Mosat seats in the "grand" stands have a pole blocking the view of part of the field. Ricketts believes in making money not spending it, this just an exspensive for them....Yes Virginia, let's keep Jim "Headless" and Lou " Pineapple" two worn out jokes as GM and Mgr.
Its probably better that way. Its hard enough to watch them play like garbage live - why would they need to show a blown up HD replay to everyone in the stands? It would only encourage more booing.
Thank you, Tom!!!
By the 6th inning most fans have either left the ball park or are too drunk to even see a Jumbotron.
Let's have at least one sports venue in the U.S. that lets you watch a game as it was ment to be watched. With a hot dog, cracker jack,beer or soda.
And they will continue to be losers of the 20th century. Get with the modern world. I thought the Ricketts family was going to change things. New owners, same expensive cruddy ballpark, same lovable losers. I'm not wasting one dime on them next year.
What they need out there are some new troughs...
The ones they're using now are from 1908, the same year the Cubs last won a World Series.
What they need out there are some new troughs...
The ones they're using now are from 1908, the same year the Cubs last won a World Series.
Keep the bathrooms, the same food, the same beer choices, the same seats. Just WIN! No excuses.
"KenDen on December 5, 2009 5:11 PM
The first two comments don't mention a better team on the field. Typical Cubs fans. Probably have no clue what baseball is all about."
I didn't mention a better team because I'm not worry about that. Mr. Rickett and Jimmy will put a winning team next season and for the next 15 years without us asking for that.
Sorry Mr. Sullivan...I don't think the lack of a jumbotron at Wrigley as one of the "charms of going to the field". It is annoying. I think it is quite ridiculous to think adding a jumbotron somehow ruins the experience at Wrigley.
The first two comments don't mention a better team on the field. Typical Cubs fans. Probably have no clue what baseball is all about.
All I want is an AFFORDABLE bleacher seat and cold Old Style Beer. I will cheer for the Cubs forever if Ricketts can grant me that. Go Cubbies....
All I want is some new bathrooms, better food, more BEER choices and comfortable cushion new seats.