Image Credit: Andy Rusch (CC BY 2.0)
The Chicago Cubs organization are continuing to modernize Wrigley Field with the addition of three new premium seating areas that will debut in time for the 2019 Major League Baseball season. The three new seating areas will all be private clubs; the Maker’s Mark Barrel Room, the W Club and the Catalina Club. The opening of the American Airlines 1914 Club (located behind home plate) had already been announced and that area will open at the beginning of the 2018 Major League Baseball season. The Chicago Cubs are actively pitching the three new seating areas to current Chicago Cubs season ticket holders.
The Catalina Club will pay tribute to Catalina Island, the former Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs and an island that was once owned by the Wrigley family. It will be the largest of the new seating areas with 4,800 square feet and will be located on the upper level behind home plate. The Catalina Club will have a capacity of 400 fans and will feature retractable glass with an indoor/outdoor patio setting. The Jim Beam patio which is already standing at Wrigley Field, will also be considered part of the Catalina Club. Baseball fans will also be able to utilize a private VIP entrance and access the Catalina Club and other suites via a private elevator.
The W Club will be located along the third base side and beneath the lower level seats and will offer a view of the Chicago Cubs’ batting tunnel. The area will over 3,000 square feet of space and will have a capacity of 250 fans. The Maker’s Mark Barrel Room will sit down the first base side of Wrigley Field and beneath the lower level seats. The Maker’s Mark area will be similar to the W Club and will provide a view of the visitor’s batting tunnel and will be identical to the W Club in square footage and fan capacity.
All three clubs will offer all-inclusive food, beer and wine. The Maker’s Mark Barrel Room will also offer complimentary liquor in addition to free food, beer and wine. Construction for all three clubs is set to begin at the conclusion of the 2017 Major League Baseball season. Many Cubs season ticket holders that have seats along the first and third base sides will be forced to either purchase the highly marked up tickets to these club areas or relocate and purchase season tickets in other sections throughout the ballpark. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets for the three new club areas will need to put down a $500 deposit.
As you know, Wrigley Field already offered the most unique seating areas in Major League Baseball with their Wrigleyville Rooftops beyond the outfield wall. And many Chicago Cubs fans are probably upset to see change coming to Wrigley Field; it’s charm and identity has always been it’s old-timey feel. It was only a few seasons ago that the Chicago Cubs added Wrigley Field’s first replay board in center field. However, new premium seating areas will provide the Chicago Cubs organization with additional revenue streams that will decrease the likelihood that the organization will ever want a brand new ballpark built for the team. Many organizations in Major League Baseball are requesting taxpayer funds for brand new ballparks with more premium seating options and amenities. Even if the team doesn’t particularly need a new stadium; the Texas Rangers are one such organization.
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