With End of Season, Wrigley Field Revamp to Start

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs will begin a $575 million Wrigley Field renovation project any day and will likely start demolishing the outfield bleachers next week, a team spokesman said Thursday.

Spokesman Julian Green said the team plans to have seven new outfield signs — including a massive Jumbotron above the left field bleachers — in place by the beginning of next season.

The project comes despite a legal fight between the owners of the rooftop businesses across the street from Wrigley and the city. The rooftop owners contend in a lawsuit filed last month that the expansion violates a revenue-sharing agreement that prevents the team from taking actions that block their views. The lawsuit was filed against the city, its landmarks commission and the members of the commission.

The Cubs played their last home game of the season Wednesday. Green said the team won city approval and has no plans to delay the construction project. He said it was likely that construction site fencing would be erected over the weekend in anticipation of the renovations, which would likely begin in earnest next week.

Ryan McLaughlin, a spokesman for the rooftop owners, would not say if any legal effort will be made to halt construction, nor would he say if the rooftop owners will fight the city's attempt to move the lawsuit from Cook County Circuit Court to federal court.