The Cubs are in the midst of a massive outfield bleacher tear down.
But not letting the destruction go to waste, the Cubs are selling off pieces of the ball park as "authentic" Wrigley souvenirs. For a historical ball park, one would think you would try to preserve as much history as possible (even recent history). Instead, it screams of trying to squeeze another buck or two out of the tired fan base.
The Cubs announced that Cubs Authentics, their official
provider of game-used and authenticated memorabilia, has introduced the
Wrigley Field Collection for fans looking to collect unique items from
the historic ballpark. The Wrigley Field Collection will feature
authenticated items in limited quantities throughout the season,
including bleacher seats, flags, scoreboard tiles, signage and
celebrity-guest memorabilia, plus items related to Wrigley's restoration
and expansion.
It also shows that ownership is not the preservationists that some believed when they bought the team from the Tribune. It is like saying to third parties "here are pieces of old Wrigley Field, you keep and preserve them yourself." And many people will gladly do that because it is a physical reminder of past memories at the ball park.
Past memories that will most likely be jolted on Opening Night with the wash of electronic scoreboard lights akin to Times Square.
There is precedence for grave robbing an old ball yard. Old Comiskey Park had an auction when it was determined that the Cell was going to replace it. Thousands of people showed up one weekend to bid on signs, seats, the old scoreboard pin wheels to even toilets. It was the south side garage sale of garage sales. Everything was going to go either to a new home or the land fill.
Why would the Cubs sell "scoreboard tiles?" The answer is simple: the iconic CF scoreboard is going to be retired as the new large Jumbotron will take its place. And, it cuts back on the payroll of the manual scoreboard operators. And who wants 7th inning singers autographs on a program or Pat Hughes napkin? It seems nothing cannot be monetized by the Cubs business managers.
