Today the Chicago Cubs announced their summer concert series and promotional schedule for the Wrigley Field bleachers. They sent out a vanilla release, the kind you would receive from any giant corporation, simply listing and hyping their events. Sounds, although Darren Rovellian, still innocent enough, right?
Not exactly. the Chicago Cubs bleacher reconstruction project has been delayed a couple times and it’s well behind schedule.
The Cubs said cold weather out bleacher construction behind schedule, as work could not be done when temperatures dropped below 10 degrees. Although December was quite mild, and January was pretty mild most of the time, Chicago suffered through its coldest February ever, and the first week of March was brutally cold as well.
It’s so Cublike that they weren’t prepared for a bone-chilling winter in Chicago and unable to adjust accordingly. The left field bleachers are now expected to open finally by May 11, with the right field bleachers expected to be ready by June hopefully. That is of course dependent on no further delays from any unexpected problems.
So it’s a bit Cub like of them to announce their Bleacher Friday promotions today, when the the bleachers themselves won’t be ready until midseason.
Chicago Cubs Bleacher Friday themes include a Beach Bash (May 29), Country Day (June 12), Red, White and Brew (July 3), ‘90s Day (Aug. 21) and Singles and Doubles Day (Sept. 18).
This year’s schedule is headlined by a post-game Extra Innings Show featuring Fitz & The Tantrums, a modern pop combo known for their chart-topping hits including “Fool’s Gold”, “Out Of My League” and “The Walker.” The band will perform from the field shortly after the Cubs host the White Sox July 10 at Wrigley Field.
So we’ll see if the Chicago Cubs can get their act together and make this happen. When I first heard the name “Fitz and the Tantrums,” I thought it was actually Mick McCall and Mike Hankwitz’s underground thrash metal band.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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