Plans for Wrigley Field renovation go to final vote

CHICAGO >> Chicago’s City Council was set Wednesday to give a final vote on a $500 million renovation of historic Wrigley Field that includes its first massive Jumbotron, improved facilities for the players in the bowels of the 99-year-old ballpark and a hotel across the street.

Under the plan, the Chicago Cubs would erect a 5,700-squarefoot electronic Jumbotron in left field above the ivy-covered outfield walls that is roughly three times as large as the iconic manual scoreboard in center field, as well as another large advertising sign in right field.

The Cubs, which waited decades to install lights at Wrigley, have been pushing for renovations since the Ricketts family bought the team in 2009. After an effort to get public help for the project failed, the Cubs said the team would fund the entire renovation — but it needed the signs and the advertising revenue they would generate to help pay for it.

The City Council’s vote comes a day after the council’s zoning committee signed off on the deal with the blessing of the alderman whose ward includes the ballpark.