CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s the second most visited tourist attraction in Chicago.
Roughly 4 million people pass through Wrigley Field every year. It is one of Chicago’s most coveted sites.
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On busy nights at the ballpark, its rare location at an intersection that makes it unusually vulnerable.
Now, a rare joint private-public partnership will fund a tens of millions of dollars in security upgrades.
Wrigley Field is parked at the literal crossroads of private land, a city street, and a state-run road.
“Clark is a city street. Addison is a state owned street,” said President Chicago Cubs Business Operations Crane Kenney.
The iconic intersection of Clark and Addison makes the Friendly Confines something of joint turf, not entirely Cubs property.
And it’s unusually exposed, says Kenney, “If people had had sort of mischief on their minds, they could, they could cause some problems here.”
Chicago police roll out temporary steel bollards around the ballpark before games and concerts.
The former second-in-command of the Secret Service in Chicago, who is also an ABC7 law enforcement expert says that is not nearly enough.
“Expanding a secure perimeter significantly enhances safety, whether you’re protecting the president or ensuring public safety,” stated Derek Mayer, now the Vice President of Executive Protection at P4.
This joint public-private partnership helped Wrigley Field get the 2027 All-Star Game, insiders told the I-Team.
The $32.1 million enhancement project will cover the installation of anti-terrorism rated removable bollards around the park and Wrigley Field, the expansion of sidewalks along Addison, and the relocation of light poles and other necessary utility work.
From the $32 million budget, the state of Illinois will contribute $12 million, while both the Cubs organization and the city of Chicago will each allocate approximately $10 million.
Anything more than that, plus maintenance, will fall to the Cubs.
Some people say $10 million is a lot of money for a city that’s strapped.
“We’re also making improvements on the public thoroughfare, which are city-owned assets that the Cubs will maintain,” explained 44th Ward Alderman Bennett Lawson to the I-Team.
“In comparison, Cobb County granted the Braves $500 million to develop their new facilities. We received no public funding for our ballpark,” remarked Kenney.
Now the city, state, and Cubs will pay $32 million for physical barriers as an insurance policy they say will also pay off, financially.
“In Atlanta, All-Star Week attracted between 60,000 to 70,000 visitors, generating an economic impact exceeding $100 million. Given we’re in a larger market, I anticipate our impact would be at least on par, if not greater,” Lawson mentioned.
The security construction will be done during the two off-seasons before the 2027 All-Star Game.
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