Cubs to immediately begin Wrigley renovation

CHICAGO -- The Cubs will begin work this weekend on the Wrigley Field renovation plan, which starts with the expansion of the bleachers and installation of a video scoreboard in left field.

The Cubs play their last home game of the season on Wednesday night.

Cubs spokesman Julian Green said Tuesday the bleachers, the scoreboard and a Budweiser see-through sign in right field will be in place for the start of the 2015 season as well as five other signs to be installed behind the bleachers. The center-field area of the bleachers, which includes the manually operated scoreboard, will be updated, but it will not be part of the first phase of the renovation, which is projected to take four years.

Construction work will begin on the home clubhouse, but that will not be finished until Opening Day 2016. Work will continue on that area throughout the 2015 season. The bullpens will be moved underneath the bleachers in 2016 as well as upgraded batting cages.

Sheffield and Waveland Avenues, which border the Wrigley Field bleachers, will be closed to traffic once construction begins.

The City of Chicago has already been preparing the area for the renovation work.