cubs neighborhood report 2011

7/31/2019 Cubs Neighborhood Report 2011

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NEIGHBORHOODp p

2011


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Dear eighbors:

Thank you for your tremendous support of the Chicago Cubs in 2011. Each year, we areproud to share with the community our efforts aimed at helping to enhance the quality

of life of Lakeview residents, while ensuring the fan and visitor experience inside and

outside Wrigley Field is the best in baseball.

We kept this commitment in 2011 and through our annual investment of more than

$750,000, we reduced trafc congestion in the area, proactively communicated

to residents about events and activities in the neighborhood and helped keep our

community clean and safe.

We also made some notable achievements in 2011 which are highlighted below.

Nearly 50,000 fans took the free shuttle to Wrigley Field from the remote

parking lot at DeVry University helping alleviate trafc.

More than 6,000 bicyclists took advantage of the free valet service during theregular baseball season.

Reached more than 8,000 subscribers with our neighborhood newsletter whichincluded regular updates about activities inside and outside the ballpark.

The Chicago Cubs also continued our support of CubFund, a $1 million, 12-year

commitment by the team to fund unanticipated neighborhood protection and

improvements for matters related to Cubs baseball games and other events at Wrigley

Field. To date, the Cubs have donated more than $800,000 to the fund.

We are also proud of our investments in the community. In 2011, the Chicago Cubs

provided charitable grants of more than $1.9 million to deserving area non-prot

organizations. The team also donated 60,000 tickets to nearly 400 community and

social service organizations throughout the year.

We continue to actively participate in community organizations and activities, while

working hard to address concerns and issues raised by neighbors.

Thank you for your help long the way. We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

Julian Green

Vice President, Communications and Community Affairs


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REmOtE PaRkING

OPERatIONIn the eight years since the Cubs assumed operation

of the remote parking lot at DeVry University at the

request of the City of Chicago, the parking lot has

continually experienced overwhelming success.

During the 2011 season, which includes 52 night

and weekend games and two concert dates,

nearly 17,000 cars parked at DeVry University and

more than 46,000 fans rode the free shuttle to

Wrigley Field.

Every car using the remote parking facility helps

reduce trafc congestion around Wrigley Field. The

Cubs are required to pay the City a penalty tax on

total revenue because fewer than 1,000 cars use the

lot. In 2011, the Cubs paid a penalty tax of $73,634

to the City of Chicago. In addition, the operation of

the lot costs the Cubs more than $100,000 a year.

This season the remote parking lot was operational

for 54 dates including every Cubs night and

weekend game during the season and the two

musical performances.

Highlights of the year include:

Total cars parked: 16,997.

Total fans using the lot: 46,109.

Average number of cars per night game(regular season): 297.4.

Average number of cars for all games(regular season): 308.25.

Average number of cars for Sunday games(regular season):356.91.

Largest single game usage: 515 cars.

Largest concert usage: 524 cars.

The Cubs created television and radio advertising

for the remote parking facility to help encourage

its use. The advertising highlighted its convenient

location and affordability. Cubs season ticket

holders and online purchasers were sent

information with their ticket orders before the

2011 season began. Fans could also download

information about the remote facility from the

Cubs Web site, www.cubs.com. Brochures

explaining the shuttle bus and other transportation

options were distributed by hotels in and around

the Chicago area. Transportation alternatives were

also suggested on the back of season parking and

daily sale coupons for all Cubs parking lots.

The team and the City worked together to continue

use of the electronic message boards on Western

Avenue, Irving Park Road and Addison Street, near

Rockwell to promote the remote parking facility.

These signs were in place for all night and weekendgames at locations adjacent to City streets. Static

signage on many streets in the area, as well as

on the Edens and Kennedy expressways, further

helped direct cars to the lot.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

April May June July August September

2011DeVryRiderShipAverage

2011

2010

2009

2011

NEI G HBO RHO O D PRO T EC T I O N REPO RT


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BIkE CHECk SERvICEIn 2011, the Chicago Cubs once again offered its

popular free bicycle check service from its valet

location on Clark Street, just north of Waveland

Avenue. The bike check operated throughout the

regular season and continued for all event dates at

Wrigley Field, including musical performances. Bike

service began three hours before the scheduled

event time and ended one hour after the conclusion

of the event. A total of 6,063 bikes used the free

service during the regular baseball season.

This free bike check service continues to host a

regular clientele of riders and continues to be a

major contributor to reductions in vehicular trafc

in the community. In addition to the Cubs ofcial

bicycle check service area, hundreds of fans locked

their bikes to one of the many bicycle racks around

the park. Many Cubs employees and vendors

serving the ballpark also used the bike valet service.

tRaffIC maNaGEmENt

autHORItyThe Ofce of Emergency Management and

Communications Trafc Management Authority

was again instrumental in working with the Cubs

and the community to reduce trafc congestion

and coordinate trafc ow during events. The

exibility of TMA personnel is key to addressing

shifting trafc needs. The number of TMA

personnel increased or decreased, as attendance

varied and trafc patterns changed, or with

availability of staff. Typically 48-49 trafc aidesare posted in the streets around Wrigley Field to

control vehicular trafc for event dates. The Cubs

reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of TMA

trafc aides. In 2011, the total payment through

September 19 was $383,448.40.

The following trafc pattern ideas have been

offered by neighbors and businesses during the

course of the season. Each should be evaluated as a

way to determine best practices to address Cubs-

related trafc around Wrigley Field:

Stop trafc on Shefeld Avenue for all

games beginning when stadium gates opentwo hours prior to game time.

Stop NB trafc on Racine (from Addison toGrace) in the 30 minutes after each game.

Objective: Help keep NB Clark Street clear

for bus trafc.

Night Games Coordinate trafc signalson Irving Park WB to Western Avenue after

games. Objective: Keep WB Irving Park

available for cars headed to expressway.

Note: Must x the stoplight at Southport

and Irving Park so it coordinates.

Night Games and weekend games Facilitate a bus lane on NB Clark Street

from Waveland to Irving Park. Objective:

Smooth post-game trafc ow.

Stoplights at the intersection of Clark Streetwith both School and Roscoe streets to

replace the stop signs.

2011 Bike Check Monthly Totals

452

1,119

1,3991,228

1,362

503

April

May

June

July

August

September


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The City of Chicago implemented an offset

centerline on Westbound Irving Park Road between

Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. The new striping

allows two lanes of Westbound trafc at all times

and should help facilitate trafc exiting the area

after stadium events. The Cubs supported this

effort. The two westbound lanes are an asset to

assist trafc operations.

PROmOtION

Of altERNatE

tRaNSPORtatIONThe Chicago Cubs continue to use valuable

television and radio broadcast time and print

advertising to promote public transportation and

alternate means of getting to the ballpark, including

CTA, Pace, the remote parking lot at DeVry

University and the bike valet operation. Brochures

mentioning these services have been printed and

distributed for the past eight years.

he following assisted with trafc issues in 2011,

romoting alternate means of transortation and

other ways to reach the Friendly onnes:

In-game announcement during Cubstelevision and radio broadcasts.

Promotion of CTA service on WrigleyField scoreboard.

In-park announcements during games.

Detailed information available at all times

on cubs.com.

Printed brochures distributed to hotelsand other visitor venues.

PERmItSOn July 1, 2008, in an effort to increase the

availability of parking for the residents of the 44th

and 46th Wards, Residential Parking Zone 383

replaced the LV2 Night Game Parking Program

on most streets between Broadway on the east,

Ashland Avenue on the west, Belmont Avenue on

the south, and Irving Park Road on the north. The

Residential Permit Parking Ordinance was amended

to add towing protection for night baseball

between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. As a result

of these changes, residents in Residential Permit

Parking Zone 383 do not qualify for LV-2 Parking

Passes. LV2 Parking Passes are only valid in areas

designated as LV-2 Zones. These changes have

signicantly reduced the printing costs. Printing

costs for the Neighborhood Night Game Parking

Permit stickers, guest vehicle placards (Single

Game and All Game Placards) and Access Passes

in LV-2 zones are the responsibility of the Chicago

Cubs. In 2011, the Cubs paid $5,351.22 for the Citys

permit program.

2011



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CHICaGO tRaNSIt

autHORItyFan surveys during the 2011 season found

signicate numbers of Cubs fans took CTA and

other forms of public transportation. Additional

rail service was provided for weeknight Cubs

games via southbound Purple Line Express trains,

which stop at Sheridan; and Yellow Line trains,

which operate two hours later than the regular

schedule from Howard. Cubs fans can also

access detailed information published in the Cubs

monthly magazine, Vine Line and Cubs Yearbook.Information was also provided to season ticket

holders and other ticket purchasers.

Fans can also access Wrigley Field from several

CTA bus routes, including #8 Halsted, #22 Clark

and #152 Addison. Riders traveling to the game

on the Purple line often use the Sheridan station

located one block north of Wrigley Field. Season

ticket holders as well as online purchasers were

sent information about public transportation with

their ticket orders before the 2011 season began.

Brochures explaining transportation options weresent to local hotels in and around the Chicago area.

Transportation alternatives were suggested on the

back of daily parking coupons for all Cubs parking

lots. Information on public transportation and

remote parking at DeVry was also placed in all Cubs

game-day programs.

PaCEUse of the Pace bus program was very strong

during the 2011 season. In part, this was due to

the promotion on radio broadcasts and in Wrigley

Field. Pace operated its Schaumburg shuttle from

the Northwest Transportation Center and a non-

stop shuttle service from the Yorktown Shopping

Center in Lombard, Illinois. Up to six buses are

staged on Clark Street and ready for the return trip

one half hour after the last out of the game. The

service is well received by Pace users and offersa convenient way to get to Wrigley Field from the

western suburbs on most game days and all night

and weekend games. In 2011, the ridership on

the Wrigley Field Express from Schaumburg was

25,797, and ridership from Lombard was 14,662 for

a combined total of 40,459 Pace riders.

2011



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lIttER, tRaSH

REmOvalAmong the efforts undertaken by ubs in 2011:

Picked up trash after games and followingmorning.

Emptied trash bins around the park duringgames.

Power-washed sidewalks immediatelyadjacent to Wrigley Field (north side of

Addison Street, west side of Shefeld Avenue,south side of Waveland Avenue, east side of

Clark Street) at least once per homestand.

These sidewalks adjacent to all Wrigley Field

parking lots owned by Cubs were power

washed several times during the season.

Made in-park announcements during eachgame (e.g., throw away trash in bins before

leaving the park and throw trash only in bins

outside of the park).

Stationed trash bins and personnel at exitsto ask people to deposit trash, non-souvenir

cups, wrappers, etc. in bins before exiting the

park.

Posted signs to remind fans to throw awaytrash in bins before exiting the park and throw

away trash in bins outside the park.

Cleaned area bounded by Clark Street,Shefeld Avenue and Waveland Avenue. This

included emptying garbage bins on opposite

sides of the street.

Emptied public trash bins every Saturday,after each event and on holiday weekends

and other times when City service is lessened

and garbage is increased, even when

unrelated to Cubs games.

Emptied public and Cubs-owned or -placedtrash bins at corners or locations in the area

bounded by Halsted Street, Montrose Avenue,Damen Avenue and Belmont Avenue, and

in the area bounded by Kenmore Avenue

adjacent to Challenger Park and Kelly Park

and Seminary Avenue adjacent to Kelly

Park after Night Games, and in all Cubs (or

afliate) owned-or-operated Wrigley Field

parking lots on all game days (typically three

hours after a game).

Cleaned and swept streets near the park,including Shefeld, Wilton, Fremont, Grace,

Waveland, Racine, Seminary, Kenmore,

Clifton, Alta Vista, Byron, Patterson, Eddy and

Cornelia.

Hand cleaned neighborhood usingCleanstreet on Saturdays when the team is

away.

Offered a recycling program around theexterior of the ballpark.

Neighborhood clean up and trashremoval was performed by Cubs

staff and By the Cleanstreet crew.

After each game, Cubs operations crews began their work

approximately three to four hours after the game ended.The crews worked three zones dressed in bright shirtsidentifying them as Cubs Night Crew. Each group had ablue dumpster with Cubs logo to help further identify them.The Cubs hired Allied Waste, Inc., to empty public trash binsand additional cans in an area of approximately a two square mileboundary. Halsted, Belmont, Ashland and Montrose are the boundaryarea. This area contained approximately 215 trash containers; all wereemptied after each game as well as selected non game days, including Saturdaysin April through October. Cleaning also took place after all special events.


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GamE tImESCubs played 30 regular season night games in 2011.

No baseball games were scheduled during the Pride

Parade.

The 2012 Cubs schedule is currently available

at www.cubs.com and was made available as a

pocket schedule to fans and residents during the

last homestand. Early notication of the schedule

was found helpful in facilitating neighborhood and

community event planning.

COmmuNICatIONS Sent monthly newsletter and alerts to

municipal entities and neighborhood

leaders during the course of the season.

Communicated with neighbors via e-mailthrough Cubs Community Connection

Reached more than 7,600 who have signedup for regular updates.

In 2011, 782 new subscribers registered forthe newsletter.

Approximately one e-mail per month wassent to provide news and timely information

about activities at Wrigley Field, schedule

changes, etc.

Promoted notice of game time changes.

Continued participation in communitymeetings and neighborhood association

meetings to keep in touch with the

community, stay informed and share

information. Attended more than 75

meetings in 2011.

Worked with members of the Wrigley FieldTrafc Operations Committee before and

during the season to review performance

and share notes and ideas.

Continued neighborhood watch by Cubscrowd management personnel to observe

fans post-game and deter inappropriate

behavior. Following the music performances

this summer, additional private security

teams of off-duty police ofcers were

placed at key intersections until the early

morning hours to further this effort.

To sign up for neighborhood alerts, visitcubs.com/neighbors

Additional Game Day protections

ubs rovided and funded the following in 2011:

Portable restrooms placed in each Cubs-owned or afliated parking lots.

Bleacher restrooms available for one hourafter games.

HOtlINE aND

COmmaND CENtERAt the request of our neighbors, the Cubs funded

a command center and hotline operated by the

Chicago Police Department to address calls fromneighborhood residents during Cubs home games.

This command center is staffed by Chicago Police

and used for roll call for both the CPD detail and

the TMA units. The hotline is operated by Chicago

Police Department personnel.

Game day hotline: 866-4-pD-W ongame days before, during and after thegame.

To contact Cubs about community concernsat other times: 773-404-4175.

For emergencies: Always dial 9-1-1.


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muSICpaul Mcartney Musical performances

On July 31 and Aug 1, Paul McCartney continued

the tradition of great music and entertainment at

Wrigley Field with two sold-out performances. As

a special offer to Lakeview residents, the Cubs

offered an advance online pre-sale opportunity

through the Cubs Community Connection

Newsletter. Thousands took advantage of the pre-

sale opportunity, while several hundred people

opted to enjoy the sounds from Waveland and

Shefeld avenues outside the ballpark.

As a result of the two performances, more than a

half million dollars in taxes were generated for the

City of Chicago and Cook County. Area businesses

reported an increase in business on the nights of

the shows, a big help in a slow economy.

The Cubs stepped up its neighborhood protections

in the community during the shows. Though the

Cubs neighborhood hospitality team remained on

the streets around the park to provide a visible

deterrent to loud noise and disruptive behavior

following each show, concert attendees departedstadium grounds in an orderly and respectful

manner. Neighborhood reports indicated few

issues, mostly related to the need for towing of

illegally parked cars.

The teams collaboration with the Chicago Police

Department, the Ofce of Emergency Management

and Communications and the Trafc Management

Authority, as well as executing pre-event publicity

for public transportation all helped ensure a well-

managed crowd and event. Sound reports indicate

noise levels were within or below the expected

range. There were few complaints, if any, about

trash, noise or any other issue following the events.

Wrigley Field has hosted 11 successful concerts

since 2005. Each concert has been a great for

music lovers, Lakeview residents, Chicago and

the local economy. We are encouraged by the

favorable responses we received in 2011 and hope

to continue the tradition of attracting great events

to keep Wrigley Field a thriving contributor to theexcitement and quality of the Lakeview community

and the City of Chicago.

BlOCk PaRtIESBetween June and August, the Chicago Cubs held

three block parties during the Yankees, White Sox

and Cardinals series, in an effort to improve the

game day fan experience and offer another exciting

event for the Wrigleyville neighborhood. The block

parties attracted more than 1,000 attendees daily

and were free and open to the public. No game

ticket was needed to enter. The events included

food, drinks, family-friendly games and live music

before and after Cubs games.


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2011


Events like the Wrigley Road Tour from Wrigley

Field to Miller Park in Milwaukee brought additional

promotion for safe cycling in Lakeview. With 649

riders from 24 different states and three countries,

the ride helped raised $320,000 for Chicago Cubs

Charities and World Bicycle Relief educational

programs.

COmmuNIty affaIRSIn 2011, Cubs associates participated in more than

75 meetings of community organizations and

served on the boards of neighborhood associations,chambers of commerce and non-prot groups.

Chicago Cubs Charities and the McCormick

Foundation, through its fund Cubs Care, together

granted more than $1.9 million to Chicago non-

prot organizations in 2011.

Cubs fundraising events and donations raised

more than $2.2 million in 2011 representing the

largest amount ever raised. The fth annual Race

to Wrigley 5K hosted more than 7,600 runners

and raised more than $175,000 for Chicago Cubs

Charities and Childrens Memorial Hospital. The

Inaugural Cubs Bricks and Ivy Ball raised more than

$1 million. Other events included: Cubs Convention,Wrigley Field Tours, Wrigley Road Tour, MLB online

auctions, Meet the Team, Have a Ball, Hey Dad,

Wanna Have a Catch? and 50/50 Rafe. The

Cubs also participated in the 2011 Pride Parade

on a Cubs-themed Trolley with team owner Laura

Ricketts. The trolley also appeared at the Bud

Billiken Parade on the South side.

Last January, the Cubs Caravan began its annual

trek with Chicago Cubs players, coaches and front

ofce personnel visiting six cities, two Boys &

Girls clubs, ve elementary schools and two high

schools. The Caravan also made stops at Chicagos

Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the USO ofIllinois at the Great Lakes Naval Academy. The

Caravan stopped in Lakeview, including visits to

Lake View High School, St. Luke Academy, Mt.

Carmel Academy and Burley Elementary School.

In October, the Cubs 11th Annual Wrigleyville

Neighbors Day welcomed more than 1,200

residents to the Friendly Connes for free food and

refreshments and a chance to play catch on the

eld.

The Cubs donated more than 60,000 tickets to

nearly 400 community organizations throughout

the year.

The Cubs wives eighth annual food drive to

benet the Lakeview Pantry took place August 6

and brought in 17,000 pounds of food. The wives

annual food drive helps the Lakeview Pantry tosupply food to those in need and is the Pantrys

largest food drive each year.

Chicago Cubs players and coaches were also

active in the community, visiting hospitals, schools

and taking part in on-eld clinics for charitable

purposes during the year.

The Cubs charitable efforts extended to youth

clinics for wheelchair softball with the Rehabilitation

Institute of Chicago; inner city youth at Wrigley

Field and Little Cubs Field at Humboldt Park; visits

to Childrens Memorial Hospital and Northwestern

Memorial Hospital; ticket donations for youthgroups; fundraising events to benet UNICEF

for Japanese tsunami; and, Dempster Family

Foundation.


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2011


CuBfuND

RECOmmENDatIONSCubFund is a $1 million commitment made by Cubs

to fund unanticipated needs in the community

over a ten year period. The Cubs contributed more

than $148,574 to CubFund for 2010 and the fund

maintains an available, unspent balance of an

anticipated $972,428. CubFund is available to be

used in furtherance of neighborhood protection

and improvement for matters related to Cubs

baseball games and other events at Wrigley Field. It

is intended to fund unanticipated expenses relatedto the impact of Cubs baseball games on the area

surrounding Wrigley Field.

CubFund may be used within the area bounded by

the North Branch of the Chicago River, Diversey

Parkway, Lake Michigan, Buena Avenue, Clark

Street from Buena Avenue to Montrose Avenue

and adjacent blocks, and at or around any remote

parking lots. Uses are determined by the aldermen

of wards neighboring Wrigley Field after input from

the Cubs, the City of Chicago and the community.

During the past few years, a number of suggestions

have been made by Cubs and area residents for

potential uses of CubFund. Among them are:

Additional buses for the remote parking lotto help reduce the time it takes to return to

the lot after games and thereby promote

additional use of the lot.

A trafc study designed to identify themost efcient ways to direct trafc west of

the ballpark after games.

Creation of No Parking zone on NBClark Street following games to facilitate

trafc ow from the neighborhood. This

would take out of commission two pay

boxes, roughly 15 cars for three hours. The

City may need to reimburse its private

parking meter pay-and-display vendor

for the loss of revenue during such hours.

Such reimbursement is a legitimate use of

CubFund dollars.

Increased lighting in the blocks immediatelywest of Wrigley Field.

A private hospitality team to be a deterrenton neighboring streets after night games,

much like the teams used for musical

performances.

Re-naming the Red line Addison el stopCubs-Addison (similar to Sox35th) to

encourage greater use by fans visiting from

out of town.

Crosswalk at Irving Park and Seminary (plusstoplight).

CTA fare card machine for Wrigley Field.

Enhanced or variable message boards.

Update/Replace electronic messageboards.

Additional lighting at Challenger Park.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Cubs

Neighborhood Protection and Improvementprogram and its role in being a good neighbor and

steward in the community. These efforts remain

an important part of the on-going partnership

between the Cubs and our neighbors and will

continue into 2012.

hank you for your hel making these effortsossible. We look forward to seeing you inand around the community in the year ahead.

cubs neighborhood report 2011

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