As you know, Wrigley Field is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Sunday night's season opener (STL 3, CHC 0) was played without bleachers -- the still under construction bleachers were covered with an Ernie Banks tribute -- with several other stadium features and amenities were unavailable as well.
Unfortunately, the renovations led to incredibly long bathroom lines Opening Night. Here's proof from some folks at the game:
This is out of control #WrigleyField no bathrooms @Cubs pic.twitter.com/SxzrxoBYjW
— Justin Baumann (@justinbaumann) April 6, 2015
From a friend at wrigley. These are the lines for the bathroom. Ouch. Looks like the renovation hasn't gone so well. pic.twitter.com/heeUH2Rdab
— Craig Mac (@CraigMac) April 6, 2015
#Cubs have a bathroom issue. Men's restroom line stretches 4 sections on both sides of upper deck. #WrigleyField pic.twitter.com/hK2F1IQWfQ
— Jeremy Shermak (@JeremyShermak) April 6, 2015
Things got so bad the Cubs started sending fans to the local business around the ballpark to cut down on the bathroom lines:
Cubs are sending people to neighboring businesses to use the bathroom with passes. Line wraps the concourse.
— Patrick Monaghan (@pkmonaghan) April 6, 2015
And, well, some fans improvised in other ways:
I'm rather certain this is not flat beer. pic.twitter.com/UCEjhDoi0A
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 6, 2015
Ewwwww.
The Cubs have already apologized for the long lines. Here's what spokesman Julian Green told CBS Chicago:
“Opening Day at Wrigley Field has always brought challenges with wait times and tonight was particularly extreme. Two bathrooms in the upper deck went down temporarily forcing fans downstairs where we already were experiencing issues with long wait times,” Green said in an email. “With 35,000 fans showing up in the ballpark tonight, we were simply not prepared to handle guests during peak periods. We have high standards for service and we missed the mark tonight.”
Green also said the Cubs plan to add more portable toilets moving forward, though that will only help so much. Until the bleachers re-open and the extensive renovations are finished later this summer, the bathroom situation at Wrigley Field is going to be a real hassle.
