With the roads fairly clear this afternoon, I stopped by Wrigley to see the progress they had made. The upright posts -- not sure what you'd call them -- where they slide the glass in, were up today. I'm not quite sure what the contraption is in photo #3, which is in the right field corner. The last photo is of the refrigeration unit and pipes, which are parked on Waveland behind the LF bleachers.
I also learned today that the rink is actually a bit closer to the infield than the original plan -- center ice will be almost exactly on second base, and the near boards will be just short of the pitcher's mound.
Click on photos to open a larger version in a new browser window. Taken at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Friday, December 19, 2008, approximately 2 pm CST. All photos by Al
0 recs | 17 comments
Looks like they're gonna have extra
high glass around the rink-ends; not sure if those will self support the glass or if they have to be reinforced on the outer side of the rink. Doubt they’ll have to put that silly netting around the rink ends like the indoor rinks are configured.
Based on the original renderings, I had thought centre ice would be just on the home plate side of second and the near boards going up to just about the mound (rink is 85’ wide).
Those look like some nice sized water lines coming in. Think I calculated about 21,000 gallons of water needed to get a nice surface. Not sure though how much thicker – if at all – this rink would be than the standard indoor configuration.
Wonder if that RF contraption (is there one in LF too?) is for a semi-protected area for people to walk through while providing a back drop for advertising.
blackhawk24 - December 19, 2008
The ice will be
2 inches thick I think, and a normal NHL rink is 3/4 inch thick. I remember reading this a while ago, so it might not be 100% accurate, but I know the ice will be almost double the normal thickness.
The frame in the 3rd photo looks like the roof of a tent or something like that, maybe for one of the broadcasts
stadiumguru - December 19, 2008
There is only one "contraption" as far as I can tell.
But you’re right, it may be for advertising.
Al Yellon - December 19, 2008
AL
Thanks for the pictures and providing me a very needed distraction something to take my mind off things this afternoon.
puckishcubsfan - December 19, 2008
Refrigeration???
The cold temps won’t keep the rink frozen on its own?
calicubfan - December 19, 2008
Consistent temps.
It does occasionally warm up in Chicago during the winter – I remember one late December – back when I still lived there – with temps in the low 50’s late into the month.
Soft ice is bad ice.
MN exile - December 19, 2008
My brother
the day my brother was born 12/30/79 it was something like 65.
puckishcubsfan - December 19, 2008
And 3 days later
And 3 days later when they brought him home it was below zero.
puckishcubsfan - December 19, 2008
Could be 50 that day
This year, though not on the 1st, Jan 6th and 7th had temps in the 60’s here in Chi-town. It was so warm on that Monday night, I had my car out of storage just so I could drive in 60-degree weather on a January evening.
blackhawk24 - December 21, 2008
AND 2 DAYS LATER
It could be back up to 65 again…….
cubs north - December 19, 2008
Today's update
on NHL.com said they would be “recreating” the ivy on the OF wall. That may be the purpose of much of the scaffolding visible in several of those shots.
znohitter - December 19, 2008
That's probably exactly what the scaffolding is for.
Thanks for the update.
Al Yellon - December 20, 2008
Al, wondering what your thoughts are on the Cubs' FA singing
I know the hockey is going on at wrigley *a cool thing.
I wondered if you could rate the chances of landing the following guys:
Bradley
Abreau
longshot – Ramirez
Dunn
Thanks Al
scottsdalecubs - December 19, 2008
Manny won't be coming here.
Bradley, we’ve talked to death. Personally, I don’t want him — too much injury risk, too much $ for a guy who’s likely to miss 40 games a year.
Abreu, I kind of like. Adam Dunn would be horrible defensively, but we know how he can hit. He could be moved to 1B when D-Lee’s contract is up.
What are the chances? I think Jason Marquis’ contract has to be moved first to clear some payroll room.
Al Yellon - December 20, 2008
Al, the metal posts are called stanchions
and there is a bit on controversy about them. Seamless glass has been a trend (no stanchions, just clear clips on top of the glass – think of sitting behind home plate, and looking through the netting – this seamless glass gets rid of the obstruction), but players claim it is a harder barrior to be hit into. Vancouver recently put in clear acrylic stanchions (rather than aluminium) as a compromise…
Moose
moose97 - December 20, 2008
Interesting.
Thanks for the info!
Al Yellon - December 20, 2008
Also, a reason
that the seamless glass is “harder,” is that with stanchions, you use plexi-glass, but with the seamless, you have to use tempered glass. The plexi has more “give” to it, while the tempered has less. There also have been more instances of broken glass with the seamless (tempered) than with the stanchions (plexi). Because of the “give,” there isn’t enough strength in the glass to support them with no stanchions and just the clips.
I’m sure you know what standard rink with standard aluminium stanchions looks like. Here’s what the clips look like, if you’ve never seen them:
[IMG]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/310976270_192a5b1bb8.jpg?v=0[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.iceassociates.co.uk/supplies/sportsystems/images/seamless1.jpg[/IMG]
And here’s the “clear” stanchions in Vancouver:
[IMG]http://www.plasticsmag.com/article_images/cyro3ma04_ma04.JPG[/IMG]
Moose
moose97 - December 20, 2008
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