“The Cubs unveiled the new Park at Wrigley on Monday, complete with red brick, purple hyacinth, green grass, some seating, a new merchandise store and a place for the 2016 World Series trophy.

The Park is located east of Wrigley Field, and it is designed as a year-round gathering place, not just a meeting place on Cubs game days.”

“After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts attended, families sat on the grass and the benches surrounding the park as children bounced a basketball and played with other kids. A live band entertained attendees with songs such as, “Go Cubs, Go” and set the scene before tonight’s game.

Natalie believes The Park, which is scheduled to host movies and farmer’s markets over the summer, is a great family-oriented addition to the neighborhood and to the “Cubs game experience.”

“Once you’ve come here, you’ll never get a different experience at a different ballpark,” Natalie said. “The atmosphere tonight is going to be just like how it was on one of the World Series games.”

“Kenney and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts addressed the crowd to praise the progress of the 1060 Project, which began in October 2014 and still has about three years to go. Kenney in particular addressed the myriad “challenges” the team faced in getting the plaza completed, and the work still left to be done.

“When we kicked this project off in 2014, the mayor made clear the city could not give us the kind of financial support the White Sox got in rebuilding Comiskey Park, or the Bears got in rebuilding Soldier Field,” Kenney said, getting some laughs from the crowd. “What he did promise was to help clear away unnecessary restrictions and allow our business to compete on a level playing field.”

“Despite a somber gray sky and occasional sprinkles, fans were able to relive the franchise’s first championship since 1908 before the home opener against the Dodgers, thanks to The Park at Wrigley, a plaza that opened Monday afternoon and abuts the still-being-renovated stadium on North Clark Street.

A large video screen on the team’s new office building facing the plaza showed the Cubs’ historic 10-inning victory against the Indians at Progressive Field and showed off part of the third phase of the $750 million Project 1060. Fans again cheered Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run and bemoaned Rajai Davis‘ tying shot.”