Associated Press 20y

Some repairs characterized as 'shoddy'

Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO -- City officials ordered a new round of inspections
at Wrigley Field on Thursday and threatened to block Monday night's
game if the team can't prove the ballpark is safe.

The Cubs have until noon Monday to show that 90-year-old Wrigley is safe.

Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek said he ordered the review
after a reporter noted during an interview Wednesday that some
repairs at the ballpark were "shoddy."

"I said that certainly the reports we received from the Cubs
don't indicate that," Kaderbek said, but he said he was concerned
enough that he ordered new inspections.

Chunks of concrete have fallen from Wrigley Field's upper deck
on at least three occasions since June, forcing stadium officials
to install nets to protect Cubs fans and to conduct full
inspections of the upper deck and mezzanine levels in July.

Kaderbek said the Cubs have until noon Monday to show that
90-year-old Wrigley is safe.

"If we can't get independent verification, to my satisfaction,
that the repairs were made and that they were made correctly, and
that it is not an issue of shoddy workmanship, we will not have a
game on Monday night at Wrigley Field," he said.

The Cubs are scheduled to play the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday
night.

A spokesman for the Tribune Co., which owns the Cubs and the
ballpark, referred all calls on the matter to the team. A phone
message left with the Cubs was not immediately returned Thursday
afternoon.

The Cubs said two separate reports have concluded the ballpark
is safe. The team also said it would comply with the city's
request.

"If the city chooses to make further inspections, it will find
what two structural engineers have already found -- Wrigley Field is
safe and sound," the team said in a statement.

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