Like many of you, I read the stories about the proposed Wrigley Field renovations today, and while I would miss the experience of seeing baseball played, more or less, the same way as it was 100 years ago without much in the way of advertising, video boards, and other on field promotions, I think these changes make sense for the Cubs.

It's interesting to me the negative reaction I'm seeing from alot of Cub fans. I've often thought, in many ways, a large number of Cub fans are more fans of the Wrigley Field experience than they are of the Cubs. That is certainly their right, and given the teams relative futility over the last 105 years, I can't say I blame them.

Living in Omaha, with no Major League team of our own, I know a large number of Cub fans.  So, I asked a few Cub fans today to choose between these two hypothetical extremes....

Would your prefer the Cubs to stay at a perfectly maintained and unaltered Wrigley Field for the next 100 years with zero World Series Championships?

Or

Would you prefer Wrigley Field to be razed and the Cubs to build a brand new, ultra modern field in Rosemont, IL, with the guarantee that the Cubs would not only break their 105 year World Series drought, but would win 3 World Series Championships in the first decade at the new ballpark?

Obviously, these are very rudimentary black and white questions. The reality of what ends up happening will not fall into one or two hypothetical outcomes; however, based on the small sample of answers I received from people I know, the answer was unanimous: A relatively un tampered with Wrigley Field is more important than the on field success. Also, they indicated they have no interest in things like video boards as it would fundamentally alter the gameday experience in a negative way.

While I like the old time field of Wrigley, I'm really interested in seeing these changes come to fruition. I have no interest in seeing the Cubs relocate to Rosemont, and would see it as a total failure of leadership on all levels between both the City of Chicago and the Chicago Cubs. I see that outcome as so remote, it barely even merits a long discussion.

It's fascinating.  Outside of maybe Red Sox fans and their love of Fenway Park, I can't think of another fanbase that bases as much of its cultural identity on their ballpark as Cub fans.  As a Cardinals fan, I've never had that feeling about a ballpark.  Busch III is beautiful.  I love it.  Yet, the Cardinals could tear it to the ground tomorrow and build another one and I'd be fine with it as long as they kept winning championships.  This is going to be a difficult fight for the Cubs ownership group.

It's interesting to see just how much the sentiment of the fanbase seems to gravitate towards the status quo; however, I don't believe the concerns of the fanbase will ultimately stop change from happening especially when it comes to a massive video board. When 29 of 30 franchises in baseball are reaping the monetary rewards that video boards can provide, it's hard to think that the Cubs will escape the inevitable addition for too much longer. This is not a decision that's made with the interests of season ticket holders in mind. This is a decision that's made for the sake of the Cubs, Budweiser, TD Ameritrade, United Airlines, Pepsi, etc.

The biggest sticking point is obviously the video board and especially the likliehood that it will block the views of several of the rooftops. I'd hate to see that happen, but outside of replacing the manual scoreboard in center field (which is a landmark in and of itself), I don't see a way around that.

The rest of the renovations seem to make a ton of sense. I've often wondered if the Cubs futility is in any way connected to the lack of modern amenities for the players at Wrigley Field. This renovation includes new clubhouses for the players, new training facilities, and new office space for team executives. Facilities don't guarantee anything, but I'm sure it would be a welcome change to the team and staff and it might help sway a potential free agent who perhaps never wanted to play at Wrigley because of the poor facilities.

Beyond scoreboards and clubhouses, I'm also exicted to see the exterior or Wrigley refurbished with the restoration of windows that had previously been covered. On my last trip to Wrigley Field in 2012, I honestly thought the ballpark appeared dingy inside and out. This is much needed.

So, what do you think? I'm especially interested in hearing from Cub fans, but anyone that has made a ballpark pilgrimage to Wrigley can chime in.

How do you feel about the renovations? good, bad, indifferent?

What would you change about the proposals?

What do you think will ultimately happen?

For Cub fans, feel free to answer my silly hypothetical questions from above, because I find it interesting to see how you weigh your fandom for the team vs. your love of Wrigley Field.