The Cubs have reached an agreement with the Justice Department requiring the team to remediate Wrigley Field by improving accessibility and sight lines for disabled patrons throughout the ballpark — from the bleachers to the premium club seats.
The consent decree, filed Thursday in Chicago federal court, settles a two-year-old lawsuit brought by the U.S. attorney’s office alleging the renovation of Wrigley Field violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by relegating fans who use wheelchairs to some of the worst seats in the house.
The team issued a statement Thursday denying the allegations, but touting the agreement as a step forward for the ballpark and its disabled patrons.
“The Cubs believe Wrigley Field is ADA compliant,” the team said in its statement. “Nonetheless, the Consent Decree reflects a joint commitment to achieving greater accessibility at the Friendly Confines. Wrigley Field is more accessible today than ever in its history and we are pleased to have come to this resolution with the Department of Justice.”
Completed in 2019, the Cubs’ $1 billion, five-year renovation of Wrigley Field, dubbed the 1060 Project, modernized the century-old ballpark with bleachers expansion, outfield video boards, an expanded grandstand concourse, new restrooms and other amenities.
But the federal lawsuit, filed in December 2022 after a yearslong investigation, alleged the extensive renovation failed to provide wheelchair users and others with disabilities adequate sight lines or proper access to the ballpark and its amenities.
The consent decree addresses those concerns with a variety of improvements the Cubs have agreed to make throughout the ballpark, including adding wheelchair spaces and companion seats into premium club areas at the front of the grandstand, providing front-row access for disabled fans.
The Cubs will also beef up wheelchair access in the bleachers, including two designated spaces and companion seats in the Batter’s Eye area in the centerfield section. In addition, the team has agreed to improve access everywhere from the parking areas to the bathrooms.
As part of the agreement, employees and contractors who deal with patrons will undergo ADA training before each of the next three baseball seasons. The team is also required to promote the availability of wheelchair-accessible seats over the next three years.
The settlement and proposed consent decree are pending final approval in federal court. The Cubs will be required to submit regular written reports over the next four years detailing compliance with the accessibility measures agreed to in the settlement.
If any future alterations to Wrigley Field affect the designated wheelchair spaces, the team must also submit plans in advance for federal approval, to ensure the changes meet ADA requirements and the consent decree.
While the federal lawsuit has been settled, the Cubs are still navigating a previous lawsuit brought by a fan alleging the renovated Wrigley Field was less accessible than the old ballpark.
In 2017, Chicago attorney David A. Cerda filed a lawsuit against the team on behalf of his son, David F. Cerda, a lifelong Cubs fan who uses a wheelchair due to muscular dystrophy. The lawsuit alleged the extensive Wrigley rebuild did not provide enough accessible seating to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Cubs scored a win in Chicago federal court in June 2023 after a judge ruled the $1 billion, multiyear renovation of Wrigley Field did not violate accessibility requirements for fans using wheelchairs. But Cerda filed an appeal in July 2023, and that case is ongoing.
The team declined to comment Thursday on the pending litigation.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
