Cubs manager worries about Wrigley Field concert damage

John Garcia Image
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Wrigley Field concert controversy
The recent concerts at Wrigley Field are hitting a sour note with Cubs manager Joe Maddon and some players as well.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The recent concerts at Wrigley Field are hitting a sour note with Cubs manager Joe Maddon and some players as well.

He says there have been problems with the field ever since the AC/DC concert, including unevenness.

For fans it was a concert for the ages, complete with pyrotechnics and loud music, playing to a full house at Wrigley Field. But the fun came with a cost: the next day trucks were lined up with new sod as crews worked through the night to replace the damaged outfield grass where fans had been sitting.

Some players have complained about the playing surface and Maddon blames the conditions for a potentially costly error by Starlin Castro at second base Monday night.

"AC/DC we've had a little bit of trouble. I don't know if they were out there taking ground balls before the game in, like, nine inch heels and spikes, but they totally messed up our infield," Maddon said. "And it has nothing to do with the groundskeepers."

The Cubs managed to pull out a win despite the error, but the field conditions have sparked a debate about whether Wrigley should host concerts during the season.

"It makes it more fun for the fans," says Alexis Stout. "But then again it could ruin the field conditions with all the equipment out there."

Cubs management has said the millions in profits they make from concerts like AC/DC, Billy Joel and the Zac Brown Band is money they funnel back into the team, but some question whether the rock music could turn into the blues.

"If one guy slips a spike and that makes a difference in the play, is it worth it? I don't think so," says George Bliss.

Joe Maddon made his comments Monday night after his post-game news conference, but by Tuesday he had backed off a little bit, saying in his pre-game news conference that he wishes he could go to some of the concerts himself.