In an effort to boost revenues from ticket sales, the Cubs announced this week that 2,000 "short center field" box seats would be added to Wrigley Field this season.

"For generations, Cubs fans have enjoyed live baseball from the most intimate of settings, thanks to the close proximity of Wrigley Field's seats to the field of play," said Tribune SVP Crane Kenney. "Well, get ready, because it's about to get a whole lot more intimate."

According to Kenney, the new seating area--known as Section 00--will be located on the shallow center field grass just behind second base.

"While unorthodox," he said, "Cubs fans should applaud the project because all new monies generated from the resulting revenue spike will be pumped directly into the team payroll to the benefit of the ballclub, although some funds may be diverted into various non-roster
expense accounts."

Under amended Wrigley Field ground rules, batted balls that land in Section 00 will be deemed "ground rule singles."

Section 00 will be designated as an alcohol-free family section, according to team sources, because "having beer and liquor regularly carted across the outfield isn't a good idea, especially with Lou Piniella under contract through 2009."

From the January 2008 issue by Louie Lazar