Cubs Plan to Add Nearly 260 Parking Spaces and 3 Signs Overlooking Wrigley Field

The expansion plans need approval from the Chicago Plan Commission.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Chicago Cubs have proposed plans to expand one of their parking lots near Wrigley Field by adding 259 new spaces. The team also wants to install three new advertising signs on buildings it owns across the street from the iconic ballpark. The plans will need to be approved by the Chicago Plan Commission.

Why it matters

The parking lot expansion and new signage are part of the Cubs' efforts to accommodate fans who drive to Wrigley Field, even as the team has seen a decline in the number of fans driving to games in recent years. The plans have drawn some pushback from local residents concerned about increased traffic and the visual impact of the new signs.

The details

The Cubs' parking lot expansion would add the new spaces to their existing Camry lot, which currently has 688 spaces. The team acquired the adjacent Grace Street property from Catholic Charities to enable the expansion. The new signs would be placed on two Cubs-owned buildings across from Wrigley, including one in front of the Wrigley Rooftops bleachers and another in the shape of a silver ball on the roof. A third sign would go on a building down the street. The signs would only be illuminated during games and events.

  • The Cubs presented the expansion and signage plans to the East Lake View Neighbors association on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The team hopes to have the sign plans approved by the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Buildings Standards in time for Opening Day on March 26, 2026.

The players

Chicago Cubs

The professional baseball team that plays its home games at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Will McIntee

The director of government and community affairs for the Chicago Cubs.

Mike Lufrano

The executive vice president of community and legal affairs for the Chicago Cubs.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

The organization that sold its Grace Street property to the Cubs, which was previously home to the House of the Good Shepherd shelter.

Brendan O'Sullivan

The director of government and corporate relations for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

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What they’re saying

“We reached out to Cubs first. We've had conversations over long periods of time. I think they've asked before, and we weren't interested. And we reached back out.”

— Brendan O'Sullivan, Director of government and corporate relations, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

“We do know that fans drive to the ballpark, and the project is really meant to meet the demand of those who do drive and try to prevent those folks from parking in the neighborhood and not necessarily meant to encourage more to drive to the ballpark. We want to continue to see that number of fans that are utilizing alternative methods of transportation continue to rise.”

— Will McIntee, Director of government and community affairs, Chicago Cubs

“If we can't provide them a place to park, they're going to park on neighborhood streets. They're going to park elsewhere in the community. We're not trying to add more cars. We're not adding more fans. We're just giving those who come a place to park.”

— Mike Lufrano, Executive vice president of community and legal affairs, Chicago Cubs

What’s next

The Cubs' parking lot expansion and signage plans will need to be approved by the Chicago Plan Commission before they can move forward.

The takeaway

The Cubs' plans to expand parking and add new signs near Wrigley Field highlight the team's efforts to accommodate fans who drive to games, even as it aims to encourage more public transit use. The proposals have drawn some community pushback, underscoring the ongoing tension between the team's commercial interests and neighborhood concerns.