Ricketts says he'll lead off with repairs to Wrigley Field

100TH ANNIVERSARY | Plan is to pursue 2014 All-Star Game

Now that Tom Ricketts has control of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, he has plans to make immediate upgrades to the ballpark that turns 100 years old in 2014. Enough upgrades, he hopes, that Major League Baseball will agree to hold the 2014 All-Star Game at Wrigley.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Sun-Times before taking control of the team, Ricketts confirmed ticket prices will rise in 2010 but vowed to retain as much of the history at Wrigley Field as possible. And he has no immediate plans to sell naming rights to the old ballpark or install a JumboTron for now.

"We intend to preserve the ballpark and improve it," Ricketts said. "It's a special place, and hopefully, when we all bring our kids or grandkids here, they are going to have that same experience when they walk up the stairs as people have today and have had for many years.

"Away from the bowl or away from the seating, you step back, go down the stairs and go, 'Wow, this could get better.' There are a lot of things that we can address in the offseason. We can look at more washrooms, we can look at some of the congestion on the concourses, we can look at a few other things that will make it a little easier for fans in the short run.

"But in the long run, what we have to do -- and that's a big part of next year -- is just sitting down and putting together a five- to seven-year plan on what we are going to do each and every offseason to improve the stadium."

A big part of the upgrade will involve the surrounding area, where Ricketts hopes to open restaurants, retail shops and a Cubs hall of fame that would be open year-round.

"Area-wise, you will have more options and more flexibility of things to do once you get here," Ricketts said. "We also want people to drop by on a non-game day and have something for them to do. We've talked about the triangle building; it's not just that. There are other buildings in the area we would like to take a look at using more effectively. When you build in something like a Cubs hall of fame, something for kids in the triangle building, you just bring in more value to the whole experience of coming here."

All of this, of course, means higher ticket prices.

"Ticket prices, nothing's really been determined for next year, but I think it's safe to say they will go up some," Ricketts said.

Though previous owner Sam Zell seemed opened to the idea of selling naming rights, Ricketts -- a Cubs fan at heart -- likes the idea of retaining the name Wrigley Field.

Just as important to some purists is keeping Wrigley a JumboTron-free zone. Ricketts has no immediate plans for a giant television screen.

"There are no plans to do that," he said. "If it got to the point that it made sense, or we could figure it out, I would take a look at it.

"There's a special feeling to Wrigley that you want to really respect. It is a special place, and I don't think that Kiss Cam would do anything for us."