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How do you honor the group that ended a 108-year World Series title drought?
That’s the question the Chicago Cubs tackled when deciding the best way to recognize the 2016 championship team this summer for the 10th anniversary celebration. The organization eventually settled on the Champions Gate that will be installed at the entrance to Gallagher Way on Clark Street.
Because of the massive size of the gate structure, Cubs fans will see it being installed in the coming weeks. The Champions Gate will be officially revealed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18 as part of the weekend’s celebration to mark 10 years of the 2016 team.
The elements within the Champions Gate tie back to the franchise and Wrigley Field.
Brick pillars are embedded with bronze plaques listing the players and manager from each of the franchise’s three World Series championship teams. The top of the archway features a large bronze medallion to recognize their titles, with a medallion design inspired by the commemorative 2016 World Champions logo the Cubs used following the World Series. Bronzed ivy on both sides of the medallion matches the Boston ivy that covers the outfield walls. The top of the metal truss has a diamond pattern, replicating the ballpark’s metal gates, and discreet “W” insignias along the bottom of the truss are inspired by Wrigley’s light towers and the W flag.
“The idea was, how can we do something, largely because of the marquee that 12 months a year — rain, shine, snow, sleet, hail — there are people pulling up to the marquee to take pictures of it, visitors, tourists, fans, and so how do we do something that is more permanent and more year round than the banner and the trophy?” president of business operations Crane Kenney told the Tribune. “And so obviously our eyesight gravitates towards Gallagher Way because that’s where we have statue row.
“The hardest part was, what’s the appropriate tribute to these amazing players?”
The Cubs contemplated following other historic title teams’ lead — like the Red Sox, who went with a banner for 2004, or the White Sox with the creation of a 2005 team statue — to honor the 2016 squad. But they felt there wasn’t one signature moment or player from that postseason to build a statue around. The ’16 title was a collective effort, and the Cubs wanted any memorial honoring the team to reflect that.
As the brainstorming turned broader, the Cubs were inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Created under Napoleon to commemorate his victories and honor those who fought and died for France in war, the monument is a standing tribute engraved with the names of notable soldiers and battles. Its essence felt an apt inspiration for what the Cubs wanted to honor their 2016, 1908 and 1907 championship teams.
The Cubs formed a committee with 2016 alumni, including Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta and Ben Zobrist, to help put together the three-day itinerary for the 10-year celebration in July, as well as looking for input on what ultimately became the Champions Gate.
With team historian Ed Hartig’s help, each title team will have a highlight narrative etched into the stone to provide some context for their accomplishments. The Cubs teamed up with Stantec, the leading architect for Gallagher Way, and Gunny Harboe, who was their restoration architect, to make it blend into the Wrigley composition. They are also using the same iron manufacturer for the gate as they did for their statues.
“There’s going to be room for more player tributes as well as tributes to the team itself were we to win multiple more World Series, which we anticipate, so it’s something that’s going to live on,” Kenney said. “And it’s the primary entry to Gallagher Way, so thousands, millions of people over the years will walk through the arch to come into Gallagher Way, and as you come in to celebrate our Hall of Famers and all the other activities that happen there, you’ll constantly be reminded of the 2016 team and the others.”
The Cubs plan to announce details about the 10-year celebration of the 2016 team as the July 18 weekend nears.
Continue reading...
That’s the question the Chicago Cubs tackled when deciding the best way to recognize the 2016 championship team this summer for the 10th anniversary celebration. The organization eventually settled on the Champions Gate that will be installed at the entrance to Gallagher Way on Clark Street.
Because of the massive size of the gate structure, Cubs fans will see it being installed in the coming weeks. The Champions Gate will be officially revealed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18 as part of the weekend’s celebration to mark 10 years of the 2016 team.
The elements within the Champions Gate tie back to the franchise and Wrigley Field.
Brick pillars are embedded with bronze plaques listing the players and manager from each of the franchise’s three World Series championship teams. The top of the archway features a large bronze medallion to recognize their titles, with a medallion design inspired by the commemorative 2016 World Champions logo the Cubs used following the World Series. Bronzed ivy on both sides of the medallion matches the Boston ivy that covers the outfield walls. The top of the metal truss has a diamond pattern, replicating the ballpark’s metal gates, and discreet “W” insignias along the bottom of the truss are inspired by Wrigley’s light towers and the W flag.
“The idea was, how can we do something, largely because of the marquee that 12 months a year — rain, shine, snow, sleet, hail — there are people pulling up to the marquee to take pictures of it, visitors, tourists, fans, and so how do we do something that is more permanent and more year round than the banner and the trophy?” president of business operations Crane Kenney told the Tribune. “And so obviously our eyesight gravitates towards Gallagher Way because that’s where we have statue row.
“The hardest part was, what’s the appropriate tribute to these amazing players?”
The Cubs contemplated following other historic title teams’ lead — like the Red Sox, who went with a banner for 2004, or the White Sox with the creation of a 2005 team statue — to honor the 2016 squad. But they felt there wasn’t one signature moment or player from that postseason to build a statue around. The ’16 title was a collective effort, and the Cubs wanted any memorial honoring the team to reflect that.
As the brainstorming turned broader, the Cubs were inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Created under Napoleon to commemorate his victories and honor those who fought and died for France in war, the monument is a standing tribute engraved with the names of notable soldiers and battles. Its essence felt an apt inspiration for what the Cubs wanted to honor their 2016, 1908 and 1907 championship teams.
The Cubs formed a committee with 2016 alumni, including Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta and Ben Zobrist, to help put together the three-day itinerary for the 10-year celebration in July, as well as looking for input on what ultimately became the Champions Gate.
With team historian Ed Hartig’s help, each title team will have a highlight narrative etched into the stone to provide some context for their accomplishments. The Cubs teamed up with Stantec, the leading architect for Gallagher Way, and Gunny Harboe, who was their restoration architect, to make it blend into the Wrigley composition. They are also using the same iron manufacturer for the gate as they did for their statues.
“There’s going to be room for more player tributes as well as tributes to the team itself were we to win multiple more World Series, which we anticipate, so it’s something that’s going to live on,” Kenney said. “And it’s the primary entry to Gallagher Way, so thousands, millions of people over the years will walk through the arch to come into Gallagher Way, and as you come in to celebrate our Hall of Famers and all the other activities that happen there, you’ll constantly be reminded of the 2016 team and the others.”
The Cubs plan to announce details about the 10-year celebration of the 2016 team as the July 18 weekend nears.
Continue reading...
