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The Cubs reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over a 2022 lawsuit claiming the team wasn’t accommodating enough for people with disabilities, both sides announced Thursday.
The DOJ’s lawsuit claimed that $550 million renovations to MLB’s second-oldest ballpark, called “the 1060 Project,” committed several violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit says the project—completed in 2019—removed the best wheelchair-accessible seats, didn’t give wheelchair seating options in new premium areas, installed wheelchair seating that didn’t meet ADA requirements, and “failed to remove architectural barriers to access in unaltered portions of Wrigley Field where it was readily achievable to do so.” The lawsuit included photos of standing fans, beams, and tarps obstructing or siloing off wheelchair users while sharing numerous examples of the team turning wheelchair seating into club spaces.
The Cubs now have to make several changes to Wrigley, the DOJ said, including scrapping noncompliant seats and making ones with better sight lines, and putting wheelchair-accessible seats in premium areas. The team also agreed to make sure wheelchair users can more easily navigate the paths inside as well as parking and shuttle services outside the stadium. Cubs staff will also get trained on the settlement before each of the next three seasons.
“The Cubs believe Wrigley Field is ADA compliant,” the team said in a statement, adding that the 1060 Project increased accessible seating by more than 50% and added 11 elevators, more accessible restrooms, and assistive listening technology. “Nonetheless, the Consent Decree reflects a joint commitment to achieving greater accessibility at the Friendly Confines.”
The settlement and proposed consent decree still need final approval from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Going forward, the Cubs will have to submit reports of their compliance with the agreement, and federal officials can drop in any time for an inspection in the next three years.
“As a result of this settlement, baseball fans with physical disabilities will have vastly improved options at Wrigley Field—on par with those available to all other patrons,” Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois said in a statement. “The Chicago Cubs are to be commended for working collaboratively with our office to find solutions, demonstrating their commitment to providing accessibility for people with disabilities.”
