• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Law

With Wrigley Field Lawsuit, Cubs Are Latest Team to Face ADA Complaints

  • At least five other pro teams have been sued over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act since 2016.
  • The Department of Justice began investigating access issues at Wrigley Field in 2019.
Jerry Lai/USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs are the latest pro team to face a lawsuit over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois filed the lawsuit in federal court in Chicago on Thursday over renovations to Wrigley Field as part of the multi-year 1060 Project. 

The lawsuit alleged the Cubs’ $550 million in renovations “removed the best wheelchair seating in the stadium” and many seating areas “do not have adequate sightlines over standing spectators.”

The team allegedly failed to include accessibility in new premium clubs, and the seating is in the last row of the bleachers, blocked by drink rails or standing fans.

At least five other teams in the four major U.S. sports have faced ADA-related lawsuits since 2016. 

“It’s just stunning to me that after all these high-profile cases and it being more than 30 years since the ADA was signed, that you still have places just being utterly clueless,” disability rights attorney Amy Robertson told Front Office Sports.

“I don’t know why there are all these problems. I think if a bunch of lawyers can read the code, architects should be able to as well.”

  • The ADA, signed into law in 1990, set aside some safe harbor provisions for existing buildings. 
  • All sports venues like Wrigley Field — the second-oldest ballpark in the majors that opened in 1914 — still had to comply with parking, bathroom and entrance/exit standards. 
  • But new construction — and any venue built after 1990 — must follow all accessibility requirements of the ADA. Those standards were updated in 2010. 

The Cubs said in a statement that they were “disappointed” by the lawsuit and the team added it “fully cooperated” with the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s investigation that dates back to November 2019. 

“The renovation of Wrigley Field greatly increased accessibility of the ballpark and was completed in accordance with applicable law and historic preservation standards consistent with the ballpark’s designation as a National and City of Chicago landmark,” the Cubs’ statement continued. 

The Cubs have company among teams subjected to ADA lawsuits in recent years.. 

Abdul Nevarez, who lost his right leg and severely injured the other leg along with his left arm in a motorcycle accident, was the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the San Francisco 49ers, the City of Santa Clara, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority over wheelchair access at Levi Stadium.

The lawsuit, filed in 2016, was settled in 2020 for $24 million, a record settlement for an ADA case. The 49ers were able to recoup $6 million from Turner Construction Co. and Devcon, construction companies who sued by the 49ers.

In 2018, a Kroenke Sports and Entertainment subsidiary agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit brought over lack of captioning on the video boards at Ball Arena, the home of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets. Robertson was the plaintiff’s lawyer in that case.

The Seattle Mariners were sued in 2018 over sightline allegations similar to the Cubs’ lawsuit. While a U.S. District Court judge dismissed the case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overruled that decision last year. The case remains active. 

The Baltimore Orioles were sued in 2018 by three wheelchair users over accessibility issues at Camden Yards. 

Multiple New Orleans Saints fans have sued over the $450 million renovation of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome over concerns the project would hinder access.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A Fox Sports camera records on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Fox Sports Suspends Exec Accused of Sexual Misconduct: NYT

Dixon is a defendant in two lawsuits filed by former Fox Sports employees.

Chip Kelly’s $6M Salary Latest Sign of Exploding Coordinator Pay

The playcaller is leaving Ohio State to return to the NFL.
Oct 26, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Nyzier Fourqurean (3) celebrates following a tackle during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Camp Randall Stadium.

Another Lawsuit Seeks to Challenge the NCAA’s Eligibility Clock

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia recently sued the NCAA over similar eligibility standards.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle John Simon (54) sacks Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) in the first half of their NCAA football game between Ohio State and Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, November 26, 2011. (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)

NCAA, Big Ten Seek to Dismiss Lawsuit of 300-Plus Former Michigan Football..

The former Wolverines are seeking $50 million in unpaid NIL usage.

Featured Today

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.
January 28, 2025

It’s Starting to Pay to Be Good at Cornhole

American Cornhole League players made $7.7 million in 2024.
Dec 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates scoring a goal in front of Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) during the MLS Cup final at Lower.com Field.

NASL Loses Antitrust Lawsuit Against MLS, U.S. Soccer

The defense argued bad business moves, not a conspiracy, tanked league.
Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara
January 24, 2025

Ippei Mizuhara Says He Gambled and Stole From Ohtani Because He Was..

The former interpreter says he was “on call 24/7” for Ohtani.
U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro (left) and Sunil Gulati (center) and MLS commissioner Don Garber (right) pose for a photo.
January 29, 2025

Billionaire Who Chaired NASL Admits He Used Burner Account to Attack MLS,..

Rocco Commisso, the Mediacom founder, compared the MLS commissioner to Harvey Weinstein.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Carmelo Anthony
January 23, 2025

Carmelo Anthony Testimony Appears to Backfire in NASL-U.S. Soccer Trial

The judge criticized Anthony’s appearance in the $500 million trial Wednesday.
Mariano Rivera
January 22, 2025

Mariano Rivera Accused of Covering Up Sexual Abuse in Lawsuit Against Church

Rivera and his wife founded the church sued in New York court.
Joe Burrow
January 21, 2025

Four Men Indicted in Ohio Burglaries; Burrow Link Appears Possible

An Ohio grand jury indicted the group Tuesday.
NFLPA exec director Lloyd Howell
exclusive
January 19, 2025

NFLPA Investigating Own Role in OneTeam Amid Corruption Allegations

Employees were told about the investigation in a letter obtained by FOS.