Cubs hoping to work around the clock on Wrigley Field renovations

Chicago Cubs officials plan to ask the city for permission to work around the clock to speed up Wrigley Field renovations.

Chicago's record-breaking cold has caused major problems for Cubs fans.

Construction began almost immediately after the final pitch of the 2014 season, with plans to have the new bleachers ready for Opening Day. However, Mother Nature had other ideas.

"As everyone knows and we announced at the convention, we are behind on the bleachers," said Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney

A record cold February delayed steel work, meaning almost nothing has been done in right field. Now, those bleachers won't open until mid-June.

READ MORE | Delay of Wrigley Field construction affecting more than just Cubs fans

"We're standing just outside the left field bleachers, and you can see the steel work that has gone on for the bleachers to date," said VP of Ballpark Operations Carl Rice.

Progress is better in left and center where the seats should open mid-May. But the new video board, standing 70 feet off the ground from the steel supports, will be turned on for the first pitch of the season.

With just over a month before opening night, it's still a major construction area at Wrigley. And if you think there's a lot of work to go on the outside, you should see what it looks like inside Wrigley Field.

"To make this project work and support the ballpark for the next 100 years, we had to take out all the steel and concrete infrastructure to the ballpark," Rice said.

The left field concourse has been gutted, and crews are replacing the 100 year old steel all the way to the footings. In some places, they are even digging down 100 feet to reinforce the stadium's supports.

The same will be done at home plate and right field in the next two years.

"This is all about supporting the upper deck," Rice said.

That's where the cubs will add new concessions, luxury boxes and amenities.

This entire space is scheduled to be open on April 5. However, that doesn't mean every bathroom and concession stand will be available. That might not happen until midseason.

The Cubs admit that fans will be sharing Wrigley with construction teams for most of the season.

"Everything we have done here has been about extending the life of the ballpark," Rice said.

The Wrigley Field construction cold weather delay is not just affecting baseball fans, but is having an impact on the entire neighborhood.

And like any building from the early 1900's, peeling away layers of the historic ballpark has turned up some surprises.

However, "no Jimmy Hoffa's body. We're still looking," Rice added.