Pelicans embracing connection to Cubs with park alterations

Myrtle Beach Pelicans president and general manager Andy Milovich assures that the ivy coming to Pelicans Ballpark won’t be poison ivy.

“At least it won’t start that way,” Milovich said. “This will be friendly.”

The pending addition of ivy that is expected to be transplanted from the outfield walls of Wrigley Field in Chicago is one of the ways the Pelicans are paying homage to their new parent club through a “Cubs-ification” of their facility.

The Pelicans, who open the 2015 season at home Thursday against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, are the Advanced Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs for the first time after 12 years with the Atlanta Braves and the past four with the Texas Rangers.

“We wanted to show how excited we are to be a part of the Cubs family,” Milovich said. “We feel the Cubs are one of the four or five truly national brands in terms of baseball teams, and we felt tying into the Cubs and celebrating some of the unique things to the Cubs brand would be a fun thing for us to do, but also we feel there’s a real opportunity to draw Cubs fans to Myrtle Beach.”

The iconic ivy will not be in Pelicans Ballpark for opening day. The Pelicans hope to collect some ivy from Wrigley once it becomes more healthy and green following a harsh winter, and haven’t determined where to place it yet. Options include the area behind center field that serves as the batter’s eye and areas of the park that will be accessible for spectator pictures.

“We want it to become active and green up so we can bring a bit of baseball heaven down to baseball at the beach,” Milovich said. “We’ve had conversations with grounds crew in terms of where they can grow it to where we should grow it. We haven’t ruled out any options and are looking at three or four options.”

Several other Cubs-themed changes have occurred or are coming.

The Grissom Plaza area of the left field concourse, where kids play Wiffle Ball and home run derby during games, is being turned into a “Mini Wrigley” with faux ivy and a replica of the Wrigley Field entrance marquee.

A flag pole with a “W” flag has been added down the left field line and a spectator will raise the flag after each win.

The seventh inning stretch will be conducted as longtime Cubs broadcaster Harry Carey made it famous, with the singer of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” leaning out of the press box window. Special guest singers will be chosen each night. “Fierce” Fallon Emery, an area child battling brain cancer, will sing on opening night.

The Ring of Fire Grill in right field is being rebranded as the Clark and Addison Grille, referring to the address of Wrigley Field at the intersection of Clark and Addison streets.

Some new Chicago-style food items including a "Windy City Weiners” stand and Deep Dish burger, featuring two deep-dish pizzas with a hamburger between them, are being offered.

The Pelicans home clubhouse has undergone an approximately $150,000 renovation with a décor that is both Pelicans and Cubs themed.

This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 11:35 PM with the headline "Pelicans embracing connection to Cubs with park alterations."