The west side walk into Wrigleyville is getting a serious glow-up. A new arch called Champions Gate will soon rise over the western entrance to Gallagher Way outside Wrigley Field, joining the statues and plaques as a permanent salute to the Chicago Cubs’ championship history. The team plans to unveil the monument on July 18 during the 10-year celebration of the 2016 World Series. Designed to echo the ballpark’s ironwork and ivy, the arch is meant to be a year-round entrance, not a short-lived banner. It will feature engraved stonework, a large bronze medallion and brick pillars honoring the franchise’s three World Series teams.
Design nods to Wrigley’s ironwork and ivy
The top of Champions Gate will feature a metal truss in a diamond pattern that mirrors Wrigley Field’s existing gates, with subtle "W" insignias worked into the design and bronzed ivy wrapping the central medallion, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Stantec and restoration architect Gunny Harboe are part of the project team, helping shape the arch so it fits into the existing ballpark architecture rather than feeling like a tacked-on addition.
A monument to three championships
According to the Chicago Cubs, Champions Gate will formally honor the club’s 1907, 1908 and 2016 World Series titles. The team plans to reveal the arch on July 18 as part of its anniversary programming, with the new gate listed as the kickoff event for that weekend’s gameday activities at Wrigley Field.
How the club and alumni shaped it
Team officials told designers they wanted something more lasting than a banner or a traveling trophy display, and they pulled in some familiar names to help get it right. A committee that included 2016 alumni Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta and Ben Zobrist offered feedback on the concept and details, per the Chicago Tribune. Cubs historian Ed Hartig helped craft the highlight narratives that will be etched into stone. The gate will also feature a large bronze medallion inspired by the club’s 2016 commemorative logo, and brick pillars embedded with bronze plaques listing players and managers from each championship roster.
Construction timeline and what to expect
Work on the sizeable arch began in May and was expected to wrap up before the July 18 dedication. The Cubs told nearby residents that pedestrian traffic around the entrance would be temporarily rerouted during installation, according to Bleed Cubbie Blue. The team is using the same iron manufacturer responsible for its statues, and officials say Champions Gate is set to function as the primary entry to Gallagher Way.
Once it opens, Champions Gate will serve as a new front door to Gallagher Way and another Wrigleyville photo stop that ties modern celebrations to the ballpark’s long-established visual style. For neighborhood regulars and out-of-town fans alike, the goal is for the arch to feel less like something new and more like something that has always belonged on this corner of Clark and Addison.
