Let's suppose for thirty seconds that the Chicago Cubs have to play a season at the House That Greed Built while all the king's horses and all the king's men break out the chewing gum and bailing wire and put Wrigley Field back together again.

My theory is that Cubs attendance would not be better in the bigger U.S. Cellular Field but down from the previous year at Wrigley.  Here's why.

1. Wrigley is a destination point.  It is a historical stadium that most of the country has seen on TV for years and years.  It is a shrine to baseball as is Fenway Park.  The Cubs just happen to play there.  So, remove the Wrigley Field experience from the equation and you've got just Cub fans and not Wrigley fans.  You'd be surprised how big the number of people who come just to see Wrigley is.
2. The atmosphere around U.S. Cellular Field Sucks.  Now that Jimbo's is gone, there are few places to gather around the Cell and what few places there are probably would be about as friendly to Cub fans as Ray's Bleacher's is to Sox fans.  If a Cub game is a party, then this will be a very dull party.
3. More Night Games. The Cubs playing at the Cell would most likely increase the number of night games they would play simply because the Cell is not under the same restrictions as Wrigley is with a cap on night games.  While this might help the team, a lot of people enjoy the many day games at Wrigley and this may also curb attendance.
4. Strangers in a Strange Land. Let's face it, Cub fans just aren't comfortable at the Cell.  It's home of the White Sox and every game the Cubs played there would make it seem like a trip to Milwaukee for Cub fans. 
   

What we have concluded is that Wrigley Field, the Wrigley neighborhood and the Cubs are bonded together in the same package.  Yes, there are people who are Cub fans that would watch the Cubs play home games in St. Louis if necessary, but there are many, many more who would stay away if the Cubs were forced to play on the south side simply because it isn't Wrigley.

This is not trucking up I-94 to Milwaukee a couple of times a year, this is 81 games at a ball park Cub fans (and many Sox fans) despise.  It will be interesting to see what happens if it comes to pass.