Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts made it clear that any Wrigley Field renovations would be shelved unless local rooftop-bleacher owners all agree not to sue the team over potential lost revenues. The issue: a new videoboard that could impact the views of Wrigley Field from the surrounding rooftop bleachers, but the Cubs have also agreed […]
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Wrigley Field upgrades approved by City Council
Now that the Chicago City Council has approved a $500-million makeover of Wrigley Field, the big question is when the five-year project will commence after Tom Ricketts demands cooperation from local rooftop owners. The passage was unanimous today for the Cubs to make over Wrigley Field with a revamped upper deck, widened concourses, additional restaurants […]
Add Cicero to list of Cubs suitors
What the heck. Add Cicero to the list of Chicagoland cities willing to host the Cubbies should team ownership decide to stop printing money at Wrigley Field. Now, no one really expects the Cubs to leave one of the most profitable venues in all of sports — a historic ballpark that works quite admirably both […]
Cubs, Chicago agree on Wrigley Field updates
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Chicago reached an agreement on a series of Wrigley Field upgrades that will add signage and more night to the historic ballpark, as well as a new parking ramp to placate locals. The agreement, which had been in the works for weeks, will allow the Cubs to add […]
White elephant on Cubs ledgers? Debt service, not Wrigley Field imperfections
ESPN’s Rick Reilly proves why sportswriters should never write about business, penning an utterly insane argument on why Wrigley Field prevents the Chicago Cubs from winning a World Series. You can read Reilly’s screed here. Reilly’s basic argument is that the Cubs’ payroll could be increased by $73 million a year if the team could […]
Cubs unveil more details on Wrigley Field renos
As we reported two weeks ago, the Chicago Cubs are in the midst of planning an extensive overhaul to Wrigley Field and the surrounding area, releasing conceptual drawings at this weekend’s fan festival. The Ricketts ownership is proposing a $300-million renovation of the historic ballpark, which opened in 1914, as part of a larger plan […]
Cubs exploring hotel, courtyard as part of Wrigley Field upgrades
The Chicago Cubs are making another run at public support for Wrigley Field upgrades, and as part of the deal are talking a new hotel next to the historic ballpark as well as other area improvements. The team’s manager of community outreach, grants and donations, Jennifer Dedes Nowak, made a presentation to a neighborhood association that […]
How much are Wrigley Field naming rights worth?
Let’s say Tom Ricketts and family decide to complete depart from Chicago Cubs history and seek a naming-rights deal for Wrigley Field. How much are naming rights worth? The answer: $15-20 million a year, according our old college classmate David Kaplan at CSNChicago. That sounds about right: the Cubs are a national team with a […]
Ricketts: We’re taking long-term view for Wrigley Field improvements
Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts addressed the ongoing silence between the team and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, saying any disagreements won’t matter in the long run. The team hasn’t made any headway on efforts to secure public financing of improvements to Wrigley Field since the political activities of family patriarch Joe Ricketts regarding a perceived smear […]
Spat between Cubs, Mayor Rahm continues
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says there’s been no contact between his office and the Chicago Cubs for the past five months, after the two sides disagreed over the political activities of Joe Ricketts. Ricketts is the family patriarch; the trust he set up owns the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. After Emanuel went out on […]
Can Bud Selig warm relationship between Cubs, politicians?
We’re not entirely sure Bud Selig will be able to patch things up between the Ricketts and Chicago politicians, but he reportedly will take a crack at lobbying for public money toward Wrigley Field renovations — holding an All-Star Game as an enticement. The Chicago Cubs ownership, led by Tom Ricketts, wants to spend $500 […]
Cubs, Mesa break ground on new spring-training facility
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Mesa yesterday broke ground on a new $99-million spring-training complex, slated to open for the 2014 season. Take a peek at the new renderings. The ballpark, to be designed by Populous, will hold 15,000 fans and include a videoboard, shaded seats and luxury suites. The new complex will also include […]
Cubs: Following the Fenway Park recipe for renovations
The Chicago Cubs have been following the Fenway Park blueprint save one major difference: the Ricketts sought public money for the project. Will that doom Wrigley Field upgrades? Emulating what Boston has done isn’t a bad move for the Cubs: under the John Henry ownership group, the Red Sox have put winners on the field […]