The odds of the Chicago Cubs and the owners of the rooftop buildings lining the outfield at Wrigley Field reaching a compromise on outfield advertising signage looked pretty bleak this weekend and into this morning. The Cubs are trying to raise revenue to pay for the renovation of Wrigley Field, and one of the most obvious ways to do the job would be add some advertisements along the outfield wall, which you see at every other ballpark in baseball. The problem, though, is that the signs could block the views of the rooftops, who have a revenue-sharing agreement in place with the Cubs.
It’s a sticky situation – one with so many interested parties that it’s difficult to predict how it will play out, or even what outcome is best for the Cubs – but everyone seems to be incentivized to resolve it quickly. Indeed, Crain’s reports that Cubs management, including Owner and Chairman Tom Ricketts by phone, met today with owners of the rooftops to continue trying to hash something out.
A source tells Crain’s that the mere fact of the meeting is a sign of progress. The sides left the meeting agreeing that time was of the essence, and agreeing to research some issues and get back in touch as soon as later this week.
As I said, because of the layered and intertwined interests involved – the Cubs, the Ricketts, the rooftops, the neighborhood, the politicians, the fans (it’s like a season of ‘The Wire’) – it’s difficult to say, as an outsider, what the best outcome is. On the one hand, it seems like simply putting the rooftops out of business and taking over that operation directly would be best for the Cubs’ bottom line. On other other hand, do we really know that? And do we know how the neighborhood would react? Would it negatively impact the “feel” of Wrigley? It may seem unlikely, but I’m always wary of unintended consequences. It still seems to me that a solution that allows the rooftop businesses to survive, while providing the Cubs advertising opportunities both on the rooftops and in the outfield, and perhaps providing the Cubs a better revenue share from the rooftops (it’s currently 17% of the gross revenue), would be the fairest, most widely palatable solution. And maybe resolving things with the rooftops will help the Cubs get some of the other things they’re looking for (more night games, more concerts, and street fairs, for example).
But who knows if that’s even possible. We’ll have to see what this week’s meetings hold.
UPDATE: The Tribune’s report on this meeting adds, from a source, that the Mayor’s Office pushed for the meeting today. I’m telling you: it’s ‘The Wire.’
Uh oh, Brett. You omitted the rooftops-advertise-here disclaimer. I think your objectivity is now in serious doubt.
***Calling lawyers now***
Rooftops advertise here? WHAAAT
I get the sense that the rooftops are willing to give a ton to stay in business and Cubs will use that leverage get a dramatic increase in all revenue sharing streams.
Um is this an opinion… Today really confused me on definitions of words.
Okay, but you forgot to add that nothing anybody else says can EVER change your opinion.
Science be damned, facts are for witches, and my mind is set damn it!
And robots!
The robot just admitted to being a witch! Fire up the stake!
He does way more than a duck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g&sns=em
Shite WEIGH my iPhone has been possessed by the witch
Not if it’s a really industrious duck.
Like Darkwing Duck?
Or a European duck
That’s it! This message board has become entirely too silly! I’m calling a stop to it immediately.
BN tis a silly place
I’ve yet to see a witch who’s a decent driver, either.
FOR THE WIN
ALL THE WITCHES…. cant drive
blah blah blah; you 2 are so self righteous it gets old.
Um okay thanks
Wait so jokes are self-righteous? Hmmm I’m learning every day.
Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.
What an odd comment for the spam filter to grab.
I think the cubs should find a nither open land and get it build a new indoor park half wriegly / half miller park all in one then have thier own tv chanale and get all paid veiwers frome mich. ind ill, min. wis, ohio .then lit thrv rooftop owner have a miner luge team thier lits see hpow much money that make on that see ya : ) hahah
Well this poorly written junk does not represent Grand Rapids, MI – I’m guessing it will soon be deleted but this really makes my city look bad
Since I’ve seen one guy from GR with lots of Type – Os, I’m pretty sure everyone from GR has lots of Type- Os.
Fact I’m Type AB so your opinion is proven false
I never watched “The Wire”
shhh just don’t tell Brett that Lost was poorly ended and kinda of stupid the last few season… Oops
I watched thru season 4 of lost and have to agree. Once they island started floating and was a time machine I gave up on that show.
season 2 with jock locke and his hatch… that was pretty enteraining.
entertaining* (edit button)
Trolls.
Agreed. The finale of Lost made me think of all those high school English papers, I ended with: then i woke up or it all turned out be a dream. Pretty unimaginative.
Brett will ban us all then we can go back in time and become very confused and uninterested in the story line
haha.
You should. The Wire is the best show television has ever produced.
Ive heard this multiple times.
It’s true.
Season 4 of The Wire is one of the best seasons of any other television show EVER.
Update 2: The rooftop owners are stuck on an island and a black smoke thing scare them. Now we’re are stuck in Lost story line.
One of my many incredibly insightful and totally original comments isn’t showing up… despite getting the double-post message.
It’s no problem for me, really, but I don’t like the thought of everyone else being deprived of the rollicking joy of reading my musings.
*oh, heavens be praised*, Ace unlocked your comment. We bask in your grooviness.
Imagine being me. I get to bask in myself around the clock.
Careful, you’ll go blind.
Revved up like a deuce.
Larf.
“On the other had”? Brett, your proof-reading skillz are slipping.
Eh. I’m on meds – strep throat.
I bet you are on PED and saying its for strep, I for one will not vote for you in Blog HOF because of these suspicions regardless of the stats you have put up
Empty threat, since goats can’t vote.
But my mind is made up!
See what happens when you go traveling the streets of Chicago in January in a windbreaker? I bet your mother is having a field day. I can hear mine griping about it now. YOUR GOING TO CATCH A COLD! WHERE IS YOUR SCARF?
Oh my. I won’t tell her about that one – and fortunately I don’t think she listens to the podcast.
ow the pain!!!
panzy…back in my day, when you got strep throat, you still had to pay the hooker!
Or something like that…
Yet you power through the sickness. This certainly improves your sCRAP+ factor.
Any compromise should include Cubs building a right field and left field walkway over the streets so roof toppers can access a free zone behind the higher wall similar to what they have in San Fran
Uh, Gramps, you ever BEEN to AT&T Park? There aren’t any rooftops beyond right or left fields. There *IS* a bay. Filled with water.
Or, perhaps, you mean the cool view window that folks walking around the ballpark can pop into and see a few minutes of the game through a couple of chain-link fences in right field? Yeah, the Cubs already have that, and have since the bleacher expansion a few years back.
Still chuckling, 5 min later.
Castro to CF!
If you build it Dick Tidrow will come
Regarding Wrigley renovation, hopefully the City and Ricketts, incorporate direct connection from el to Wrigley. Addison el stop is only 1/4 block from bleacher entrance and about a block from main Cub entrance on Clark & Addison so some bright urban planner should plan an access.
Like, underground? Or by way of one of the rooftops?
I’m thinking by pneumatic tubes!
No, you’re thinking of how the internet works.
But enough about the way my brain works…
Way too complicated. I’m thinking ejector seats.
Something similar to the way the Brown line hits the Merchandise Mart would be pretty rad.
Visitor’s clubhouse…
Um how close do you need to be? The red line stop is closer than most MLB stadium parking lots get you to your seat. A little walk is part of the joy of Wrigley and this is coming from a guy that uses a cane sometimes.
My drinking game grows. Now, everytime a white person mentions ‘The Wire’ I take a shot.
wait, wait, wait…now you’re stereotyping white people???
BIGOTED HATE MONGEREREEREERR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. The Wire.
That oughta put an end to THAT game.
Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, How I Met Your Mother, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Big Bang Theory, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Lost, The Wire, Doctor Who
This is definitely not penny’s boat
I’ve been recording Doctor Who (2005-current) and I now have 73 episodes that I can’t find the time to watch.
I just started watching them on Netflix a couple of months ago. Now I think I’m down to about 50.
Probably won’t be seeing much of Pauly for a few days…
Are you white? Otherwise it doesn’t count.
I’ve never seen nor heard of the wire.. It’s obviously not on MLB network.
theres got to be a reality show somewhere in this renovation , putem all on an island and last 1 standing wins lol.
Joe Mather signs minor league contract with Phillies
This comment thread reminds me of the way the comments on BN used to be. I miss it. Sad panda.
We got hold of Peabody and The Way Back Machine tonight
I’m glad I’m not the only one who was thinking “BN Night Crew”.
Oh wait we haven’t discussed beer yet, Founders KBS will be here soon!
Here are the details anyone up for a road trip?
http://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2013/kbs-2013-release/
This is the first time I’ve read all the way through the comment in a while. Reminds me of the good times.
Been missing these comments too.
And you’re all a bunch of pigs.
[...] we wait on more information regarding the Chicago Cubs’ talks with the rooftop owners, it sounds like the Cubs are taking the same “parallel fronts” attitude to funding the [...]
[...] sat down with NoozeBox to discuss the status of their conversations with the Cubs on this issue (the two sides met on Monday), and touched on a number of pertinent points. In the video, which you can see here, Murphy shares [...]