Some good news coming out of the Cubs/rooftops section of the Wrigley renovation saga – perhaps the first good news on that front since the process began back in January. The Cubs met with the rooftops this week, and apparently it was a very positive, productive meeting.
Beth Murphy, one of the more visible rooftop owners, spoke to Paul Sullivan and said she left a meeting this week convinced the Cubs aren’t trying to put any rooftops out of business with their outfield signage.
“I think we’re at a point in the process where we’re just going to have to work out the details [of the plan],” Murphy said, according to Sullivan. “I no longer believe the Cubs want to block us. I wasn’t sure before, but I no longer believe that. I truly am optimistic they want to work this out.”
Sullivan’s piece goes on to discuss plans between the Cubs and the rooftops, including the Cubs mocking up signs in the outfield so the owners can see how their views might be impacted. The overall tenure of the piece, including additional thoughts from Murphy, is positive. Although it is just one owner, Murphy often speaks in such a way that you get the sense that her words are the collective words of the rooftop owners. It’s worth a read to finally feel a little good about this process.
For the first time in quite a while, I’m cautiously optimistic that the Cubs and the rooftops will be able to come to an amicable resolution that allows both sides to proceed under the current revenue-sharing agreement, which lasts until 2024, and will allow the Cubs to get the outfield signage they need.
Of course, there are still a variety of community issues and processes to with which to deal over the next month, but the rooftop issue always figure to be the thorniest.
Disclosure: Some of the rooftops advertise on Bleacher Nation, but that has not impacted the way I’ve covered this ongoing story.