NEWSLETTER
Today the owners of the rooftop buildings that offer views into Wrigley Field reacted, via press release, to the Chicago Cubs’ mock-up/test video board in left field and advertising sign in right field. The Cubs conducted the tests to determine if, and to what extent, the proposed signs would impact the rooftop buildings with which the Cubs have a revenue-sharing agreement.
The press release was short and semi-cryptic:
Earlier today, the Chicago Cubs erected mockups of their proposed Jumbotron and additional signage in the Wrigley Field bleachers. Wrigleyville Rooftops Association Spokesman Ryan McLaughlin has released the following statement:
“We appreciate the Cubs’ willingness to demonstrate the impact of their sign plan. We were shown several options today, which we will verify with the permit applications they have submitted to the City of Chicago. We know one thing for sure: Signs on the Rooftops have no obstruction of our patrons’ views and remain the best solution to provide sign revenue to the team.”
The rooftops’ plan to put advertising on the buildings was a solution that never really piqued the Cubs’ interest, and that line in the press release is curious at this stage in the game.
There isn’t much meat in the release, and I suppose it is simply the product of the rooftops feeling like they had to say something. It’s nice that they appreciated the Cubs’ efforts.
The planned development process will continue, and it’s possible that today’s demonstration was as much about goodwill (and allowing the rooftops to plan for the future) as it was about actually getting the rooftops to actively support the outfield signage plan. Maybe that’s never going to happen, and maybe the Cubs are just trying to be as thoughtful as reasonably possible.
Disclosure: Some of the rooftops advertise on Bleacher Nation, but that has not impacted how I’ve covered this ongoing story.
