Rooms With Views: Cubs Settle Dispute With Rooftop Club Owner

Cubs Settle Dispute With Rooftop Club Owner

The Cubs have "declared a cease-fire in the latest battle of a war with rooftop club owners" after reaching an agreement with club owner Tom Gramatis, according to Fran Spielman of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Gramatis agreed to honor the '04 agreement for two of his clubs that requires the locations to "share 17[%] of their profits with the team in exchange for the right to cash in on their bird's-eye-view of Wrigley Field." However, Gramatis will pay the club an undisclosed flat fee for 14 of the next 16 years for a third location that had its view of the ballpark "adversely impacted by a 2006 bleacher expansion." Cubs Chair Crane Kenny had "threatened to put up visual obstructions" to block the views from the first two clubs, and the team filed a lawsuit "that sought to shut Gramatis down." However, with an agreement being reached, the lawsuit "will be dropped and the obstructions put away" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/4).