Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts is confident that the team’s $575M plan to renovate Wrigley Field and develop the surrounding area will still "receive the necessary approval from the city," according to Jared Hopkins of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Ricketts yesterday, after speaking at the PartnerConnect Midwest conference, said, "We’re looking forward to just moving forward. Like I said, we’ll just respect the process and follow through." He "did not address the renovations -- or negotiations between rooftop owners or City Hall -- to the crowd of about 100 people." Instead, he "discussed baseball economics and his strategy in rebuilding the Cubs." Ricketts "declined to comment when asked whether the proposal" to add seven outfield signs "was merely to intimidate the rooftop owners." Ricketts: "In the end, we just have to do what’s right for the team, and having the flexibility to generate revenue in our outfield is part of it." Ricketts also "didn’t want to speculate on when construction could start." He added, "We’re just focusing on getting to the landmarks committee and making sure it all goes fine there" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/26).
