The Cubs and Toyota have announced a long-term legacy partnership establishing Toyota as the official vehicle of the team and Wrigley Field. The automaker's logo will be placed on the panel beneath the ballpark's marquee on the corner of Clark and Addison streets. Toyota will continue its presenting sponsorship of the the in-game manager challenges and umpire reviews. Toyota will also receive in-game rotational signage behind home plate and on the left-field videoboard. It will receive field-level signage and naming rights to the team's parking lots surrounding Wrigley Field beginning with the '16 season. Toyota becomes the Cubs' 10th legacy partner. The deal was secured by W Partners, which the Cubs entered into an exclusive agreement with to secure legacy partnerships as part of the 1060 project (Cubs). In Chicago, Danny Ecker notes making significant changes to the Wrigley marquee "normally requires approval of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks." But Cubs VP/Communications & Community Affairs Julian Green said that no city approval "was needed to add the logo because the lower panel of the marquee is not governed by the landmark designation." Ecker notes Toyota "has been a Cubs partner" since '10. Financial terms of the deal "were not disclosed." However, Toyota Motor Sales USA VP/Marketing, Performance & Guest Experience Ed Laukes said that the agreement "is the car brand's largest single sports sponsorship investment in the Chicago market," which would trump the 10-year, $7.5M deal Toyota signed in '06 for naming rights to Toyota Park (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 8/21).
TAKE A BOW: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the first phase of Wrigley Field's renovation "is pretty much done," and the ballpark "is almost back to normal." The project "hasn't gone as smoothly as hoped, with delays and plumbing issues from opening day." But comparing the renderings released last year to the final results, it "turned out exactly the way it was envisioned." The street changes "had no effect on fans." They are "still shut down about an hour before and after games to relieve congestion, the same as it used to be before the renovation." The only ones who "really can complain are neighbors who saw the parking lanes removed." The next big phase "is the completion of the spacious underground home clubhouse on the west side of the park, and the so-called Triangle building." Sullivan: "All in all, the Cubs deserve good marks for the renovation. Take a bow, Chairman Tom Ricketts." The videoboard "isn't perfect, but the Cubs have refrained from the truly obnoxious stuff." Green said complaints have "been reduced significantly since opening day," when music was first played from the videoboard. But Sullivan writes that "doesn't mean the problem's fixed." It is "still too loud much of the time, as many fans and people who work there ... can attest" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/21). The Braves on Thursday night played their first game at Wrigley Field this season, and the team tweeted from its official account, "@Cubs Love what you've done with the place. Especially the new scoreboard. It really ties the room together" (TWITTER.com, 8/20).
