The Ricketts family since buying the Cubs for $845M in '09 has been "painstakingly laying the groundwork for new sources of revenue," and their trip to the World Series "promises to pump up those revenues and boost the franchise's value" beyond its current $2.2B value, according to Bergen & Channick of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "The timing couldn't be better." With its "agreements for local television rights expiring" after the '19 season, the Ricketts family is "exploring the launch of its own regional sports network" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/29). Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel "lauded the work the Cubs' family ownership has done in the city and with the team." Emanuel said, "The Rickettses have been great neighbors to the city of Chicago." He added, "They've been great investors in the city. And they've done exactly what I needed them to do." Emanuel: "The city's benefitting from a very vibrant stadium, a very vibrant field, a very vibrant family that's invested in improving not just the area around them, but improving the entire city of Chicago" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/30).
