In Chicago, Bergen & O'Connell noted the Cubs "plan to roll out four luxury clubs starting next spring" at Wrigley Field, "each with special entrances, high-end food, gleaming bars and private bathrooms." These will be in addition to the "hived-off areas that already dot the stadium, from the casual Budweiser Patio to the plush Assurance Club." The Cubs have been "unapologetic about the changes, saying they need to find new sources of revenue if the team and its stadium are to remain competitive." The Cubs raised '17 season-ticket prices an average of 19.5%; the renewal rate was 99% this year. Another 112,733 fans are "on the waiting list" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/9).
STRAIGHT CASH, HOMIE: In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes the Yankees are "striving to retain their sense of identity." This was the motivation behind Yankees Senior VP & GM Brian Cashman’s moves last summer, when he "steered the franchise on a course he has sought for years." Yankees President Randy Levine said, "Things had to be turned over, and it took some courage, especially in this town. It took some fortitude to go in a new direction. Cash was really the architect. He sold [Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner] on it, and hopefully it will work" (NYTIMES.com, 4/10).
NOT HOLDING BACK: In DC, Tim Bontemps wrote under the header, "In Nearly Two Decades Running The Knicks, James Dolan Hasn't Learned A Thing." In the Knicks owner's world, the problem "isn’t the fact that the Knicks have, since the start of the 2001-02 season, had just three winning seasons, four playoff appearances and one playoff series victory." The problem is that "people are upset about it, and are willing to tell Dolan -- to his face -- how they feel about his stewardship of the franchise the country’s biggest city supports unwaveringly" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/8).
