Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts plans to submit a revised proposal to the city of Chicago for renovations to Wrigley Field featuring "more large electronic signs, additional seats, bigger clubhouses and a relocation of the quaint bullpens from foul territory to a spot under the bleachers," according to a source cited by Dardick & Byrne of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. If approved against what is “sure to be fierce opposition, the changes would put more pressure on the rooftop club owners to reach a deal with the Ricketts family, as team officials acknowledged that more signs could further block rooftop views." Talks between the two sides have “proved fruitless after more than a year of negotiations that continued even after city officials signed off” on the Cubs' $500M renovation plans. Mac Strategies Group President Ryan McLaughlin, whose firm represents the rooftop owners, said, "Unfortunately, this decision by the Ricketts family will now result in this matter being resolved in a court of law." But Ricketts said, "We've gotten nowhere in our talks with them to settle this dispute. It has to end. It's time to move forward." The team “hopes to get a hearing before the Commission on Chicago Landmarks next month and start construction this year.” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel “could go to bat” for the Cubs. The latest approach “comes as Ricketts faces pressure to get the renovation done so tens of millions of dollars in advertising revenue can start rolling in.” For Ricketts, “pushing ahead with the renovation could help him in the public relations battle.” Ricketts today discussed the new proposal in a video posted on the team website (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/22).
NEEDS & WANTS: In Chicago, Fran Spielman notes Ricketts' video did not explain details of the new renovation request for Wrigley Field that will be “presented to the Landmarks Commission on June 5.” The proposal includes a "second video scoreboard in right field -- in addition to the already approved jumbo screen in left field that will now be reduced to 3,990 square feet." It also includes four more LED signs “throughout the outfield,” each up to 650 square feet, and 300 additional seats in the “Budweiser Bleachers” and 300 additional standing room positions to “reclaim capacity lost to prior renovation plans.” It also will add outfield light standards inside the ballpark, “rising 92 feet, so that fly balls will be lit from both the front and back” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/22).
UP ON THE ROOF: ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell notes the new setup “would compromise the 15 rooftop owners across the street,” who give 17% of their gross revenues to the Cubs for the “right to sell seats that peek into the park.” Rather than “risk fighting them in court on the compromised plan, Ricketts has gone back to his more aggressive proposal.” Ricketts “tells fans in the video that he understands his reverting back to the original plan could have legal consequences he now accepts” (ESPN.com, 5/22). In Chicago, Greg Hinz writes the “shotgun marriage" between the Cubs and the rooftop owners "was never going to last.” It “never was going to be easy to craft a long-term, negotiated peace between more than a dozen independent, idiosyncratic rooftop owners and the equally self-minded Ricketts clan -- not with millions and even tens of millions of dollars at stake.” Hinz: "What will happen in court? Both sides predict they'll win if things get that far. And no one knows for sure whether that game will be a rout or end up in extra innings” (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 5/22).
