Tribune Management discussing LBO per WSJ

[Lefty]

Right on my Autumn timetable (if you care to search for previous posts on the subject). If this happens, discussion of a Cubs sale will be at the forefront.

[Rob]

English translation?

[Lefty]

English translation?

 

Tribune management may borrow a ton of money to buy back all of its stock from the public. Then it won't have to worry about the stockholders' interests. To pay off all debt they would incur, they would have to sell pieces of the company to buyers who might pay a premium for strategic assets.

 

The L.A. Times looks to be sold to some L.A. locals. The TV stations might go to a Viacom. If the Cubs could get a high price it would be something they would have to consider. Obviously, Tribune has to figure out what kind of company they want to run.

[hardcorecubfan]

OOOOHHHHH, I understand.

 

I have a grand in my saving account and I can trade in my truck, do you think the Trib would take my offer?

[Soul]

English translation?

 

Tribune management may borrow a ton of money to buy back all of its stock from the public. Then it won't have to worry about the stockholders' interests. To pay off all debt they would incur, they would have to sell pieces of the company to buyers who might pay a premium for strategic assets.

 

The L.A. Times looks to be sold to some L.A. locals. The TV stations might go to a Viacom. If the Cubs could get a high price it would be something they would have to consider. Obviously, Tribune has to figure out what kind of company they want to run.

 

Hopefully they decide to run the kind of company that sells the Cubs to an owner who cares about baseball.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

YYYYYYYYYESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

 

I can never get the linky thing to work, but there is a top page story on Yahoo Finance, or you can find the stories by going to the Trib's stock ticker page (Symbol=TRB).

 

Basically, they're readying the company for a significant breakup thanks to the Chandler Trust and pressure on the board. When companies do this, they tend to sell assets that are non-core and will realize a book profit to help offset the goodwill premium associated with the stock's breakup value. Given that the Trib is carrying roughly a $400MM book profit from its investment in the Cubs (they paid just $20MM for the team 25 years ago), I think it's a given the Cubs get sold.

 

Paging Mr. Cuban, Mr. Mark Cuban, please report to the courtesy desk for an important phone call.......

[erik316wttn]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[wade]

another story

[Soriano12]

The price tag $$ of the Cubs would be alot even for Cuban.

 

I think he is gonna shoot for a cheaper team like the Pirates.

[Banedon]

The price tag $$ of the Cubs would be alot even for Cuban.

 

I think he is gonna shoot for a cheaper team like the Pirates.

 

But the revenue would be SO much more for the Cubs. Cuban's all about winning. I think he can see that Chicago's major market would afford a better opportunity for that in the long run.

[WrigleyField 22]

Can they sell them within the next few weeks so the new owner has time to clean house before the offseason?

[VanceJergins]

Alright, so is this something that's actually going to happen, cause I've heard this several times before. I dont want to get my hopes up if this isnt the real deal.

 

And Cuban doesnt seem like the kind of guy that would want to settle for the Pirates. He seems like he's the kind of guy that goes all out. I would buy him flowers and a cute stuffed animal every valentines day if he bought the team.....and after he brought us a championship I'd have another name to add to my sig.

[WrigleyField 22]

Alright, so is this something that's actually going to happen, cause I've heard this several times before. I dont want to get my hopes up if this isnt the real deal.

 

And Cuban doesnt seem like the kind of guy that would want to settle for the Pirates. He seems like he's the kind of guy that goes all out. I would buy him flowers and a cute stuffed animal every valentines day if he bought the team.....and after he brought us a championship I'd have another name to add to my sig.

 

Didn't he "settle" for Dallas? They were nothing when he took over.

[Soul]

The price tag $$ of the Cubs would be alot even for Cuban.

 

I think he is gonna shoot for a cheaper team like the Pirates.

 

But the revenue would be SO much more for the Cubs. Cuban's all about winning. I think he can see that Chicago's major market would afford a better opportunity for that in the long run.

 

Perhaps. I think the Mavs were basically thought of on the same terms as the Pirates are right now before Cuban bought them, though.

 

It's just a matter of whether he wants to go through it all again, but this time in the withering spotlight of Chicago sports, which let's face it, is much much more intense than Dallas. We care about our baseball here----half of Dallas didn't even know they had a basketball team before Cuban arrived.

 

I have no clue what Cuban would do, if anything. I only know I've seen 25 years of Trib-owned Cubbie baseball, and looking back, they have come up short again & again & again. The era of the Trib has basically been painful, filled with losing and incompetence, and unfulfilling.

 

I'm ready for a change. Hope it happens.

[kylescubs23]

Cuban is a Pittsburgh native, therefore his interest in the Pirates. He has approached them about buying them, but has been told they are not for sale.

[Soriano12]

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/54/biz_06rich400_The-400-Richest-Americans_NameProper_3.html

 

 

Forbes just put Cubans vaule at 2.3 Billion.

 

Of course I don't know how much of it is liquid cash that could be used

to purchase a ballclup.

 

Does anyone have the lastest data on the Cubs value?

[Banedon]

Perhaps. I think the Mavs were basically thought of on the same terms as the Pirates are right now before Cuban bought them, though.

 

Baseball and basketball are so different though. Even a winning Pittsburgh doesn't bring in the revenue that a losing Cubs does. The market is just different. The A's win all the time, but they still have to have a smaller payroll than say San Francisco or LA.

 

Basketball has a salary cap, and that help make all the team compete on the same level. You don't hear a lot of about market disparities in the NBA, because it's just not the same issue. Some of that also has to do with basketball being an indoor game, and playing half as many games as baseball does.

 

I simply don't think Cuban is going to view the Cubs and Pirates as having the same long term potential.

[Soul]

Perhaps. I think the Mavs were basically thought of on the same terms as the Pirates are right now before Cuban bought them, though.

 

Baseball and basketball are so different though. Even a winning Pittsburgh doesn't bring in the revenue that a losing Cubs does. The market is just different. The A's win all the time, but they still have to have a smaller payroll than say San Francisco or LA.

 

Basketball has a salary cap, and that help make all the team compete on the same level. You don't hear a lot of about market disparities in the NBA, because it's just not the same issue. Some of that also has to do with basketball being an indoor game, and playing half as many games as baseball does.

 

I simply don't think Cuban is going to view the Cubs and Pirates as having the same long term potential.

 

You might be right. I'd take Cuban in a heartbeat. Dramatic change is exactly what the Cubs need, and switching to Cuban would be a very, very dramatic change.

[Lefty]

How does one merge two threads?

[snoodmonger]

or the next david glass coiuld buy us.

[C.C.]

Perhaps. I think the Mavs were basically thought of on the same terms as the Pirates are right now before Cuban bought them, though.

 

Baseball and basketball are so different though. Even a winning Pittsburgh doesn't bring in the revenue that a losing Cubs does. The market is just different. The A's win all the time, but they still have to have a smaller payroll than say San Francisco or LA.

 

Basketball has a salary cap, and that help make all the team compete on the same level. You don't hear a lot of about market disparities in the NBA, because it's just not the same issue. Some of that also has to do with basketball being an indoor game, and playing half as many games as baseball does.

 

I simply don't think Cuban is going to view the Cubs and Pirates as having the same long term potential.

 

You might be right. I'd take Cuban in a heartbeat. Dramatic change is exactly what the Cubs need, and switching to Cuban would be a very, very dramatic change.

 

That's if the other owners would want to deal with Cuban. He isn't exactly liked in the NBA and baseball is much more conservative.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The biggest strength Cuban has is his approach. He's analytical. I can almost predict that Cuban's FO would not be filled with old school fogies cited BA with RISP as the type of players we are looking to acquire.

 

Furthermore, players would want to play for Cuban. The players locker room in Dallas is the most state of the art of any in the NBA.

 

Cuban might do some things that traditionalists wouldn't like, but I think he would make an excellent owner. I'm sure he could compile enough funds to make a purchase, or at least head up a group that has enough funds.

[Banedon]

How does one merge two threads?

8-)

[Soul]

Perhaps. I think the Mavs were basically thought of on the same terms as the Pirates are right now before Cuban bought them, though.

 

Baseball and basketball are so different though. Even a winning Pittsburgh doesn't bring in the revenue that a losing Cubs does. The market is just different. The A's win all the time, but they still have to have a smaller payroll than say San Francisco or LA.

 

Basketball has a salary cap, and that help make all the team compete on the same level. You don't hear a lot of about market disparities in the NBA, because it's just not the same issue. Some of that also has to do with basketball being an indoor game, and playing half as many games as baseball does.

 

I simply don't think Cuban is going to view the Cubs and Pirates as having the same long term potential.

 

You might be right. I'd take Cuban in a heartbeat. Dramatic change is exactly what the Cubs need, and switching to Cuban would be a very, very dramatic change.

 

That's if the other owners would want to deal with Cuban. He isn't exactly liked in the NBA and baseball is much more conservative.

 

Stipulation: Mark will stay in his luxury box, where he may yell, shout, scream to his heart's content.

 

Deal done. 8)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Loria can shout at umpires from his box seats, I don't see why the owners would mind if Cuban did it too.