Zell will consider selling naming rights to Wrigley Field

[Roast]

Also: I too will boycott whatever company buys the rights. Unless, that is, they do something like let it continue to be called "wrigley field" but sell signage inside the stadium.

 

If the name gets changed, though, I stop buying from the company that buys the name.

Ditto.

I'm hoping that if a namechange does happen enough people do this that it makes some kind of impact. Hopefully.

[Schwarber Fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-08-cubs-chicago-spring-trainmar08,1,6291785.story?page=1

 

Kenney said the Wrigley marquee could be changed, despite the landmark provisions.

 

"We believe the First Amendment protects what letters we write on the marquee," he said. "[but] if we said, 'Let's take the marquee off and do something different,' if we were that foolish, we couldn't do that. The structure of the marquee is landmarked. But throughout the ballpark, we've always maintained that with the city, with our advertising, nobody can tell us what our advertising can say or won't say.

 

"Thankfully, we have the First Amendment that protects us. ... We're just changing the letters. If we wanted to call it [a different name], the marquee would look the same. It would just say [a corporate name rather than Wrigley Field over 'Home of Chicago Cubs]. We've modified the lettering."

 

Zell's reputation

 

Does Sam Zell care about his image when he's constantly talking about maximizing revenues?

 

"What do you think? That he cares?" Kenney said. "You've seen the YouTube videos."

 

The Youtube videos are kind of hilarious, but on a serious note, if the change the marquee, I will personally fly to Chicago and change it back.

 

The article also mentions playing part of a season at US Cellular, which I once again cringe at the thought of.

[Tyrant]

 

The Youtube videos are kind of hilarious, but on a serious note, if the change the marquee, I will personally fly to Chicago and change it back.

 

No you won't.

[Laura]

Also: I too will boycott whatever company buys the rights. Unless, that is, they do something like let it continue to be called "wrigley field" but sell signage inside the stadium.

 

If the name gets changed, though, I stop buying from the company that buys the name.

Ditto.

I'm hoping that if a namechange does happen enough people do this that it makes some kind of impact. Hopefully.

 

Too bad it won't be named Tribune Field, then.

[WrigleyField 22]

LOL at uproar

 

It amazes me that some of you guys prefer the idea of having a bunch of signs all over the place from some sponsor instead of a name change. If one of these two issues bothered me all that much, it would be that former.

 

It could be called Apple iField for all I care as long as they keep the park looking more or less the way it does. A bunch of signs plastered all over, on the other hand? That would be intrusive and would be a bit irritating.

This is what I said a couple pages back, and no one really responded with agreement or disagreement. I agree 100%.

 

Give me Corporate field that looks exactly like Wrigley now over Wrigley Field with corporate signs all over.

[Amazing_Grace]

Is there a list of companies that Sam Zell owns in part or in full? I think I'm going to boycott those too.

 

Also, he'd better never come to west Kentucky lest I take a baseball bat to his groinal region.

Or maybe do this.

:flame:

[abuck1220]

if they rename wrigley i'll run on the field and kill myself at 2nd base on opening day.

 

 

seriously, people care about this?

[Roast]

 

 

seriously, people care about this?

Yes. Lots of people actually. And I know, I know, because you don't share the same opinion on the issue then it must be stupid to care about this, but regardless, thousands of people do. Maybe millions.

[Roast]

Is there a list of companies that Sam Zell owns in part or in full?

Apparently it's all real estate

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Zell

[CoBleacherBum]

seriously, people care about this?

 

Yeah, I do. Not enough to commit Harry Caray on second base or anything. ;)

But I'm very much a traditionalist and enjoy the history of the game. I remember not that long ago having bar bets that I could name all the baseball fields and football stadiums, and winning the bet. Now I'm down to knowing only a handful of them because, seriously, AT&T? Chase? Citizens? No thanks. And in a couple of years when American Express buys out Chase we get a name change again.

 

Keep the history of the team. Give me Wrigley. Give me Fenway. Give me Lambeau and and Soldier Field. Those names mean something. Will it prevent me from being a fan? No it won't. Will it prevent me from enjoying the game as much if it isn't Wrigley anymore? No. But a small part of the Cubs that made them special will be going away. At least to me.

[Monco]

Take the money and build a new ballpark.

[abuck1220]

seriously, people care about this?

 

Yeah, I do. Not enough to commit Harry Caray on second base or anything. ;)

But I'm very much a traditionalist and enjoy the history of the game. I remember not that long ago having bar bets that I could name all the baseball fields and football stadiums, and winning the bet. Now I'm down to knowing only a handful of them because, seriously, AT&T? Chase? Citizens? No thanks. And in a couple of years when American Express buys out Chase we get a name change again.

 

 

oh, i didn't realize this ballpark re-naming was going to cause you to lose bar bets as to how many stadiums you could name. by all means, resume the outrage. i truly didn't know.

[abuck1220]

 

 

seriously, people care about this?

Yes. Lots of people actually. And I know, I know, because you don't share the same opinion on the issue then it must be stupid to care about this, but regardless, thousands of people do. Maybe millions.

 

maybe trillions.

[rocket]

i'd be sorta bummed it wouldn't be called wrigley anymore, but i'd get over it in a day. and plus, it's not like everyone here won't refer it to wrigley anyways.

[Anthony]

If the Wrigley family can't pony up a few million dollars to keep their name on the place, after subjecting millions of Cubs fans to 50 years of misery due to their racism and incompetence, then screw them, I'll stop chewing gum and start smoking.

[frostwyrm]

"Worst" quote from the article...

 

Even if the name changes, the Cubs will not change the structure of the marquee above the entrance to the ballpark. However, they can alter the letters in the marquee.

 

"We couldn't take the marquee down," Kenney said. "We believe the First Amendment protects what letters we write on the marquee. If we said, 'Let's take the marquee off and do something different,' we couldn't do that. The structure of the marquee is what's landmarked."

 

WRIGLEY FIDEL. You would just have to rearrange the letters in "Field." Sully would love it.

[Jon]

Trib[/url]"]The Chicago Cubs are closer to a partial stadium-naming-rights deal with one or more major corporations, though the historic Wrigley Field moniker is expected to remain in some fashion, sources close to the situation said Wednesday.

 

Cubs owner Tribune Co. is hoping a combination of deals, involving at least three companies, will bring in $20 million a year over 20 years, a sum that would be on par with selling naming rights to one large corporate sponsor.

 

In addition to a presenting sponsor, the club intends to sell naming rights to various parts of the park, much as the New York Yankees are planning to do with its new stadium, which will open next year and retain the name Yankee Stadium.

 

Sources said the Cubs would likely fetch upward of $12 million a year for partial naming rights. The rest would be generated by sponsorship deals for other sections of the park. It is unclear whether a corporate name would be part of the official name of the building.

...........

The authority is expected to make its bid late this week or early next week. The proposal is expected to include plans for $350 million to $400 million in renovations, and the deal would be financed with 30-year tax-exempt bonds to be paid off with naming rights fees, team lease payments and growth in sales taxes at the park.

 

As Tribune Co. considers it options, sources say Cubs executives have spent time with Yankees officials studying that team's sponsorship model. While traditionalists in Chicago have cried foul over the potential loss of the Wrigley Field name, the Yankees have been reluctant to part with their eponymous stadium name because it is a strong part of their brand identity.

 

Rather than selling naming rights to the entire new stadium, the Yankees are selling portions of it to different corporate sponsors, noted stadium expert Marc Ganis, a consultant on the project.

[CubinNY]

Trib[/url]"]The Chicago Cubs are closer to a partial stadium-naming-rights deal with one or more major corporations, though the historic Wrigley Field moniker is expected to remain in some fashion, sources close to the situation said Wednesday.

 

Cubs owner Tribune Co. is hoping a combination of deals, involving at least three companies, will bring in $20 million a year over 20 years, a sum that would be on par with selling naming rights to one large corporate sponsor.

 

In addition to a presenting sponsor, the club intends to sell naming rights to various parts of the park, much as the New York Yankees are planning to do with its new stadium, which will open next year and retain the name Yankee Stadium.

 

Sources said the Cubs would likely fetch upward of $12 million a year for partial naming rights. The rest would be generated by sponsorship deals for other sections of the park. It is unclear whether a corporate name would be part of the official name of the building.

...........

The authority is expected to make its bid late this week or early next week. The proposal is expected to include plans for $350 million to $400 million in renovations, and the deal would be financed with 30-year tax-exempt bonds to be paid off with naming rights fees, team lease payments and growth in sales taxes at the park.

 

As Tribune Co. considers it options, sources say Cubs executives have spent time with Yankees officials studying that team's sponsorship model. While traditionalists in Chicago have cried foul over the potential loss of the Wrigley Field name, the Yankees have been reluctant to part with their eponymous stadium name because it is a strong part of their brand identity.

 

Rather than selling naming rights to the entire new stadium, the Yankees are selling portions of it to different corporate sponsors, noted stadium expert Marc Ganis, a consultant on the project.

Zell will be forever known as the man that killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. However, he won't care because he will have milked as much money out of his 18 to 24 months of ownership as was humanly possible. Let the next guy figure out how to make a profit.

[DBTman]

Why doesn't some company buy the naming rights, but keep it as Wrigley Field, and ask that the fans support their company so the name doesn't have to change. I would support the hell out of that company. This would work really well if say Budweiser or Old Style were to do this.

[CubinNY]

Why doesn't some company buy the naming rights, but keep it as Wrigley Field, and ask that the fans support their company so the name doesn't have to change. I would support the hell out of that company. This would work really well if say Budweiser or Old Style were to do this.

That's what they are proposing, kind of. What you are suggesting is extortion.

[Derwood]

Why doesn't some company buy the naming rights, but keep it as Wrigley Field, and ask that the fans support their company so the name doesn't have to change. I would support the hell out of that company. This would work really well if say Budweiser or Old Style were to do this.

That's what they are proposing, kind of. What you are suggesting is extortion.

 

that's suicide marketing too. you don't pay $20M/year to NOT have your name/logo/product in every corner of the ballpark.

[kroth1342]

Also: I too will boycott whatever company buys the rights. Unless, that is, they do something like let it continue to be called "wrigley field" but sell signage inside the stadium.

 

If the name gets changed, though, I stop buying from the company that buys the name.

Ditto.

I'm hoping that if a namechange does happen enough people do this that it makes some kind of impact. Hopefully.

 

SMH at you thinking you or a group of people could ever make an impact. Any company that can afford approximately $20 mm for Wrigley naming rights can certainly do without the business of you or 10,000 like minded people (if you could ever quantify the impact like that) - unless you and everyone else is spending thousands and thousands of a year on their products.

 

Accept the naming rights will be sold, hope they can keep Wrigley Field in the name somehow, and hope the money is used to put a better product on the field.

[imb]

oh crap, the price of heroin just went up and now i have to inject it into my forehead on zell's door? that means a ticket to chicago or whatever, too.

 

maybe it would be cheaper just to not give a crap, like everyone else that isn't crazy

[CubinNY]

oh crap, the price of heroin just went up and now i have to inject it into my forehead on zell's door? that means a ticket to chicago or whatever, too.

 

maybe it would be cheaper just to not give a crap, like everyone else that isn't crazy

The naming rights isn't a big thing. What is a big thing is selling Wrigley and the Cubs to different buyers. The Cubs have increased payroll because of Wrigley. If they have to pay rent and split the concessions, they are going to go from a high payroll team to a mid payroll team overnight.

[seanimal]

oh crap, the price of heroin just went up and now i have to inject it into my forehead on zell's door? that means a ticket to chicago or whatever, too.

 

maybe it would be cheaper just to not give a crap, like everyone else that isn't crazy

The naming rights isn't a big thing. What is a big thing is selling Wrigley and the Cubs to different buyers. The Cubs have increased payroll because of Wrigley. If they have to pay rent and split the concessions, they are going to go from a high payroll team to a mid payroll team overnight.

 

The Cell is owned by the same organization that is bidding on Wrigley, and last year the White Sox spent quite a bit of money despite being what is essentially mid-market team.

 

The Cubs have increased payroll because of the success of the team and the demands of fans. Their economic viability has little to do with the building they play in. In some regards, the stadium is actually holding the team back financially.