Cubs have asked for city's permission to install billboard

[daske17]

And the only thing this sign would block is the rooftop billboard across the street. I bet the alderman is getting some kickbacks from the building owner.

 

It's Chicago; of course he is. I can't remember where I read it, but the owner of the building with the Horseshoe ad opposed it because he wants to eventually build another rooftop club there.

[lumafia]

I have an idea...

 

 

 

Build a stadium somewhere else. 8-[

[stuy119]

I have an idea...

 

 

 

Build a stadium somewhere else. 8-[

 

Yes, please. Sometimes I think that I'm one of the few people who likes Wrigley, but prefers the modern amenities of other stadiums.

[J.R.]

Get a room.

[XZero771679666304]

I love Wrigley, but if people want to play hardball, the Ricketts' should play hardball. The ballpark shouldn't become bigger than the team, or become an impediment to generating revenue. The whole idea that this sign would disrupt the aesthetic of the neighborhood is laughable. I appreciate the sentiment behind wanting to keep Wrigley ad-free, but given the limitations of the park and the financial landscape of the game, it just doesn't seem practical to me. People need to remember that Wrigley is a Cubs asset, not a neighborhood asset that they're entitled to milk.

[SouthSideRyan]

I have an idea...

 

 

 

Build a stadium somewhere else. 8-[

 

I've got an idea. Spend 300M to build a new stadium in an inconvenient location that will undoubtedly lower the appeal of the team to the common fan, and thus worsen the franchise as a whole.

[David]

gutting and building a brand new grandstand on the same footprint is the best and only solution

 

 

but then again now they're pouring money into the current grandstand, so who knows...

[Sammy Sofa]

Wrigley is a dumpy, piece of [expletive], but it's a dumpy piece of [expletive] that makes them a ton of money.

[Jeepster]

I thought Wrigley (and the Cubs) prided themselves by not cheapening the ball park with cheezy ads? I went there for the first time in several years a few weeks ago and I couldn't believe the amount of signage they've bastardized that place with. Sorry but the Toyota sign looks ridiculous.

[lumafia]

I have an idea...

 

 

 

Build a stadium somewhere else. 8-[

 

I've got an idea. Spend 300M to build a new stadium in an inconvenient location that will undoubtedly lower the appeal of the team to the common fan, and thus worsen the franchise as a whole.

 

Wow. I guess you're saying that all the Cub fans that come out in droves to see the Cubs play on the road are just there because of Wrigley? Listen, I understand what you are saying. And I understand that Wrigley does make them some money. However, my personal opinion is that Wrigley has served it's purpose. Wrigley served the purpose of converting the casual baseball fan who came out to see a game into a Cub fan. The Cubs have one of the largest fan bases in all of baseball and it has nothing to do with today's Wrigley field.

 

If you build it, they will come. The fact is that Wrigley will inevitably limit the revenue opportunities for this franchise. The fewer advertising opportunities and activies available at the ballpark will simply inflate ticket prices, and people will stop coming anyway. Wrigley's days are almost over. It's time for the organization to pre-emptively begin the search for a new location. It'll be cheaper than waiting for fans to stop coming because of high ticket prices and the city or contractors hold them hostage for an overly-ridiculous price.

[jersey cubs fan]

I have an idea...

 

 

 

Build a stadium somewhere else. 8-[

 

I've got an idea. Spend 300M to build a new stadium in an inconvenient location that will undoubtedly lower the appeal of the team to the common fan, and thus worsen the franchise as a whole.

 

Wow. I guess you're saying that all the Cub fans that come out in droves to see the Cubs play on the road are just there because of Wrigley? Listen, I understand what you are saying. And I understand that Wrigley does make them some money. However, my personal opinion is that Wrigley has served it's purpose. Wrigley served the purpose of converting the casual baseball fan who came out to see a game into a Cub fan. The Cubs have one of the largest fan bases in all of baseball and it has nothing to do with today's Wrigley field.

 

If you build it, they will come. The fact is that Wrigley will inevitably limit the revenue opportunities for this franchise. The fewer advertising opportunities and activies available at the ballpark will simply inflate ticket prices, and people will stop coming anyway. Wrigley's days are almost over. It's time for the organization to pre-emptively begin the search for a new location. It'll be cheaper than waiting for fans to stop coming because of high ticket prices and the city or contractors hold them hostage for an overly-ridiculous price.

 

I'm not sure how it would be cheaper. At a minimum you are probably talking about a $600,000,000 investment. And when you want to build a new stadium, there are just as many hurdles to deal with city/state officials, not to mention the corrupt entities that would actually build it. You aren't getting public money for such a project anytime soon. And in the end, you might end up in some crappy suburban location that's convenient for the handful of people who live near it, but absolutely nobody else.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think you're mistaken if you think the majority of fans that come to Wrigley(or most any ballpark) are hardcore fans that will follow the team anywhere. Wrigley (and the neighborhood) is an experience even for those who are big time baseball fans.

 

You said so yourself, they wouldn't be able to get away with charging more for tickets. How exactly is a new stadium going to increase revenues?

[Derwood]

I think you're mistaken if you think the majority of fans that come to Wrigley(or most any ballpark) are hardcore fans that will follow the team anywhere. Wrigley (and the neighborhood) is an experience even for those who are big time baseball fans.

 

You said so yourself, they wouldn't be able to get away with charging more for tickets. How exactly is a new stadium going to increase revenues?

 

do you think the Red Sox fan base would diminish if you built a new park in a different location? How many of their fans only go for Fenway/the neighborhood experience?

[SouthSideRyan]

I think you're mistaken if you think the majority of fans that come to Wrigley(or most any ballpark) are hardcore fans that will follow the team anywhere. Wrigley (and the neighborhood) is an experience even for those who are big time baseball fans.

 

You said so yourself, they wouldn't be able to get away with charging more for tickets. How exactly is a new stadium going to increase revenues?

 

do you think the Red Sox fan base would diminish if you built a new park in a different location? How many of their fans only go for Fenway/the neighborhood experience?

 

I don't know enough about the Red Sox to answer too in-depth. The scene around Fenway is not comparable to the scene around Wrigley though. I don't know what Boston's comparitive Naperville is, but if they have one and moved a park there, then yes, they'd absolutely lose money.

[Jon]

I'm not sure why people just assume it's only Wrigley's charm that gets people to Cubs games. It's also incredibly convenient to get to for a very large number of people. Jump on a bus or train, grab some food, hit a bar, go to a night game.

 

If there's one thing people in the city would love it's giving up an easy trip to Wrigley after work in order to spend 2 hours making their way to Schaumburg.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not sure why people just assume it's only Wrigley's charm that gets people to Cubs games. It's also incredibly convenient to get to for a very large number of people. Jump on a bus or train, grab some food, hit a bar, go to a night game.

 

If there's one thing people in the city would love it's giving up an easy trip to Wrigley after work in order to spend 2 hours making their way to Schaumburg.

 

There's a reason NY's football teams thrive when located nowhere near public transit while the baseball teams are surrounded by trains. Fans will drive anywhere 8 Sundays a year. Not so for 81 days a summer. The only non-Wrigley option is suburban, and suburban baseball does not sell east of LA.

[ConstableRabbit]

I'm not sure why people just assume it's only Wrigley's charm that gets people to Cubs games. It's also incredibly convenient to get to for a very large number of people. Jump on a bus or train, grab some food, hit a bar, go to a night game.

 

If there's one thing people in the city would love it's giving up an easy trip to Wrigley after work in order to spend 2 hours making their way to Schaumburg.

 

There's a reason NY's football teams thrive when located nowhere near public transit while the baseball teams are surrounded by trains. Fans will drive anywhere 8 Sundays a year. Not so for 81 days a summer. The only non-Wrigley option is suburban, and suburban baseball does not sell east of LA.

And even in LA fans arrive late and leave early

 

...because it's hard/annoying to get to!

[J.R.]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/06/toyota-sign-at-wrigley-field-gets-green-light.html

 

This is a disgrace.

[Sammy Sofa]

This is great. Hopefully it's only the beginning. Bring in that dough!

[TruffleShuffle]

put some logos on lou's gut while you're at it; Lord knows there's enough space there.

[daske17]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2010/06/toyota-sign-at-wrigley-field-gets-green-light.html

 

This is a disgrace.

 

This is progress.

[E.J.]

They put the sign up today.

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/06/toyota-sign-goes-up-at-wrigley-field.html

[J.R.]

Not gonna lie ... I think Toyota got ripped off!

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/1275915727324545.jpg

 

That piece of [expletive] is so very easily ignored ...

 

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y225/southfork76/1275915727324741.jpg

[XZero771679666304]

Honest question JR, would care about this at all if it were a GM sign and not Toyota?

[J.R.]

I would not care at all. Advertising in the park is a fact I've accepted — it's the content that bothers me.