Replace the Scoreboard?

[Sammy Sofa]

Looks like any jumbotron to the side of the existing scoreboard might make a few rooftop partners "obstructed view". That said, Tom Ricketts is the guy for the job.

 

http://www.bleachernation.com/wrigley-arial-pitch2.jpg

Tons of room in straightaway LF though. Surely why that location was chosen for the Toyota sign.

 

Put a video board there with a Toyota logo on the top.

 

They need to get some of that mad phat Coke money like Boston did and SF is.

[jersey cubs fan]

dunkin

[Guest]

Will be nice when we can have a real TV deal. That's when the [expletive] will really hit the fan for the rest of the NL Central.

[J.R.]

I think you would have to replace the current board, or somehow do an addition to the top as illustrated earlier. A monster screen to the left would ruin the relative symmetry of the outfield design, and anything small enough to fit on a rooftop would be too small to be worth a damn.

 

I have yet to see anything on a video board that added to my ballpark experience, and the aural diarrhea that accompanies the video nearly ruined the experience at several parks.

 

They could get close to the same money with less investment/complications by installing a ribbon board all the way across the upper deck railing.

[XZero771679666304]

Will be nice when we can have a real TV deal. That's when the [expletive] will really hit the fan for the rest of the NL Central.

 

 

Throw up a Jumbotron in left and establish a Cubs network and the Cubs become Evil Empire Midwest. And I'd be fine with that.

[Guest]

With Theo on board, I'm sure OUR jumbotron would show WAR, advanced defensive metrics and such when hitters came to the plate. :)

[davearm2]

With Theo on board, I'm sure OUR jumbotron would show WAR, advanced defensive metrics and such when hitters came to the plate. :)

It would be a bit odd to show defensive metrics when a guy bats, no?

[Guest]

I think you would have to replace the current board, or somehow do an addition to the top as illustrated earlier. A monster screen to the left would ruin the relative symmetry of the outfield design, and anything small enough to fit on a rooftop would be too small to be worth a damn.

 

I have yet to see anything on a video board that added to my ballpark experience, and the aural diarrhea that accompanies the video nearly ruined the experience at several parks.

 

They could get close to the same money with less investment/complications by installing a ribbon board all the way across the upper deck railing.

 

 

There's more than a couple stadiums whose main scoreboard is off-center, if not straightaway RF or LF.

 

 

Personally, I'm torn on the jumbotron issue. It would certainly cause some annoyances, and all but eliminate Wrigley's remaining essence as a "pure" baseball viewing experience. On the other hand, it would certainly be a very nice moneymaker, and things as they stand now are noticeably sparse when it comes to in-game information/video. I don't know if I'll be leading the jumbotron campaign, but I don't think I'll complain either.

[Conky]

Will be nice when we can have a real TV deal. That's when the [expletive] will really hit the fan for the rest of the NL Central.

 

This. Screw you Sam Zell.

[Guest]

Will be nice when we can have a real TV deal. That's when the [expletive] will really hit the fan for the rest of the NL Central.

 

When does the current TV deal run out?

[Sammy Sofa]

Will be nice when we can have a real TV deal. That's when the [expletive] will really hit the fan for the rest of the NL Central.

 

When does the current TV deal run out?

 

Not sure (for some reason I'm thinking 2015 or 2016), but this article from 2009 does a good job of describing how the Cubs' have been getting the shaft when it comes to televising their games:

 

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=38307405

 

What a mess.

[mrpink99]

How about put a jumbotron in that wasteland that was once the centerfield bleachers? It would be a blank green screen during play and only show video in between innings & before & after the game.

 

Either that or tear down the old scoreboard and replace it with a jumbotron that 99% of the time projects a digital model of the old manual scoreboard and even has animation that looks like the old number tiles being replaced when runs are scored, but can switch to HD video/adverstising when appropriate.

[Guest]

I wonder if the theoretical Cubs TV Network could be a joint venture with the Blackhawks, seeing as how the two organizations are pretty friendly with one another.

 

I'd imagine they'd have to pull out of their CSN ownership stakes?

[Sammy Sofa]

NO HOCKEYS ALLOWED

[Guest]

NO HOCKEYS ALLOWED

 

I hate hockey... but it seems like the best fit if we're going to have anything but 100% Cubs programming 100% of the time.

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, with the Cubs moving from WGN and Comcast I think you'd potentially have the other teams in town (obviously besides the Bears) wanted to look to fill that void as opposed to playing second banana on a start-up network.

[ConstableRabbit]

Put me solidly in the anti-jumbotron camp. Not having a huge video display is one of the things that makes Wrigley special. This summer I had the opportunity to visit AT&T park for a few games and was really excited. When I got there it felt like I was on a basketball game or cruise ship with all of the gimmicks on the scoreboard.

 

There are other ways the Cubs could make money, and other creative ways they could advertise/show replays in-game (e.g., in-stadium website for smartphones, sponsored by a wireless carrier).

[Guest]

Well, with the Cubs moving from WGN and Comcast I think you'd potentially have the other teams in town (obviously besides the Bears) wanted to look to fill that void as opposed to playing second banana on a start-up network.

 

Wouldn't having the second team make it an easier sell to the providers?

 

Or do the Cubs have enough cache on their own to get big checks from the DirecTV's and Dish Networks right off the bat?

 

I honestly don't know much about this. I'm just spitballing, Mojo style.

[Guest]

Put me solidly in the anti-jumbotron camp. Not having a huge video display is one of the things that makes Wrigley special. This summer I had the opportunity to visit AT&T park for a few games and was really excited. When I got there it felt like I was on a basketball game or cruise ship with all of the gimmicks on the scoreboard.

 

There are other ways the Cubs could make money, and other creative ways they could advertise/show replays in-game (e.g., in-stadium website for smartphones, sponsored by a wireless carrier).

 

 

I was looking at the old bleacher expansion threads last night (don't ask why... I don't have much to do when I can't sleep at 2AM on a monday night)...Anyway, iirc, you were one of the people that wasn't real happy with it. Just wondering how you feel about it in hindsight and if it still bothers you. Genuinely curious, not being a smart ass or anything.

 

 

That guy YearofDaCubs or whatever with that robot thing as his avatar was REALLY mad about it.

[ConstableRabbit]

Put me solidly in the anti-jumbotron camp. Not having a huge video display is one of the things that makes Wrigley special. This summer I had the opportunity to visit AT&T park for a few games and was really excited. When I got there it felt like I was on a basketball game or cruise ship with all of the gimmicks on the scoreboard.

 

There are other ways the Cubs could make money, and other creative ways they could advertise/show replays in-game (e.g., in-stadium website for smartphones, sponsored by a wireless carrier).

 

 

I was looking at the old bleacher expansion threads last night (don't ask why... I don't have much to do when I can't sleep at 2AM on a monday night)...Anyway, iirc, you were one of the people that wasn't real happy with it. Just wondering how you feel about it in hindsight and if it still bothers you. Genuinely curious, not being a smart ass or anything.

 

 

That guy YearofDaCubs or whatever with that robot thing as his avatar was REALLY mad about it.

Haha I was against it? I think that the expansion actually turned out really well. I don't think I was as well-read on the concept and I was also a lot younger (what was that, 2005?) and hence, more naive. What was important was that they kept a look and feel that was consistent with the rest of the park.

 

I don't think that's really possible with a jumbotron.

[Derwood]

One jumbotron on either side of the scoreboard

 

Jumbotrons are double-sided, broadcasting the TV feed on the rooftop side

 

Ta-Da!

 

/end stupidest idea ever

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, with the Cubs moving from WGN and Comcast I think you'd potentially have the other teams in town (obviously besides the Bears) wanted to look to fill that void as opposed to playing second banana on a start-up network.

 

Wouldn't having the second team make it an easier sell to the providers?

 

Or do the Cubs have enough cache on their own to get big checks from the DirecTV's and Dish Networks right off the bat?

 

I honestly don't know much about this. I'm just spitballing, Mojo style.

 

Same here.

 

And I'm not saying the Cubs wouldn't necessarily not want another team on the network with them; I'm thinking the other major Chicago teams probably wouldn't want join in for such a start-up with WGN and Comcast more "open" in the Cubs' wake.

[drcub1908]

I dont like the idea of a jumbo-tron at Wrigley myself..

when I mentioned it could be retractable, the point of that was to say here is a jumbo-tron

during batting practice and before the game and advertise to the fans at the ballpark in some way

but when game started. then drop it down...not a real good plan...but how many times do you

get to see a jumbo-tron advertisement DURING the game ?

 

so that was the reason I suggested that concept....

could be raised for the 7th inning stretch and sing along with Harry ...

( CAUSE I HATE THE GUEST CONDUCTORS )....

[Guest]

 

I don't think that's really possible with a jumbotron.

 

 

I can't really come up with a way it would be, either...unless it's outside the park somehow. But I trust/expect, based on the stuff they've already done and the tons of red tape it would take to get it approved, that whatever they do, if they do figure a way out, would be fairly tasteful.

[Banedon]

Put me solidly in the anti-jumbotron camp. Not having a huge video display is one of the things that makes Wrigley special. This summer I had the opportunity to visit AT&T park for a few games and was really excited. When I got there it felt like I was on a basketball game or cruise ship with all of the gimmicks on the scoreboard.

 

There are other ways the Cubs could make money, and other creative ways they could advertise/show replays in-game (e.g., in-stadium website for smartphones, sponsored by a wireless carrier).

 

Come on. At some point don't we have to let go of the "we're special cuz of X thing that doesn't make the team on the field any better"?

 

If it took tearing Wrigley to the ground, and building a new ballpark for the Cubs to win a WS, I'd be all for it.