Wrigley Renovation Thread

[Guest]

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ZLfwlDynJJOp5O.oioycLw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/cubs_mascot_1908_01_27_12.jpg

 

http://hewholaughs.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bear_shining_costume.jpg

[seanimal]

haha, nice

[Guest]

http://www.bleachernation.com/2013/03/11/obsessive-wrigley-renovation-watch-at-least-the-mayor-is-still-prodding-things-along/

 

Brett with a nice update here... Looks like Rahm is, in fact, applying pressure to get things going.

 

Fortunately, shortly after everyone made their public comments, Mayor Emanuel summoned both Tom Ricketts and Alderman Tunney to a meeting, probably designed to keep things moving along.

 

A source told the Tribune that “progress” was made at the meeting, but added that “the Mayor thinks this deal should have been finished a long time ago.”

 

The Sun-Times adds that the biggest holdup right now, per a Cubs source, is the fight between the Cubs and the rooftops/Tunney regarding signs in the ballpark, which have the potential to block rooftop views. You may recall that the rooftops have offered to host ad signage on their buildings, with all revenue going to the Cubs (in exchange for an extension of their deal with the Cubs, and an agreement not to block any of their views), but the Cubs have generally resisted that plan, saying publicly that ads inside the ballpark are much more valuable.

 

Interestingly, an earlier version of the Sun-Times piece had a great deal more detail on the meeting at the Mayor’s Office. A source described the meeting as “fine,” with “no fireworks,” and said that night games were also discussed. The Cubs would like to increase the number of night games allowed at Wrigley Field as one of the funding mechanisms for the renovation (together with increased ad signage, more concerts, and street fairs outside the park). The source said if the Cubs and rooftops can come to an agreement on ad signage, the Mayor “may be prepared to lift the 30-game-per-season ceiling on the number of night games to 44 or 45 games, with some of the dates reserved for concerts and six to ten 3:05pm starts could also be a part of the mix.”

 

Why was that removed from the story? Misquoted? One of the sides put in a frantic call to ask for that piece’s removal because it hurt negotiating position? Maybe Tunney didn’t want neighborhood folks to know that he was using night games as leverage to get a better deal for the rooftops? I’m just spit-ballin’, because I really have no idea. It’s curious, though.

[Guest]

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ZLfwlDynJJOp5O.oioycLw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/cubs_mascot_1908_01_27_12.jpg

 

http://hewholaughs.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bear_shining_costume.jpg

Is there any way to purchase that top picture?

[jiml60]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/1157913/bear-attack-o.gif

 

Why didn't Luke use the Force to stop that bear from mauling the woman?

 

The look on her face as she realizes what is happening is priceless.

[Geech]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/1157913/bear-attack-o.gif

 

Why didn't Luke use the Force to stop that bear from mauling the woman?

 

The look on her face as she realizes what is happening is priceless.

 

The look on her face as she gets mauled by a bear is priceless? What the hell is wrong with you?

[Sammy Sofa]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/1157913/bear-attack-o.gif

 

Why didn't Luke use the Force to stop that bear from mauling the woman?

 

The look on her face as she realizes what is happening is priceless.

 

The look on her face as she gets mauled by a bear is priceless? What the hell is wrong with you?

 

Maybe he's a decadent Roman emperor who has somehow fallen forward in time and is just loving what he knows.

[seanimal]

maybe he just likes snuff films you guys

[Guest]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/1157913/bear-attack-o.gif

 

Why didn't Luke use the Force to stop that bear from mauling the woman?

 

The look on her face as she realizes what is happening is priceless.

 

The look on her face as she gets mauled by a bear is priceless? What the hell is wrong with you?

 

Maybe he's a decadent Roman emperor who has somehow fallen forward in time and is just loving what he knows.

LOL

[Guest]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9047502/wrigley-ivy-choking-life-field

[UMFan83]

Edit: I hate you. I was going to post the link halfway into reading the article, got to the "add reply" screen then decided to read the rest of the article before posting in case Reilly bombed the second half of the article.

 

Anyways, I'm actually stunned that I was attempting to pass on a Reilly article but he did a decent job taking the Cubs side of things.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The Cubs are still one of the top revenue teams in the league, at least until some of those cable deals actually start paying out. Not that the Wrigley shenanigans aren't silly.

[Guest]

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130313/BLOGS02/130319903/where-do-wrigley-field-rebuild-talks-really-stand#ixzz2NWKp2Jgq

 

It's been an interesting few months in the Wrigley saga, filled with proposals and counterproposals, quiet meetings in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office and targeted media leaks and press conferences on both sides. Has any real progress been made?

After talking with all sides this week, I think the answer is yes. Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is far better positioned than he was a year ago, having dropped his request for a big city subsidy in favor of a plea to let him use his own property the way he wants. A deal is much closer — close enough, in fact, that a partial deal could be announced fairly soon that might well give the team enough to begin the reconstruction process.

But a full deal remains elusive — one that would require either the neighboring rooftops to agree to eventually go away or Mr. Ricketts to forgo his desire to run his business without a not-so-silent rooftops partner.

Here's what I hear.

Mr. Emanuel badly wants to get this deal done and ultimately is in position to big-foot Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th, who is strongly allied with the rooftops. But the mayor has political reasons not to want to squash a local alderman, and if what I'm hearing from inside is correct, Mr. Tunney has been reasonable enough to give himself some time.

Realizing that, Team Ricketts has shrewdly pursued a two-prong strategy.

In public, it's upped the ante, announcing plans for a big hotel and health club development on the west side of Clark Street that would means lots of money for everybody. And in private, it's sent signals that, if need be, it can live with the rooftops until a revenue-sharing deal they signed a while ago expires in 2024. That means some new signage, but not enough to block the rooftop views. At least until 2024.

At the same time, progress has been made on some collateral issues: more night games and later starts for afternoon games that now begin at 1:20 p.m. or so. Mr. Tunney wants concessions in return — more police, better parking both on and off site, etc. — but has signaled he can live with something the team wants.

All of that might be able to be accomplished pretty soon — particularly if the Cubs make a boodle by switching TV rights from WGN, which they're considering. The hope is that that would be enough to start up the concrete mixers, since Wrigley really can't wait much longer for major improvements.

 

[J.R.]

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9047502/wrigley-ivy-choking-life-field

But his biggest sportswriter sin here is simply not understanding Cubs baseball. Failing to recognize that the Cubs make money hand over fist and, when it has suited their interests, they have spent it hand over fist. The problem with all of that has been how they’ve chosen to spend it. What, you’re telling me that if Jim Hendry had $73 more million to spend he would have done fewer deals like the ones given to Carlos Zambrano and Alfonso Soriano? That he would have somehow found a way to pay big money for a free agent that wasn’t truly awful? The Cubs have never been one of baseball’s poor sisters. They have been baseball’s poor decision makers often, however.

 

But hey, no need for Reilly to get into that. That would take some thought and critical analysis of what the team’s owners tell him while they’re trying to get the ball rolling on ballpark renovations. And who has time for that?

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/15/wrigley-field-renovations-cubs-economics-dont-worry-rick-reillys-got-this/

[davell]

So.......This Rosemont thing. Are we for this?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

So.......This Rosemont thing. Are we for this?

 

Speaking as someone who has no idea of the layout of Chicago, yes. Screw Wrigley.

[jersey cubs fan]

So.......This Rosemont thing. Are we for this?

 

I'm not a fan of the idea. But I'm all for other locations making offers.

[BeerHere]

So.......This Rosemont thing. Are we for this?

I'm all for it. If nothing else it gives the team some leverage.

[davell]

So.......This Rosemont thing. Are we for this?

 

I'm not a fan of the idea. But I'm all for other locations making offers.

Closest reasonable location, any ideas?

[UMFan83]

Not that anyone is taking this seriously, but Rosemont would be an interesting spot for a new stadium to say the least. The entire village borders O'Hare Airport, so there would be planes taking off directly over/near the field constantly. The village is tiny and pretty much consists of their entertainment district with the Casino, Convention Center, convention/airport hotels, Allstate Arena and retail. I think the entire population of Rosemont is like 4,000. I'm assuming this "prime piece of real estate" would be right in the heart of this.

 

The town borders Chicago to the east (and west since O'Hare is technically part of the city), and is about 10 miles west/northwest of Wrigley Field/Lakeview.

 

Anyways, not gonna happen but I'm glad there is at least one ambitious mayor throwing this out there just to raise the stakes ever so slightly.

 

Edit: Also, I'm not sure if Rosemont would be willing to put any money into this field...probably but I don't think he said anything of the sort. If they were to build a brand new stadium and everything else, there's gotta be a lot more involved than the $300m the Ricketts are putting up.

[BeerHere]

Not that anyone is taking this seriously, but Rosemont would be an interesting spot for a new stadium to say the least. The entire village borders O'Hare Airport, so there would be planes taking off directly over/near the field constantly. The village is tiny and pretty much consists of their entertainment district with the Casino, Convention Center, convention/airport hotels, Allstate Arena and retail. I think the entire population of Rosemont is like 4,000. I'm assuming this "prime piece of real estate" would be right in the heart of this.

 

The town borders Chicago to the east (and west since O'Hare is technically part of the city), and is about 10 miles west/northwest of Wrigley Field/Lakeview.

 

Anyways, not gonna happen but I'm glad there is at least one ambitious mayor throwing this out there just to raise the stakes ever so slightly.

 

Edit: Also, I'm not sure if Rosemont would be willing to put any money into this field...probably but I don't think he said anything of the sort. If they were to build a brand new stadium and everything else, there's gotta be a lot more involved than the $300m the Ricketts are putting up.

Close to the L stop and two major expressways as well. I would rather see Ricketts work the leverage points but if it takes a mayor from another town to step up, I'm all for it. Who knows though...maybe he is doing this as a favor to Tom or something. Either way, at a minimum it will start people thinking. Leverage is good at this point.

[apete6]

Not that anyone is taking this seriously, but Rosemont would be an interesting spot for a new stadium to say the least. The entire village borders O'Hare Airport, so there would be planes taking off directly over/near the field constantly. The village is tiny and pretty much consists of their entertainment district with the Casino, Convention Center, convention/airport hotels, Allstate Arena and retail. I think the entire population of Rosemont is like 4,000. I'm assuming this "prime piece of real estate" would be right in the heart of this.

 

The town borders Chicago to the east (and west since O'Hare is technically part of the city), and is about 10 miles west/northwest of Wrigley Field/Lakeview.

 

Anyways, not gonna happen but I'm glad there is at least one ambitious mayor throwing this out there just to raise the stakes ever so slightly.

 

Edit: Also, I'm not sure if Rosemont would be willing to put any money into this field...probably but I don't think he said anything of the sort. If they were to build a brand new stadium and everything else, there's gotta be a lot more involved than the $300m the Ricketts are putting up.

 

Apparently the location is the west side of I-294 at Balmoral. Directly across the Tollway from the new Outlet Mall that is under construction, the new B1G Headquarters, and the new entertainment district (Movies, Bowling, restaurants, ice skating, etc) and it is adjacent to the Rosemont Metra Station and next to the softball diamond. This location would be about a mile or so from the Rosemont Blue Line stop.

 

Allegedly, Rosemont is offering 25 acres to the team for free. I would assume it is the triangle shaped part of land on the Southwest Corner of I-294 and Balmoral and would also assume that all of those warehouses that are currently there would be part of the deal, allowing the Cubs to build whatever buildings they want, although a lot of it would probably have to be used for parking.

 

Link to map: https://www.google.com/maps?q=i-294+and+balmoral,+rosemont,+il&hl=en&ll=41.97503,-87.868438&spn=0.01809,0.038581&sll=39.739318,-89.266507&sspn=9.575225,19.753418&t=h&hnear=Balmoral+Ave+%26+Interstate+294,+Leyden,+Cook,+Illinois&z=15

 

It would pretty much suck and be a disgrace to the team, but if it helps them get what they want and make Tom Tunney risk losing the Cubs and, basically all of his Ward's sales tax revenue in the process, good for them.

[Guest]

It would pretty much suck and be a disgrace to the team, but if it helps them get what they want and make Tom Tunney risk losing the Cubs and, basically all of his Ward's sales tax revenue in the process, good for them.

I don't think it would be a disgrace to the team at all. I think the city would be the ones in disgrace for not being able to work out a deal with an owner who is willing to foot the entire bill for the project.

[jersey cubs fan]

It would pretty much suck and be a disgrace to the team, but if it helps them get what they want and make Tom Tunney risk losing the Cubs and, basically all of his Ward's sales tax revenue in the process, good for them.

I don't think it would be a disgrace to the team at all. I think the city would be the ones in disgrace for not being able to work out a deal with an owner who is willing to foot the entire bill for the project.

 

Having a stadium butting up against O'Hare would blow. There are multiple runways within a couple hundreds yards of the described location.

 

It would also likely cost the team roughly $1B to build a new stadium worth building, even if they get the land for free.

[apete6]

It would pretty much suck and be a disgrace to the team, but if it helps them get what they want and make Tom Tunney risk losing the Cubs and, basically all of his Ward's sales tax revenue in the process, good for them.

I don't think it would be a disgrace to the team at all. I think the city would be the ones in disgrace for not being able to work out a deal with an owner who is willing to foot the entire bill for the project.

 

Having a stadium butting up against O'Hare would blow. There are multiple runways within a couple hundreds yards of the described location.

 

It would also likely cost the team roughly $1B to build a new stadium worth building, even if they get the land for free.

 

Yeah, playing at a stadium across from the airport and a shopping wall would basically be turning your back on the very reason anyone gives a damn about the shitty franchise for the past 40 years.

 

Now, could you argue that's what they need? Sure, but why can't they have a new philosophy while maintaining their uniqueness?