Wrigley Renovation Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but is there anything stopping that all from happening at once? Seems like the hotel could be worked on year round...and the reason the project has to go in phases is supposedly due to an offseason-only work schedule and the fact that they can't work in certain areas of the park simultaneously.

 

Not necessarily. But the clubhouse is a huge project. So is the hotel. Two projects that size taking place simultaneously will take up a lot of their time and space in the area. Lots of workers, lots of fenced off sites. Lots of paperwork and inspectors and deadlines, etc. But also they may want to wait on the jumbotron to delay the legal issues. If the rooftops plan to sue the day they start on the jumbotron, it could put other projects in play at the same time at risk. I just think that a combination of many things will mean the jumbotron won't go up in year 1. Just a complete guess though.

[Guest]

Wrigleyville Rooftops Association Statement

 

CHICAGO - Reports this morning indicate that a framework has been reached for the Chicago Cubs to submit plans to the City of Chicago for renovating Wrigley Field.

 

As an organizational partner, we echo the sentiment of all parties involved for our desire that the Cubs play baseball in a modernized Wrigley Field as soon as possible. The players and fans deserve the modern amenities that numerous other Major League Baseball teams have had for years and we are pleased that process will begin. The Wrigleyville Rooftops Association will play an active role in the community process to approve the planned development or any changes to the Landmark Ordinance.

 

"We are pleased the Chicago Cubs will participate in a community process to flesh out these details more in-depth. However, no community process, city ordinance, or agreement without our consent can or should dismiss contractual rights granted to us by the Chicago Cubs in 2004. Rooftop owners reserve the right to use any and all means necessary to enforce the remaining 11 years of our 20-year contract. We, as well as every interested party in the Lakeview neighborhood, will study the plans submitted to the City of Chicago and play a constructive role in moving forward." -Wrigleyville Rooftops Association

[GammonsPocketTweets]

Douches, like always

[Andy]

"Organizational partner". Wow. Just wow.

[Banedon]

Does the rooftop association have any inkling that if they'd played this differently, they could have possibly maintained a beneficial relationship with the Cubs beyond that 11 years? Right now, I'm sure the Cubs have zero interest in accommodating them beyond that 11 years.

[Cubswin11]

"Organizational partner". Wow. Just wow.

Yeah after I read that I stopped reading the rest of the release

[Guest]

Does the rooftop association have any inkling that if they'd played this differently, they could have possibly maintained a beneficial relationship with the Cubs beyond that 11 years? Right now, I'm sure the Cubs have zero interest in accommodating them beyond that 11 years.

 

Hence that language I posted on the last page and their refusal to even humor them on any talks of an extension.

 

The City will maintain and enforce, through 2023, current rooftop capacity limits, current rooftop

height limitations and current advertising ban within the Rooftop District.

[Banedon]

Some guy from Cranes is gonna be on The Score momentarily.

[USSoccer]

These guys are completely deluded as to their importance. I really will enjoy every single moment of schadenfreude as they get their comeuppance.

[Banedon]

Some guy from Cranes is gonna be on The Score momentarily.

 

A little later than they let on, but Greg Hines from Cranes is on now.

[neely crenshaw]

Do they realize exactly how valuable that property would be if they packed up wrigley brick by brick and moved to the suburbs?

 

They(neighborhood) need the Cubs and Wrigley Field, not the other way around. Time to work together and get a deal done before everyone's property value drops to below 0, not just rooftop owners.

[Guest]

Do they realize exactly how valuable that property would be if they packed up wrigley brick by brick and moved to the suburbs?

 

They(neighborhood) need the Cubs and Wrigley Field, not the other way around. Time to work together and get a deal done before everyone's property value drops to below 0, not just rooftop owners.

 

The way it looks, there is a deal done. It just doesn't involve much of a say from the rooftops.

[Guest]

Some guy from Cranes is gonna be on The Score momentarily.

 

A little later than they let on, but Greg Hines from Cranes is on now.

 

He mentioned that one of the rooftop owners stated that the language in the agreement is very fluid and probably wouldn't hold up very well in court...also said that he has heard from others that the language is strong.

 

From what we've heard and from what is happening, I'm guessing the former is closer to the truth.

[Banedon]

Some guy from Cranes is gonna be on The Score momentarily.

 

A little later than they let on, but Greg Hines from Cranes is on now.

 

He mentioned that one of the rooftop owners stated that the language in the agreement is very fluid and probably wouldn't hold up very well in court...also said that he has heard from others that the language is strong.

 

From what we've heard and from what is happening, I'm guessing the former is closer to the truth.

 

Yeah, that guy didn't seem to have a lot of great answers. Seemed not to have much more info than what we already know.

[BeerHere]

Does the rooftop association have any inkling that if they'd played this differently, they could have possibly maintained a beneficial relationship with the Cubs beyond that 11 years? Right now, I'm sure the Cubs have zero interest in accommodating them beyond that 11 years.

 

Hence that language I posted on the last page and their refusal to even humor them on any talks of an extension.

 

The City will maintain and enforce, through 2023, current rooftop capacity limits, current rooftop

height limitations and current advertising ban within the Rooftop District.

 

I like this portion of the agreement: "No new billboards will be allowed within view of the ballpark and the City will explore

protections to prevent ambush marketing in the area around Wrigley Field."

 

I don't know if that is aimed at the rooftop owners or not though. Does anyone remember the Miller Lite billboard that was in right field, maybe a dozen years ago or more...it said something like "Real baseball and real beer, 7.2 miles south". It was on the building that is down the right field foul line. It may have been the same building that has the "AC" counter on it. I'm sure I'm butchering this post but it was a clear marketing shot at the Cubs and Budweiser from the Sox and Miller. That didn't sit well with me and I'm sure it didn't sit well with the Cubs. To me, that is clearly "Ambush Marketing" but so would an agitated rooftop owner putting up some other sign pleading their case to the fans.

[RynoRules]

I hope people stop buying their crappy tickets if the rooftop association tries to injoin construction of the jumbotron. I've been up there a couple of times and hated it. Its not a ball-game so much as it is a basement party that cost you 150-200 bucks to attend.

[Guest]

Does the rooftop association have any inkling that if they'd played this differently, they could have possibly maintained a beneficial relationship with the Cubs beyond that 11 years? Right now, I'm sure the Cubs have zero interest in accommodating them beyond that 11 years.

 

Hence that language I posted on the last page and their refusal to even humor them on any talks of an extension.

 

The City will maintain and enforce, through 2023, current rooftop capacity limits, current rooftop

height limitations and current advertising ban within the Rooftop District.

 

I like this portion of the agreement: "No new billboards will be allowed within view of the ballpark and the City will explore

protections to prevent ambush marketing in the area around Wrigley Field."

 

I don't know if that is aimed at the rooftop owners or not though. Does anyone remember the Miller Lite billboard that was in right field, maybe a dozen years ago or more...it said something like "Real baseball and real beer, 7.2 miles south". It was on the building that is down the right field foul line. It may have been the same building that has the "AC" counter on it. I'm sure I'm butchering this post but it was a clear marketing shot at the Cubs and Budweiser from the Sox and Miller. That didn't sit well with me and I'm sure it didn't sit well with the Cubs. To me, that is clearly "Ambush Marketing" but so would an agitated rooftop owner putting up some other sign pleading their case to the fans.

 

I remember that. I think it was painted on the side of one of the buildings, and was an AM1000 ad for White Sox baseball. "Major League Baseball 8.1 miles south" or something

 

IIRC, the Cubs countered with an ad by Comiskey making fun of their park

[WrigleyField 22]

I hope people stop buying their crappy tickets if the rooftop association tries to injoin construction of the jumbotron. I've been up there a couple of times and hated it. Its not a ball-game so much as it is a basement party that cost you 150-200 bucks to attend.

Its for parties. Just attended my first one on Saturday for a bachelor party. The cold certainly didn't help, but most people (myself included) spent a good chink of time inside at the bar. It wasn't awful, but I wouldn't go again with the intent of watching baseball.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[davell]

I wonder how much it'd cost Ricketts to buy these dumbasses out? Just get them the [expletive] out of the picture. If not, its plausible they could delay this, I suppose.

[jersey cubs fan]

Do they realize exactly how valuable that property would be if they packed up wrigley brick by brick and moved to the suburbs?

 

They(neighborhood) need the Cubs and Wrigley Field, not the other way around. Time to work together and get a deal done before everyone's property value drops to below 0, not just rooftop owners.

 

The Cubs are not going to move. They know this. That is why they aren't negotiating from the standpoint of worrying about what would happen if the Cubs left.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wonder how much it'd cost Ricketts to buy these dumbasses out? Just get them the [expletive] out of the picture. If not, its plausible they could delay this, I suppose.

 

 

probably a whole hell of a lot of money. Like a lot more than the jumbotron would generate over any prolonged period of time.

 

I wouldn't be shocked if they bought out one or two, to try and break up the alliance. All it takes is one owner to realize the potential of a dying business. If they could get air rights to cross Clark street to the hotel, they could conceivably get air rights to have a crosswalk to one or two of the rooftops, which would really open up the possibilities for new revenue streams. Then you'd be left with a couple independent rooftops on the periphery, but the Cubs would have their location to market to bachelor parties and work groups that don't want to rent a suite or buy scattered seats. I don't see that happening though.

[USSoccer]

I hope people stop buying their crappy tickets if the rooftop association tries to injoin construction of the jumbotron. I've been up there a couple of times and hated it. Its not a ball-game so much as it is a basement party that cost you 150-200 bucks to attend.

Its for parties. Just attended my first one on Saturday for a bachelor party. The cold certainly didn't help, but most people (myself included) spent a good chink of time inside at the bar. It wasn't awful, but I wouldn't go again with the intent of watching baseball.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

RAYCESS

[Backtobanks]

Do they realize exactly how valuable that property would be if they packed up wrigley brick by brick and moved to the suburbs?

 

They(neighborhood) need the Cubs and Wrigley Field, not the other way around. Time to work together and get a deal done before everyone's property value drops to below 0, not just rooftop owners.

 

The Cubs are not going to move. They know this. That is why they aren't negotiating from the standpoint of worrying about what would happen if the Cubs left.

 

Not that Ricketts wants to work with the rooftop owners, but I wonder if anyone suggests putting the jumbotron where the current scoreboard is thereby avoiding the whole rooftop view issue. Ricketts would get the added revenue from the jumbotron and still get a cut from the rooftops.

[Guest]

While I was driving to pick up lunch, Bernstein said he spoke to his Cubs source...

 

Going to try to remember everything, but I'll probably miss some.

 

- Said Emanuel still wanted to be disconnected from this, but essentially told Tunney to get it done.

- Said they're not worried about the rooftops, in large part because the rooftops would be up against both the city and the Cubs, and don't have the financial wherewithal to get into a long legal battle with both of those entities.

- Team doesn't expect there is any possibility that a rooftop lawsuit could force an injunction and stop work, and that if there were a rooftop lawsuit, it wouldn't be anything but an annoyance

- Emanuel told Tunney to get on the right side of this, and move away from the rooftops and toward the concerns of the neighborhood.

- Cubs winning PR battle. Neighborhood and public in general just views the rooftops as a mooch according to research by both the team and city.

 

Maybe Brandon was listening and might remember more (or better).

Edited April 15, 2013 by David

[SouthSideRyan]

Do they realize exactly how valuable that property would be if they packed up wrigley brick by brick and moved to the suburbs?

 

They(neighborhood) need the Cubs and Wrigley Field, not the other way around. Time to work together and get a deal done before everyone's property value drops to below 0, not just rooftop owners.

 

The Cubs are not going to move. They know this. That is why they aren't negotiating from the standpoint of worrying about what would happen if the Cubs left.

 

Not that Ricketts wants to work with the rooftop owners, but I wonder if anyone suggests putting the jumbotron where the current scoreboard is thereby avoiding the whole rooftop view issue. Ricketts would get the added revenue from the jumbotron and still get a cut from the rooftops.

 

You wonder if anyone suggest removing the landmark protected scoreboard to replace it with a jumbotron so as to avoid blocking out maybe 1 rooftop in LF with it.

 

Yeah, I wonder too