Today’s column from CBS Chicago …
(CBS) When the Tribune Company initially put the Chicago Cubs on the auction block back in 2007, I recall telling a friend how I was leery about someone as unpredictable as Mark Cuban ending up with the winning bid for the franchise.
“Who knows what he might do,” I said about the Dallas Mavericks’ mercurial owner. “He might put up a roller coaster in the Wrigley bleachers, or something.”
Well, it turns out that the Ricketts family – those so-called “fan owners” who ended up buying the Cubs instead of Cuban – want to end up doing that anyway.
On Friday, CBSChicago.com reported that a jumbo-sized sticking point has emerged in the negotiations over the rehab of 99-year-old Wrigley Field with the Cubs wanting to erect a giant video screen beyond the bleachers that would measure 6,000 square feet.
That’s about three times the size of the iconic centerfield scoreboard – or probably about as big as a roller coaster.
And at least as gaudy.
CBSChicago.com reported that city officials have suggested a video screen about half that size, but the Cubs have said no, with team spokesman Julian Green telling the Chicago Tribune, “We are exploring adding a video board at Wrigley Field as part of opportunities to increase revenues for the baseball club. One of the points at issue is the size.”
And with that statement, I say to the Ricketts family: Enough.
Continue reading at CBSChicago.com …