Rooftop Owners to Pay Chicago Cubs

[sleuth]

Way to go MLB!!! Alienate your fans even more than they already are!!!



CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs and most owners of rooftop bleachers that overlook Wrigley Field have reached an agreement that would require the owners to pay the team millions of dollars a year, officials said.

Under the 20-year agreement, owners of 11 buildings have to give the Cubs 17 percent of their gross revenue, Alderman Thomas Tunney said Sunday. With about 1,700 seats on the rooftops, it could cost owners more than $2 million a year.

Owners for two of the 13 buildings did not agree to the deal and plan to take the issue to trial.

Calls to the Cubs by The Associated Press were not immediately returned Monday.

The Cubs had been arguing with the rooftop owners over plans to expand the stadium without obstructing the view from the rooftops. After negotiations broke down, the Cubs sued the owners in December 2002. The lawsuit accused the owners of stealing the team's product, copyright infringement and unjust enrichment at the Cubs' expense.

"This issue is really between two successful businesses, and I'm glad they can reach an agreement out of court," said Tunney, whose ward includes the ballpark.

Sources close to the deal told the Chicago Tribune that the agreement awaits the parties' signatures and court approval.

The Cubs' agreement does not affect the team's wish to add about 2,000 bleacher seats. A source close to the rooftop owners' side, however, argued that by taking a large cut on each seat the team essentially is getting an expansion.

Tunney said if the bleachers are expanded within eight years, the agreement requires the Cubs to compensate rooftop owners whose views are obstructed.

The Cubs are owned by the Tribune Co., which also owns the Chicago Tribune.

[jlabsher]

The thing is that the owners of the buildings charge people to watch the game from the rooftop. In the old days only the people who lived in the buildings + their friends would go up to the roof with a lawnchair & a sixpack to see the game. Now they have bleachers, beer & food and all that. Cubbies figured - and rightly so - that if these owners were making a profit off their product they should get a cut.

They will get around $2M each year, that can buy a decent pitcher to help go against Roger (I'm retired) Clemons in the NL Central.

[Ken King]

If the Cubs don't want people viewing outside the stadium let them build a wall like at Fenway Park. The two building owners going to court will probably make out just fine.

[jlabsher]

The city doesn't want them to build a wall, spoils the "architectural integrity" of Wrigley field & wrigleyville. The cubs had sued the city to expand, apparently all sides are bitchers & moaners.

[sleuth]

Originally posted by jlabsher
The thing is that the owners of the buildings charge people to watch the game from the rooftop. In the old days only the people who lived in the buildings + their friends would go up to the roof with a lawnchair & a sixpack to see the game. Now they have bleachers, beer & food and all that. Cubbies figured - and rightly so - that if these owners were making a profit off their product they should get a cut.

I once shopped for housing in Chicago, and I can assure you, the owners already pay a premium for that property for the simple reason that it has rooftop viewing available.

The owners should have a right to use their property how they see fit. If they want to let strangers into their homes to watch Cubs games, so be it. They should be allowed to capitalize on their investments and their proximity to the field. And if the Cubs want to stop it, do what KK said... build a wall. Sure, the city can b!tch and moan, but it's up to the Cubs whether they want to p!ss off their fans or p!ss off the city...

Whether they sue or build a wall, they're going to do both. The only win-win situation for them is to let a sleeping dog lie.