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Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Field?
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Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:27 am ]
Post subject:  Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Field?

Was this a huge mistake? From what I've been reading on this board and hearing over the airwaves, Wrigley is a decrepit shithole and Cub fans can't wait for the convenience and greatness of a three times scale replica in Rosemont, Illinois where they can stare at signs that put more money in a billionaire's pocket. Northwestern could have signed a deal to play at comfortable U.S. Cellular Field or state-of the-art Soldier Field instead. Is the brain trust at NU dumber than the average Cubs fan? Why wouldn't they want to be Rosemont's Big Ten team?

Author:  conns7901 [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

They like playing on fields too small to go more than way offensively?

Author:  Baby McNown [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 7:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

JORR are you a member of the Rooftop Owners Association or something? Jesus.

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

I care about the finances of the rooftop owners about as much as I care about those of Tom Ricketts.

I'm asking a question. Why would Northwestern wheel and deal to get into such a crappy place to play? And how could the Cubs, knowing full well how crappy it is and how much better things are in Rosemont, sell that place to some dupes up in Evanston? Are they scumbags?

Author:  conns7901 [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I care about the finances of the rooftop owners about as much as I care about those of Tom Ricketts.

I'm asking a question. Why would Northwestern wheel and deal to get into such a crappy place to play? And how could the Cubs, knowing full well how crappy it is and how much better things are in Rosemont, sell that place to some dupes up in Evanston? Are they scumbags?


It's a novelty act.

Are you expecting sell out crowds for Northwestern Baseball at Wrigley to?

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I care about the finances of the rooftop owners about as much as I care about those of Tom Ricketts.

I'm asking a question. Why would Northwestern wheel and deal to get into such a crappy place to play? And how could the Cubs, knowing full well how crappy it is and how much better things are in Rosemont, sell that place to some dupes up in Evanston? Are they scumbags?


It's a novelty act.

Are you expecting sell out crowds for Northwestern Baseball at Wrigley to?


I'm expecting larger crowds than they'd have in Evanston or Rosemont. How about you?

Author:  RFDC [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

:lol: Northwestern at the Cell :lol:

Author:  conns7901 [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I care about the finances of the rooftop owners about as much as I care about those of Tom Ricketts.

I'm asking a question. Why would Northwestern wheel and deal to get into such a crappy place to play? And how could the Cubs, knowing full well how crappy it is and how much better things are in Rosemont, sell that place to some dupes up in Evanston? Are they scumbags?


It's a novelty act.

Are you expecting sell out crowds for Northwestern Baseball at Wrigley to?


I'm expecting larger crowds than they'd have in Evanston or Rosemont. How about you?


I think they would get higher crowds at the Cell or the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium to. It is a novelty act. After a couple games they will draw peanuts.

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

RFDC wrote:
:lol: Northwestern at the Cell :lol:


Why not? It's better than Wrigley, right? I mean if the Cubs played at U.S. Cellular people would come from Uzbekistan in February just to stand on 35th Street, wouldn't they? That's the reach of the Cubs brand.

Author:  RFDC [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
RFDC wrote:
:lol: Northwestern at the Cell :lol:


Why not? It's better than Wrigley, right? I mean if the Cubs played at U.S. Cellular people would come from Uzbekistan in February just to stand on 35th Street, wouldn't they? That's the reach of the Cubs brand.

:lol: JORR you are the best man. Keep up the good work.

I guess if the Cell is empty for baseball might as well be empty for college football too.

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I care about the finances of the rooftop owners about as much as I care about those of Tom Ricketts.

I'm asking a question. Why would Northwestern wheel and deal to get into such a crappy place to play? And how could the Cubs, knowing full well how crappy it is and how much better things are in Rosemont, sell that place to some dupes up in Evanston? Are they scumbags?


It's a novelty act.

Are you expecting sell out crowds for Northwestern Baseball at Wrigley to?


I'm expecting larger crowds than they'd have in Evanston or Rosemont. How about you?


I think they would get higher crowds at the Cell or the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium to. It is a novelty act. After a couple games they will draw peanuts.


Well, first of all, it's about the football. The other stuff is just a treat for the other programs. A kid playing baseball at NU is going to be excited about playing a game at the Friendly Confines of Beautiful Wrigley Field. And why do you think that is? Because Wrigley is the equivalent of some replica in Rosemont or even a comfortable MLB ballpark in Bridgeport?

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

RFDC wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
RFDC wrote:
:lol: Northwestern at the Cell :lol:


Why not? It's better than Wrigley, right? I mean if the Cubs played at U.S. Cellular people would come from Uzbekistan in February just to stand on 35th Street, wouldn't they? That's the reach of the Cubs brand.

:lol: JORR you are the best man. Keep up the good work.

I guess if the Cell is empty for baseball might as well be empty for college football too.


Do you really think a Big Ten game wouldn't sell out at U.S. Cellular? And if so, why not? Are you trying to help make my point?

Author:  RFDC [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
RFDC wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
RFDC wrote:
:lol: Northwestern at the Cell :lol:


Why not? It's better than Wrigley, right? I mean if the Cubs played at U.S. Cellular people would come from Uzbekistan in February just to stand on 35th Street, wouldn't they? That's the reach of the Cubs brand.

:lol: JORR you are the best man. Keep up the good work.

I guess if the Cell is empty for baseball might as well be empty for college football too.


Do you really think a Big Ten game wouldn't sell out at U.S. Cellular? And if so, why not? Are you trying to help make my point?

Of course Chicago's Big team team would sell it out.

Author:  conns7901 [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
I think they would get higher crowds at the Cell or the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium to. It is a novelty act. After a couple games they will draw peanuts.


Well, first of all, it's about the football. The other stuff is just a treat for the other programs. A kid playing baseball at NU is going to be excited about playing a game at the Friendly Confines of Beautiful Wrigley Field. And why do you think that is? Because Wrigley is the equivalent of some replica in Rosemont or even a comfortable MLB ballpark in Bridgeport?[/quote]

You don't think they would be just as excited to play at he Cell or any MLB park?

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
conns7901 wrote:
I think they would get higher crowds at the Cell or the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium to. It is a novelty act. After a couple games they will draw peanuts.


Well, first of all, it's about the football. The other stuff is just a treat for the other programs. A kid playing baseball at NU is going to be excited about playing a game at the Friendly Confines of Beautiful Wrigley Field. And why do you think that is? Because Wrigley is the equivalent of some replica in Rosemont or even a comfortable MLB ballpark in Bridgeport?


You don't think they would be just as excited to play at he Cell or any MLB park?


No. I don't even think big leaguers are. How many times have you heard a young major leaguer waxing on about "Wrigley, the history, the ivy, this is where the Babe called his shot, man!"

Author:  conns7901 [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
conns7901 wrote:
Joe Orr Road Rod wrote:
conns7901 wrote:
I think they would get higher crowds at the Cell or the Windy City Thunderbolts stadium to. It is a novelty act. After a couple games they will draw peanuts.


Well, first of all, it's about the football. The other stuff is just a treat for the other programs. A kid playing baseball at NU is going to be excited about playing a game at the Friendly Confines of Beautiful Wrigley Field. And why do you think that is? Because Wrigley is the equivalent of some replica in Rosemont or even a comfortable MLB ballpark in Bridgeport?


You don't think they would be just as excited to play at he Cell or any MLB park?


No. I don't even think big leaguers are. How many times have you heard a young major leaguer waxing on about "Wrigley, the history, the ivy, this is where the Babe called his shot, man!"


Little different between a an MLB player being excited to play somewhere and a college kid who will more than likely never make it. Our high school kids get excited to play at Minor League stadiums in the area, to say a kid wouldn't be excited to play at any MLB park is ridiculous.

Author:  KDdidit [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 11:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

conns7901 wrote:
You don't think they would be just as excited to play at he Cell or any MLB park?

As someone who played a college baseball game in the Metrodome, it wasn't very exciting.

Author:  Brick [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

1) It's a fun bar area.
2) It's a pretty cool gimmick(just like NIU playing in Soldier Field, Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium, the Winter Classic in Michigan Stadium).
3) It's close to Northwestern
4) Wrigley is privately owned so it was probably pretty easy to make a deal.

The better question is why does U of I and other Big Ten schools have no desire to give up a home game to play there? Why wouldn't Illinois just shut down Memorial Stadium and play every game at Wrigley? How can they make more money playing in Champaign? Why wouldn't Northwestern play every game there?

Clearly, if the Cubs left Wrigley, they'd lose the ability to sell nostalgia. The question is what can they recreate. Clearly, a nice bar area, ivy and a scoreboard, and the ambiance of not putting in a bunch of pre taped music could be. They'd also be able to shut down the rooftop leeches, sell sky boxes and better premium seating, take a cut of the rents by the local bar owners, make money on parking, and still have good public transportation options available.

Not to mention, the Cubs could still keep Wrigley open, play 10-20 games a year there, have concerts and football games, and offer tours, and have ice skating rinks if they wanted still because it's not like they are going to tear down Wrigley Field.

Author:  Scorehead [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Jorr, are you Tom Tunneys Boyfriend?

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 4:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

Scorehead wrote:
Jorr, are you Tom Tunneys Boyfriend?


No, your wife's.

Author:  No Clever Moniker [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

The answer is BRick, for #1, #2, #3. & #4.

#5, so long as Pat Ryan is alive NU will never set foot in Reinsdorf's tax funded stadium.

#4, Anything to grow the Wrigley/Cubs brand is A-Ok with the Rickets.

#3, Its too easy and familiar an "L" ride make. Most student know to get off before Roosevelt, and few rarely venture further south.

#2, Its the kind of fun/cool gimmick that wins all around, except for football purists who believe the teams ought to move and defend in the same direction. Damn purists, why don't they pick on arena ball

#1, Do the math. They aren't going to Soldiers (no bars), Its fucking Wrigleyville, you can take the "L" and can buy your return ticket as well, we know the route and area already (where do you think NU people go to have alcohol infused fun?), its fucking Wrigley so you know it will suck in a cool way, and #1 - We get to start drinking in Wrigleyville early!

All the fun of going to the game, more fun than trying to catch a tailgate, we can hit a bar by halftime and stay warm, getting home is a cool ride so long as nobody is passed out.

Author:  My_name_1s_MUD [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

The first game was a blast. I had 20 friends fly in from out of town for the game. However, the wont do it again. I have to think you have diminishing returns. Season tix picked up after the gimmick. But I just don't think they can do it again. This deal is basically a handshake with no real commitments. Perhaps Cubs are giving them a deal to get other schools to try to replicate it once they redo the field to make 2-way football possible. Who knows.

Author:  JORR [ Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

My_name_1s_MUD wrote:
The first game was a blast. I had 20 friends fly in from out of town for the game. However, the wont do it again. I have to think you have diminishing returns. Season tix picked up after the gimmick. But I just don't think they can do it again. This deal is basically a handshake with no real commitments. Perhaps Cubs are giving them a deal to get other schools to try to replicate it once they redo the field to make 2-way football possible. Who knows.


Of course it was a blast. Wrigley is a great place to watch a baseball (or a football) game. You're probably right about diminishing returns. They shouldn't do it so much that it ceases to be a special thing.


But here's a question. Would your 20 friends have flown in for a game at Sox Park?

Author:  good dolphin [ Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Why did Northwestern sign on to play games at Wrigley Fi

the Cell will be booked through October

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