because Brick claims Cub fans would brag about rooftops, doesnt actually make it correct.

yes, the Cubs showed the Rooftops on many broadcasts.

ask yourself the simple question. Would you invest $30 mill thinking the cubs would never build a second level? a scoreboard? a Wall? probably not. I dont care wat designation is on the place or what the zoning says, those things are always changed or modified.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

If people don't understand that Wrigley is special, then they have blinders on. I get guys like Mac who will call it a dump and prefer updated venues. Honestly, the Cell in the lower bowl is fun. I have seen a lot of games there, and they have some of the best food. Parking and/or the El makes getting in/out easy. The outfield concourse is one of the best in baseball. But Wrigley is so vastly different than anywhere else. And baseball is a sport built on history. Maybe that doesn't mean anything to guys who are mostly football fans. As someone who loves baseball deeply, Wrigley means a lot to me. I want them to update it and make it better, but they need to retain as much as the character as possible. My friend just got season tickets for the upcoming year, and I am so excited to have access to many more games. I used to do 15 games a year, and I am hoping to break double digits this year.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

As a neighbor , fan and season ticket holder, modernize the crap out of the place and win.

I guess they could have said it would be impossible to save the park and just asked the state then for the money to rebuild or they will move.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Ok. I'm lying about my personal experience. No one has ever said that the rooftops help make Wrigley a special place.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Got 5 games for sale for $2000 (Cost) if interested

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

They could have but they'd have to sell the park to the city or state.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

If I had a contract with the team, I might. As a finance guy, I'd have to run the numbers. I would require at least a 10% net return on the $30M, meaning $3M per year in positive cash flow. Also, with real estate, a lot of folks bank on the capital gains from the appreciation of the property. Many sharp real estate investors (larges REITs) accept cap rates of only 5-6% because the low cost of debt capital and the capital appreciation.

I am not going to spend my morning guessing on the potential cash flow of a building. My investment would be pure economics, not love of the team. Although I am willing to spend whatever it takes to see a World Series Game in Wrigley as I did with the Hawks in the Stanley Cup. Insert Cubs joke here.....

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Hawaii (fuck) You

You have good seats if I recall? Are those for four seats?

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Hawaii (fuck) You

if you remember that option was explored when Sammy owned the team and Jerry would then get his hand in the deal, as the unofifical president of the ISFA.

Zell loved the Sox deal and went to get one for himself, but that deal wasnt on the table, the deal Zell got was a real fair market value rent to be paid.

End of that deal.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Because after going to games for 20 years, the Wrigley "charm" has worn off. I think it's more an age thing. When I went in high school and college, the whole "Wrigley" experience was cool. I didn't care about any of the hassles because I was staying around Wrigley and hanging out in the bars after. Now I'm older and the last thing I want to do is put up with a shitload of traffic to and from the park and driving around forever looking for traffic. I guess I'm the grumpy old man when it comes to going to baseball games.

I'll take Miller Park or the Cell.

So future generations should be barred from ever experiencing that charm because 'Damnit I'm old and I want this instead of that!'

It is just a ballpark.

I've been there enough that I'll always have the memories of 'traditional Wrigley' (with lights, of course.)

But the memories of my team playing in that park? Bad. All bad.

Let's mix it up.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Exactly. Totally selfish on my part.

Dog shit ballpark. The whole experience at Miller Park is miles better than at Wrigley. I agree with Matt, the whole charm of seeing a game at Wrigley wore off a long time ago. Looking forward to the upgrades and could give two shits about the rooftop owners.

I'm convinced. Wrigley Field sucks!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

No one is trying to convince you. Just giving you viewpoints as to why a Cubs fan doesn't like Wrigley.

Run along now.

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Kenny Williams fell for the banana in the tailpipe

Not true. Now it is a landmark.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

And it all comes down to the money. The old guy can afford more amenities and so he demands them. That's why there's now seating and VIP sections at rock concerts. So the old Baby Boomers can "rock" without getting rocked. And they prefer their ballgame experience to be as close to sitting in their living rooms as possible.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

So is the world's largest ball of twine.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

I cried a bit inside when they added the "VIP seating" section at the Double Door behind the main bar. Seems kinda silly to me.

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I hate seating at rock shows. VIP sections are beyond the pale.

And with baseball, the whole concept of tiers of people, well, I find it abhorrent. This is the people's game. But we've created first class and steerage. You know when the working man has his beer cut off in the seventh? The wealthy guy is drinking Glenlivet in the skybox deep into extra innings.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

I'm a Sox fan.
I'm a baseball fan. I try to see as many out of town ballparks as I can. I have been to Fenway Park...twice. I'm glad I've seen it, but what a shithole.
Historically, because of work events and going out with friends, I'd end up at Wrigley for at least 1 game a year. It's a great time and great experience. To me...that is because the ballpark is full and the entire neighborhood is fun..and there is a charm to the age of the place.

I struggle because it will be sad to see another shopping mall replace a cool, historical facility that was built to seat fans, not cater to corporate suites. I get all that.

I also get that the Rooftop owners fucked themselves. IMO some of you over value the impact the rooftops have on what makes the Wrigley experience special. It's cool, but it was only cool when it was a bunch of locals on the top of the rooftops watching the game. It stopped being cool when the rooftops become a money-making industry just like the Cubs. Nothing charming about that.

The rooftop owners were greedy and stupid...fuck 'em. Put in a dome and totally obstruct the view.

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Not in my case.

The main amenities to me are ease of getting to and leaving the park. Easy parking. The less headache before I enter the park, the better. Forget VIP tickets. I'm not paying that. I'll take the 1st row of the upper deck anytime.

This. times infinity

It was cool seeing a bunch of people standing around the weber grill drinking beer on a warm summer's day. But now these places are filled with corporate outings, and are just a crappy version of a skybox at the stadium.

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To me, the main negative of Sox Park is the easy parking. That's the thing that separates the ballpark from the neighborhood. They try to get you out as quickly as possible. They don't want anyone to walk around and go to the local bars or restaurants. It's designed to put you back on the highway as quickly as possible.

I don't see going to a game as an effort.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

wd, I get your rooftop comments. As a kid I wondered how cool it would be to sit up those roofs and watch a game. When I first did as an adult, it was awesome. But you're right that changing it into the business removes some of the charm. The Cubs have done other things (for the money) that will impact their long term fan base. The biggest I can think of is putting their games across so many different channels making it a chore just to figure out where the game is. Worse, taking the games off of a super station will hurt them in a generation or two. The fact that the Cubs were on during the day (no competition) in every home with WGN was a huge advantage in picking up fans.

I want the Cubs to be profitable and maximize revenue to support a large payroll. However, there are things that the make the Cubs unique that all add up to having loyal fans. As you take away each piece of that, you reduce the reason I am such a passionate fan. Of course, if they win the World Series and have likable players, as the Blackhawks have done, then I guess it won't matter.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

I have been in a lot of Skyboxes, and the roof tops are much better. The perspective is unique, and the food offerings and all in package are a great value.

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Hawaii (fuck) You