You realize that nothing about the Cubs upgrades are going to improve the ease of getting to (driving to) the game or parking? Probably will make it worse.

You realize that nothing about the Cubs upgrades are going to improve the ease of getting to (driving to) the game or parking? Probably will make it worse.

Im pretty hammered right now.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

A group of investors who own two rooftops overlooking Wrigley Field today sued the Chicago Cubs and owner Tom Ricketts in federal court, accusing them of attempted monopolization in violation of the Sherman Act, as well as breach of contract, defamation, consumer fraud and deceptive practices.

The lawsuit is the latest legal skirmish in a long-running battle between the Ricketts family, which plans major renovations to the historic ballpark and the surrounding neighborhood, and owners of nearby buildings who believe plans to erect advertising signs will unlawfully obstruct their views. It is the second recent lawsuit to allege the Cubs are shifting planned outfield signs to block the views of rooftops that refuse to sell their properties to the Ricketts family.

Today's suit, filed by Tom Lombardo of Park Ridge-based firm DiMonte & Lizak on behalf of owners of the rooftops at 3627 and 3633 N. Sheffield Ave. beyond the right-field pole, seeks an injunction to block the Cubs' most recent plan for signage, as well as unspecified monetary damages.

The investor groups are led by Ed McCarthy, according to the complaint. Other investors include Mark Schlenker and Marc Hamid.

“The Cubs decided to put up giant signs to block the rooftops halfway into a 20-year contract to guarantee the rooftops' unobstructed views,” Lombardo said in a statement. “The Cubs are blocking the rooftops that refused to sell their properties for a fraction of market value, and who refused to participate in a price-fixing scheme the Cubs demanded to raise ticket prices. It's unfortunate the rooftops have been forced to take legal action, but they're confident the legal system will protect their rights.”

For the past two years, the Cubs and the rooftop business owners have been fighting over the team's plan to put up signage above the Wrigley Field bleachers as part of a $375 million ballpark renovation.

Rooftop owners have argued that putting up such signs that block their views would violate terms of 20-year revenue-sharing contracts they signed with the team in 2004.

Those agreements prevent the team from erecting "windscreens or other barriers to obstruct the views of the rooftops," the copy of one contract reads. In return, rooftops businesses pay the team 17 percent of their pre-tax revenues.

'COMPLETELY CONSISTENT' WITH CONTRACTS

The Cubs argue that the outfield signs constitute an "expansion" of Wrigley Field that is allowed under the terms of rooftop contracts.

"This project is completely consistent with the (rooftop) contracts. The contracts say that any expansion of the bleachers approved by the city is OK," Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney told reporters last May. Kenney negotiated contract terms with rooftop owners over a decade ago on behalf of Tribune Co., which previously owned the team.

The Cubs even delayed the Wrigley renovation project early last year because of the threat of a lawsuit from rooftop owners. The team last May declared an impasse in negotiations with the Wrigleyville Rooftop Association to find a resolution over the planned signage and moved forward with its plan.

The team is now more than three months into phase one of its ballpark renovation, dubbed the 1060 Project, which includes demolishing and rebuilding the right and left field bleachers and putting up four new advertising signs and two video boards.

Chicago Cubs attorney Andrew Kassof issued a statement in response to the complaint: "The Cubs will vigorously contest this lawsuit and move forward confidently with the Wrigley Field Expansion construction project, which is well underway. Wrigley Field's expansion and renovation is in the best interest of the team, its fans, Major League Baseball and the City of Chicago."

LAWSUITS FLYING

The lawsuit comes in the wake of a complaint filed by a separate group of rooftop business owners against the city of Chicago, alleging that the Commission on Chicago Landmarks violated the landmark ordinance that governs Wrigley Field when it granted the Cubs the right to erect seven new outfield signs.

That suit is pending in federal court. A separate complaint filed by the same group of owners alleges that the team's most recent tweak to its signage plan—scrapping one of the seven outfield signs as well as moving and shrinking its right field video board—was done to strategically block the views of specific rooftops.

The Cubs have denied such claims and noted that the tweaks to the sign plan came as a result of a recommendation from the National Park Service, which will determine whether the team is eligible to receive a federal tax credit for restoring the ballpark said to be worth $75 million.

The Ricketts family also dove further into the rooftop business itself this month, purchasing three rooftop businesses across the street—two on Sheffield Avenue and one on Waveland Avenue—from two different owners.

The plaintiffs accuse the Cubs of anti-competitive conduct, as well as defaming the rooftop owners by accusing them of stealing the Cubs' product.

McCarthy, one of the owners of the rooftops at 3627 and 3633 N. Sheffield, said after the Cubs announced their seven-sign plan he met with Kenney in July 2014 and offered to sell the rooftops at fair market value, according to the complaint. In offering a much smaller figure, Kenney told McCarthy “once we put up the signs, you don't have a rooftop business,” according to the complaint.

The complaint said that in offering a “grossly unfair” price, Kenney asked McCarthy: “How hard is it going to be to sell tickets when you have no glimpse of Wrigley Field?” Kenney added, according to the complaint: “Whatever (rooftop businesses) we don't buy, we're going to block.”

The complaint also references a statement from Ricketts at the 2014 Cubs Convention, which the owners believe was defamatory.

“So you're sitting in your living room watching, say, Showtime. All right, you're watching 'Homeland.' You pay for that channel, and then you notice your neighbor looking through your window watching 'Homeland.'" Ricketts told fans, according to the complaint. "And then you turn around, and they're charging the other neighbors to sit in the yard and watch your television. So then you get up to close the shades, and the city makes you open them. That's basically what happened.”

Well, looks like the Cubs studied Jerry and learned how to play dirty.

Jerry and his associates wouldn't be dumb enough to crack out of turn like Crane Kenney. Ricketts has a long way to go to understand hardball the way Jerry does. Wait until a federal judge orders them to remove the signs.

Well, looks like the Cubs studied Jerry and learned how to play dirty.

Yea, I laughed when I read his quotes. This whole mess is his fault.

Think of the stupidity of arguing over a couple of million dollars in what may very well turn out to be a billion dollar investment.

Buy the rooftops at a fair price and get this over with. It's like the old man negotiating the price of the tree in A Christmas Story. Trifling people with no business sense.

They're idiots.

I had a neighbor in Hinsdale who was a total asshole.
We had some spats over fences and trees.
If I ever had a party he would call the cops and complain. Most of these were 10 - 15 over for a game or BBQ.
After the first few visits the cops just laughed and started blowing him off.

He was a dentist with lots of money but put several kids through college, got killed on investments during the recession, wife left him and to top it off had a fire that cause some smoke and water damage.

He had some eurotrash handyman do the repairs and some cough random citizen called the city on him.

So finally the guy goes to sell the house last year and he's trying to get way over what similar properties had gone for.
My brother and a couple friends put together a group and made him a low ball offer since we new he was and asshole and desperate.
We told him we were going to do a full tear down and flip the lot.
He laughed and said NO.

A month goes buy and he's realized nobody is going to buy this house to live in at anywhere close to his price.
He has his guy come back to me at a price much lower than what he asked for but still higher than what we offered.
We offered him 25k less than our original offer and basically told him eat shit since he had no other options that were ready for an immediate sale.
2 hours later we had a deal.

As month later as he was driving away from his house for the final time I had the pleasure of giving him the finger and smiling much as I hope the Ricketts do

For all the Crane Kenney bashing because of his rich frat bro personality I think he's done an outstanding job on the business end.
Ted Phillips is an idiot who's untouchable because of that shitty little outdoor stadium we're stuck with.

They're idiots.

I had a neighbor in Hinsdale who was a total asshole.
We had some spats over fences and trees.
If I ever had a party he would call the cops and complain. Most of these were 10 - 15 over for a game or BBQ.
After the first few visits the cops just laughed and started blowing him off.

He was a dentist with lots of money but put several kids through college, got killed on investments during the recession, wife left him and to top it off had a fire that cause some smoke and water damage.

He had some eurotrash handyman do the repairs and some cough random citizen called the city on him.

So finally the guy goes to sell the house last year and he's trying to get way over what similar properties had gone for.
My brother and a couple friends put together a group and made him a low ball offer since we new he was and asshole and desperate.
We told him we were going to do a full tear down and flip the lot.
He laughed and said NO.

A month goes buy and he's realized nobody is going to buy this house to live in at anywhere close to his price.
He has his guy come back to me at a price much lower than what he asked for but still higher than what we offered.
We offered him 25k less than our original offer and basically told him eat shit since he had no other options that were ready for an immediate sale.
2 hours later we had a deal.

As month later as he was driving away from his house for the final time I had the pleasure of giving him the finger and smiling much as I hope the Ricketts do

For all the Crane Kenney bashing because of his rich frat bro personality I think he's done an outstanding job on the business end.
Ted Phillips is an idiot who's untouchable because of that shitty little outdoor stadium we're stuck with.

Boot licking a billionaire is pathetic.

Cubs pay $3 million for two rooftop apartment buildings

By Ameet Sachdev and Jared S. HopkinsChicago Tribunecontact the reporter

Cubs pay $3 million for two rooftop apartment buildings

January 21, 2015, 3:16 PM

The Ricketts family, owner of the Chicago Cubs, paid $3 million for two apartment buildings overlooking Wrigley Field that have rooftop businesses, according to Cook County property records..

The properties were sold by George Loukas, who owns the Cubby Bear and Sports Corner bars near the stadium.

The price doesn't include the rooftop businesses, which Loukas also sold to the Cubs owner. A Ricketts family spokesman declined comment on the price paid for the rooftop operations.

Loukas said he decided to sell because financial pressures in recent years were growing and he wanted to do what he considered best for his family's future.

"I asked the people that we were negotiating with that I wanted a fair price — and I understood the situation I was in — and I tried to be as professional as I could about the situation as possible," he said. "I wanted to make the best decision for myself and for my family for the long term. And they gave me a fair price, which is what I was asking for."

Loukas still owns the building at 3609 N. Sheffield Ave., which houses the Sports Corner, and also has a rooftop business.

The Tribune reported the transactions Friday but sale prices were not available at that time.

Property records show that Loukas' property at 1032 W. Waveland Ave. sold for $1.65 million while his building at 3643 N. Sheffield Ave. sold for $1.35 million.

The transactions closed Jan. 8, according to county property records.

The Ricketts family, who bought the team in 2009 for $845 million, also acquired the property and rooftop business at 3639 N. Sheffield Ave. this month. The family paid $4.2 million for the real estate.

The family is buying surrounding rooftop properties as the team embarks on a $375 million renovation of Wrigley Field. The renovation includes plans to install two large-scale scoreboards and four advertising signs in the outfield, which could potentially block views from surrounding rooftops.

Two rooftop clubs next to Loukas' former rooftop on Sheffield Avenue sued the Cubs and team chairman Tom Ricketts Tuesday, accusing the team of violating the terms of its revenue-sharing contract in which the Cubs agreed not to obstruct their views.

The team said it will fight the lawsuit.

asachdev@tribpub.com

The prices for the buildings sound low, although he converted some of the residences to party rooms. Maybe he made up for it on the price of the rooftops.

I still don't understand the penny-ante crap from the Cubs. You invested 900 million. You are investing another 500 million. Why would you haggle so hard when acquiring the buildings will likely give you unfettered options? So you overpay by several million on the total block. That's less than 1% of the investment. They wouldn't be the first people who had to overpay for property that had greater value to you than market value.

They either get poor consultation from their professional consultants or have guys who don't know what they are doing.

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?

Speaking of the bleachers, are the bullpens being moved there? I know it was discussed, but I thought they were considered a key feature--like the ivy--that Ricketts couldn't easily change without approval from the Landmarks commission.

I don't waste my time with the Cubs.

THE INQUISITOR, do you feel that unfinished bleachers on opening day is evidence of a professional, smooth-running organization?

Look if I could delude myself into thinking I was the real estate tycoon of a residential block in Hinsdale I might. Or I might not, there are worse things than death and Hinsdale might be one of them.

**but** even if I did live the fairy tale you've constructed for yourself I wouldn't have a portrait of Tom Ricketts above my fireplace like he was Charmain Mao. Boot licking a billionaire is pathetic.

But probably mandatory before taking title in Hinsdale.

The prices for the buildings sound low, although he converted some of the residences to party rooms. Maybe he made up for it on the price of the rooftops.

I still don't understand the penny-ante crap from the Cubs. You invested 900 million. You are investing another 500 million. Why would you haggle so hard when acquiring the buildings will likely give you unfettered options? So you overpay by several million on the total block. That's less than 1% of the investment. They wouldn't be the first people who had to overpay for property that had greater value to you than market value.

They either get poor consultation from their professional consultants or have guys who don't know what they are doing.

Tribune:
Loukas said he decided to sell because financial pressures in recent years were growing and he wanted to do what he considered best for his family's future.

"I asked the people that we were negotiating with that I wanted a fair price — and I understood the situation I was in — and I tried to be as professional as I could about the situation as possible," he said. "I wanted to make the best decision for myself and for my family for the long term. And they gave me a fair price, which is what I was asking for."

Tribune:
Loukas said he decided to sell because financial pressures in recent years were growing and he wanted to do what he considered best for his family's future.

"I asked the people that we were negotiating with that I wanted a fair price — and I understood the situation I was in — and I tried to be as professional as I could about the situation as possible," he said. "I wanted to make the best decision for myself and for my family for the long term. And they gave me a fair price, which is what I was asking for."

As I see the construction every single day, they have been working every possible hour of the day they are allowed to. They have lights, curtains, heaters, etc. If it doesnt get done in time, tough. Granted the 2 weeks it took them to get started could be the issue at this point.

And for anyone to say Crane has done a good job on this project and with respect to the rooftops is ridiculous.

I am all for kicking in the teeth of this who blame everyone else but themselves, but Crane does nothing for me as a businessman, he just happnes to be the guy who knows where the old files are.

I'm gonna tell you something you'd know if you'd ever spent a day in your life: George Loukas didn't need a single fucking rooftop to secure his family's future. He was tired of the headaches and figured he'd be the first guy out. Period.