You Have Gotta Be F**** Kiddin Me!?!
Seriously. You have gotta be f****n kidding me here. Here's the headline on aol.com.
Real estate tycoon Sam Zell finalized his purchase of the Tribune Company today, and he's wasted no time in making waves throughout the company's various properties. First, he stomped through the Chicago Tribune to energize the newspaper's troops against the rising tide of financial failure. Now, he's dropping knowledge on his plans for the sale of the Cubs, including one interesting caveat: Wrigley Field's naming rights will be up for grabs:
Tribune Co.'s new CEO Sam Zell said the Cubs will be sold by Opening Day, and that he may sell naming rights to Wrigley Field because such rights could be "extraordinarily valuable."
"Up until now, we've delayed -- although they're ready -- sending out the books on the Cubs until we had a better understanding of where this stands," Zell said. "I think the goal would be to complete the transaction before the beginning of the baseball season."
There are plenty of interested buyers, Zell said.
That's not all Zell announced. He confirmed that the State of Illinois and the Tribune Company have discussed a state purchase of Wrigley Field, discussions which are apparently ongoing. But the naming rights issue -- that's the real news here. Good luck selling this to Cubs fans. The bleacher bums embrace the history of Wrigley even as the stadium crumbles down around them; even minor fixes, like the addition of advertisements aimed to help the team financially, are balked at. So think of the backlash when a local restaurant like Portillo's (mmm, Portillo's) -- or worse, some national company -- swoops in and scoops those naming rights. New ownership better invest that money in riot gear.
Renaming Wrigley Field?!?! There are times I just get frustrated with the Cubs and management that I want to coverup my Cubs tattoo with something else. Regardless, I do love them and I can't picture myself without my tattoo. Really...would you be proud to be a Cubs fan if Wrigley Field becomes taken over by corporate sponsorship. Wrigley Field is Wrigley Field. Got it!!! Get it!!! GOOOD!!!
Real estate tycoon Sam Zell finalized his purchase of the Tribune Company today, and he's wasted no time in making waves throughout the company's various properties. First, he stomped through the Chicago Tribune to energize the newspaper's troops against the rising tide of financial failure. Now, he's dropping knowledge on his plans for the sale of the Cubs, including one interesting caveat: Wrigley Field's naming rights will be up for grabs:
Tribune Co.'s new CEO Sam Zell said the Cubs will be sold by Opening Day, and that he may sell naming rights to Wrigley Field because such rights could be "extraordinarily valuable."
"Up until now, we've delayed -- although they're ready -- sending out the books on the Cubs until we had a better understanding of where this stands," Zell said. "I think the goal would be to complete the transaction before the beginning of the baseball season."
There are plenty of interested buyers, Zell said.
That's not all Zell announced. He confirmed that the State of Illinois and the Tribune Company have discussed a state purchase of Wrigley Field, discussions which are apparently ongoing. But the naming rights issue -- that's the real news here. Good luck selling this to Cubs fans. The bleacher bums embrace the history of Wrigley even as the stadium crumbles down around them; even minor fixes, like the addition of advertisements aimed to help the team financially, are balked at. So think of the backlash when a local restaurant like Portillo's (mmm, Portillo's) -- or worse, some national company -- swoops in and scoops those naming rights. New ownership better invest that money in riot gear.
Renaming Wrigley Field?!?! There are times I just get frustrated with the Cubs and management that I want to coverup my Cubs tattoo with something else. Regardless, I do love them and I can't picture myself without my tattoo. Really...would you be proud to be a Cubs fan if Wrigley Field becomes taken over by corporate sponsorship. Wrigley Field is Wrigley Field. Got it!!! Get it!!! GOOOD!!!