Chicago Cubs Leaving Wrigley Field? A Surbuban Mayor Makes A Pitch For Cubs To Move

That mayor would be Brad Stephens of Rosemont.  Stephens has 25 acres of prime real estate in Rosemont he's willing to offer to Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts and the Ricketts family to build an new ball park and parking to accommodate the Cubs.

In an interview with CSN Chicago's David Kaplan Stephens said,  "The Chicago Cubs are being held hostage by the neighborhood as they look to run their business. We are willing to offer them a tremendous opportunity if they are interested. Bring the bricks and the ivy and we can get a deal done."



The Cubs would like to renovate Wrigley Field, which turns 99 this season, and Ricketts is will to put up an estimated $500 million to completely overhaul Wrigley Field with no taxpayer dollars.

To do this the Cubs ownership would like increase revenue by adding signage in the outfield and increase the number of night games played.  Right now the Cubs are capped at 30 while the major league average is 57.

Of course politics is getting in the way and 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, whose ward includes Wrigley Field is not playing nice and neither are the rooftop clubs overlooking Wrigley Field and local community groups.

A top aide to Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel said in Chicago Sun Times, “The idea that the Cubs would leave Wrigley Field is not something to be taken seriously,”

I would take it seriously and if I were Tom Ricketts, move the team to Rosemont. 

I'm sorry, Wrigley Field is old and tired and quite frankly an albatross to the Cubs.  There is no way in it's current state Wrigley Field can add new revenue.  No video board, no luxury boxes, no advertising.

Built a replica or something retro in Rosemont with money coming from parking, luxury boxes, all the amenities fans expect.  The Cubs need to do something to keep up with other MLB teams who have found their cash cows within their ballparks.

Heck the Cubs might end that their World Series drought and perhaps win a World Series in this century by bidding for free agents and keeping home grown talent. 

Staying in Wrigley with it's current restrictions will just handcuff the team financially. 

With that said the Ricketts family remains committed to working out an agreement with the City of Chicago.  The lure of Rosemont might be too much to pass up down the road.