March 28 at 3:34 p.m.
Filed under:
Airlines,
Sports
By Ameet Sachdev
Budweiser's ad on a Wrigley Field rooftop on Waveland Ave. is removed in September of 2008 to make way for a Horseshoe Casino ad, which will soon be replaced by one for United. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
The highly visible rooftop sign across the street from Wrigley Field will have a new advertiser this season.
The Cubs announced Monday that United Airlines has bought the rights to advertise on the rooftop, which is beyond the left-field bleachers on Waveland Avenue. The Horseshoe Casino in Indiana had advertised on the rooftop the last few seasons. Before that, the rooftop was painted red and sported the Budweiser logo for many years. Get the full story »
Nov. 17, 2010 at 5:06 p.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Restaurants
By Ameet Sachdev
Harry Caray’s Tavern in Wrigleyville will be renamed “Benchwarmers” next week, after the parties that owned and managed the restaurant terminated their business relationship.
Harry Caray’s Tavern opened at 3551 N. Sheffield Ave., in 2008, in a spot formerly occupied by Hi-Tops Café. Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group had been retained to manage the Sheffield location, which is owned by Benchwarmers Inc.
Grant DePorter, president of the restaurant group, revealed that the tavern was closing during a press conference held Tuesday by the Chicago Cubs to discuss the team’s plans to renovate Wrigley Field. He attended in a show of support for the team’s project. Get the full story »
Nov. 16, 2010 at 7:08 p.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics,
Sports,
Taxes
By Ameet Sachdev
(E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
The day started with the Chicago Cubs touting the support of Chicago area labor officials for its Wrigley Field renovation plan, but by afternoon key lawmakers in Springfield seemed to be splashing mud on the deal amid contradictory statements.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) told reporters in Springfield Tuesday afternoon that the team’s owners, the Ricketts family, withdrew its proposal to finance a $200 million stadium renovation with a state bond sale that would be repaid with the anticipated growth in the 12 percent amusement tax levied on tickets sold at Wrigley. Get the full story »
Nov. 15, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
Filed under:
Entertainment,
Government,
Sports,
Taxes,
Updated
A proposed rendering of the renovations at Wrigley. (Handout)
By Alejandra Cancino and Kathy Bergen | Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts on Monday told the Tribune’s editorial board he doesn’t have a Plan B to come up with $200 million if the state rejects his proposal to borrow that money in a bond offering.
The money will be used to make extensive renovations at Wrigley Field, including repairs of the dilapidated concourses beneath the field, better amenities for players and more bathrooms, he said.
The Cubs’ proposal calls for the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which owns U.S. Cellular Field, to float $200 million to $300 million in bonds. The bonds would be paid back over 35 years through amusement taxes that Wrigley Field patrons pay. Get the full story »
By Ameet Sachdev
(Tribune file)
The owner of the Chicago Cubs is asking the state to help finance more than $200 million in renovations at Wrigley Field that will ensure the team stays at the historic ballpark for the next 35 years.
The Ricketts family, which purchased the team last year from Tribune Co. in a deal valued at $845 million, has pledged that the project will not be financed by new taxes or an increase in existing taxes, but it would redirect some future revenue to the stadium. Get the full story »
By Clout Street
A plan for an eight-story hotel, large chain stores and apartments across the street from Wrigley Field passed the Chicago City Council without dissent today.
Some neighborhood residents and business owners earlier had argued that the Addison Park on Clark development would “suburbanize” the neighborhood around the iconic ballpark, but the plan passed the full council without discussion.
A plan for an eight-story hotel, large chain stores and apartments across the street from Wrigley Field passed the Chicago City Council without dissent today.
Some neighborhood residents and business owners earlier had argued that the Addison Park on Clark development would “suburbanize” the neighborhood around the iconic ballpark, but the plan passed the full council without discussion.
June 24, 2010 at 11:13 a.m.
Filed under:
Development,
Real estate,
Sports
By Clout Street
A plan to build a massive shopping, hotel and housing development just south of Wrigley Field cleared another hurdle today as the City Council Zoning Committee gave it the go-ahead. Ald. Thomas Tunney again spoke in favor of the project, which would be built along the south side of Addison Street east of Clark Street, and the east side of Clark south of Addison.
May 25, 2010 at 12:06 p.m.
Filed under:
Advertising/Marketing,
Autos,
Sports
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts speaks to the media on May 6, 2010, the day he received approval from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to install a Toyota sign at Wrigley Field. (William DeShazer/ Chicago Tribune)
By Ameet Sachdev
| The Chicago Cubs moved one step closer to erecting a proposed Toyota
advertisement above the bleachers at Wrigley Field.
The buildings committee of the Chicago City Council on Tuesday
unanimously approved a permit for the illuminated, 360-square-foot sign,
said a Cubs official.
The committee’s approval was expected after Ald. Tom Tunney, 44th,
changed his mind about the sign and voiced his support for the sign.
Wrigley Field sits in Tunney ward.
Get the full story »
April 14, 2010 at 10:12 a.m.
Filed under:
Mortgages,
Sports
From Crain’s Chicago Business | Lakeview Baseball Club, a Wrigley Field rooftop club located at 3633 N. Sheffield Ave., is facing a foreclosure suit from a suburban bank seeking $2.5 million.
Get the full story: chicagobusiness.com.
