I'm tired of the whiners in Wrigleyville. Rooftop owners, etc.

by Champ Summers on Mar 11, 2009 3:54 PM CDT Comment 55 comments

Look at the Als's post from today:

The alderman is concerned about having a third concert on a Saturday night at Wrigley. I guess he's worried the neighbors will complain about the noise...

A rooftop owner is stiffing the Cubs because they had the temerity to put a Jumbotron up in their own stadium.

I mean, come on people! Other than about five households who have ninety five year old owners, NO ONE in a ten block radius around Wrigley moved there without full knowledge that a ballpark was on the corner of Clark and Addison. Stop whining about traffic, and the noise. You knew what you were getting into.

And dont tell me that you expected that the cubs would only play a small number of night games... I bet 80+% of the homes have been sold since 1988.

And as far as the rooftop owners.... I'm sorry, but you specifically bought your property so you could pirate the Cubs product. It is only by the grace of the Chicago Cubs that you do not have a temporary wall put up that will effectively destroy your business. Pay your 17% and shut up.

I'll step off the soapbox now... but I had to get it off my chest.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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so tell me how you really feel......

I do agree 117%

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 11, 2009 4:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't equate rooftop owners with the residents

They have almost nothing in common. We had a thread that covered this extensively but tens of thousands of people live in Wrigleyville and the majority of them did not come to be close to the Cubs or increase their property values. It is a thriving commercial & residential area which outside the few blocks and many, many bars & food places IMMEDIATELY near the park see as much harm as good from being in the area.

Rooftop owners are greedy pigs and few of them live there. I would be happy if they could use eminent domain on all the Sheffield & Waveland bldgs across from the park and turn them over to the Cubs for parking.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Mar 11, 2009 4:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps . ..

I disagree that the business owners in that area see as much harm as good because of the Cubs playing nearby. Very few places around Chicago have such a high density of restaurants and bars that would not even be possible if it weren’t for all the people drawn to the area for the Cubs games. There may be some negative effects of having the team there, but I can’t imagine those bars packed every night like they often are in the summer and on weekends if it weren’t for the benefit of having Wrigley field next door.

As for the residents, I feel their pain a litle more, although I agree with other posters that 95% of them got into the area knowing full well what to expect.

by madcow256 on Mar 11, 2009 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Also there are almsot as many problems during the summer when the Cubs are out of town as there are when they are in town.

NAturally there are less during the offseason because it’s winter in Chicago.

JIXAVERSARY! March 7, 2000 to March 7, 2009. My avatar refers to me participating in the writing challenge and making it~

by cubstoseriesby100 on Mar 11, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Gold Coast all have high amount of both restaurant and retail. The traffic issue absolutely KILLS businesses that are not directly next to Wrigley. This is NOT about the bars it is about the ethnic restaurants on Clark , the yuppier ones on Southport, the little stores on Halstead and the general peace of the area. These places ( and I go to many of them and have talked to the owners) are more or less on a bubble. Every year it is getting messier and harder for them to stay around because of traffic.
They survive mostly on the area residents but have huge problems with people who want to come from outside the area. While there are a few Cub haters in the bunch ( especially those that have been there longer) most would just like to strike a balance and a Saturday night concert at Wrigley in the summer is an extremely bad way to work with them.

On an ironic side note , if were a resident or owner in the area I would not want Tunney representing me. His business is the Ann Sathers restaurants. He has two in the Wrigleyville area but neither is open in the evening.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Mar 11, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know the rooftop owners and residents are not the same

But seriously…. you buy a house near Southport and Waveland and DONT expect that Wrigley is going to cause a mess in your neighborhood 81 days a year?

by Champ Summers on Mar 11, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

daytime mess is different than nighttime mess...

…and concert mess can be more different still.

As for expectations… that’s why we have agreements – so people know what to expect. I won’t bother to get into the night game agreement – that should be well-known to folks here. But the neighborhood agreement was clearly limited to two concerts and the Cubs went ahead and scheduled three. Not exactly kosher, but Alderman Tunney never met a issue he couldn’t back down on, so instead the City Council will most likely retroactively approve a third concert.

Feel free to rant about the rooftops owners – you’ll get no argument from me. But for residential issues, try to do a little more research or heck, come live here yourself first.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 11, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

The Cubs pushed the envelope when they scheduled the third concert, even though the agreement said only two. Now, after the fact, the city council is approving a third concert. Gee, ya think, after they already sold thousands of tickets for Rascal Flatts?

The Cubs should have asked first.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 11, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How bout like many of my friends

You rent or own an Apt on Magnolia, Roscoe, Greenview etc and have lived there for 20 years or more. Tens of thousands of folks live in the area year round and it is essential to balance their needs with the Cubs.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Mar 11, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But again

But again it was there when they moved there so they knew what to expect.

I admit living near Ohare I am probably more sensitive than others to this.

And the majority of people who live around there have not lived there 20 years or more. It is very much a transitional area where you live in your mid 20s before you get married or even when you get married before you start your family.

JIXAVERSARY! March 7, 2000 to March 7, 2009. My avatar refers to me participating in the writing challenge and making it~

by cubstoseriesby100 on Mar 11, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes it was there, but not the increasing number of night games (although that probably could have been predicted)

and certainly not the concerts and other events that have occurred or are being planned.

Tell me, since you live near O’Hare, are you all smiles and kisses when runways are added and/or the # of flights are increased? What if they came out with new planes that were louder than the existing ones? Or if they started having flights around the clock? Would you be okay with all that? And when the airlines and Hizzoner Jr. just routinely violate existing noise and flight cap agreements with the surround communities, no problems there as well?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 11, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And another thing about living near O'Hare.

No one who’s moved there in the last 50 years has moved there without knowing there was a major international airport there.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 11, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lived by the airport for 25 years

Knew where we were moving when we went there. Knew it could expand. It looked like on many days we could reach up with a lasso and grab the landing gear.

During the summer when they used to land at 45s intervals on the 32L approach IIRC, we learned to just not talk for those 5-10 loudest seconds the plane was immediately overhead.

I see Cubstoseriesby100 lived/lives in Pk Ridge. I have to totally agree with her as I wasn’t too far away in Norridge.

On the other hand, O’Hare wasn’t a selling point for us buying our home either.

On the video screens during the Winter Classic, I can’t comment on the agreement between the Cubs and rooftop owners. Not sure if the agreement covers all events or just Cubs games. But I am glad this finally got resolved. During the hang-ups I got more and more pissed because of these whiners complaining about the bleacher expansion blocking their free view. The bleacher expansion intrinsically increased my chances of getting a ticket to any game by more than 50%.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2009 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

I may expect it to “cause a mess” in my neighborhood but I do not expect it to cause a mess OF my neighborhood. My house has been spray-painted, peed on, and my child yelled at (for wearing a Cubs hat). Noise, traffic is to be expected. So should the allotted number of extra events at Wrigley, the proper amount of cops on the street, and a general courtesy that comes with enjoying someone’s neighborhood. I do not expect to be scrubbing paint off of brick or explaining to my daughter what those two people are doing in our driveway (I am lucky if it is a fight).

Of course I expect noise, traffic congestion, and other nuisances that have go along with living near to one of the most historic parks in the country. I think some folks think that this is just cars moving in and out of the park and the park and after party noise. This is not the case. There are other issues involved. Of course I knew what I was getting into when I bought this house, to a degree, but not the over-the-top antics some fans seem to show.

That said, everything is fine 90% of the time. That 10% can (and does) drive you crazy.

by One F on Mar 11, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are those things you describe the Cubs' fault?

No, they are not. They are the result of people acting irresponsibly, often drinking to excess. And I suggest that while they are doing so in your area as a result of attending a Cub game, they would be doing similar things in someone’s neighborhood even if baseball itself did not exist.

I am by no means excusing or even trying to explain their conduct, just pointing out that the Cubs are not responsible for the actions of idiots running loose. The idiots themselves are to blame.

by MN exile on Mar 11, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Somewhat agreed

There would be trouble, I agree, somewhere. And I do not blame the Cubs, per se, but they do increase the amount of people in the neighborhood and kinda encourage heavy drinking. The police do not seem to always live up to their end of the stay 3 hours after the game deal and again it is the city’s issue mostly, not the Cubs, but the Cubs are a cause and have the power to get the police to listen to them which citizens, sadly, do not always have.

All I ask is that if you are bringing in people (and the Cubs / Wrigley Field are) you should help with the cost of the necessary policing of the events. The Cubs are worth enough to this city to do something about it. And that is what I would expect – to help with the influx of “idiots.” I know there will always be trouble somewhere. My concern is my corner of the world that I love and would like to continue to be a good, fun place to live.

OFF TOPIC: And why would you ban alcohol in games where the Cubs clinch? Those are happy times. Judging from the activity in my hood last year, I would ban alcohol in the seventh if the Cubs are about to lose. Those are sad, angry times.

Last year, I paused my Tivo after the second error in game 2 and went outside for a breath. I heard the moan from Wrigley and within minutes many, many sirens.

by One F on Mar 11, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We do (mostly) agree.

The problem still is the people doing the drinking. I live in MN, and went to one game last year – a trip that took some planning. I didn’t even have one beer at the game, and only a couple after, including both some bar on Clark and another couple places in the city later in the evening.

That the Cubs are a focal point doesn’t change that – the problem is still with stupid people drinking to excess and behaving badly. The great majority of people who go to games are not fools, behave themselves, and simply leave afterward with as little fuss as possible.

I really do think there’s still too much “The devil made me do it!” in this society. And I don’t want to point to the Cubs as a devil du jour. No one forces these morons to drink to excess. They make that choice on their own.

I even remember seeing an interview with the late, great, Dizzy Gillespie once, on Dick Cavett’s ABC late night show. He was quite upfront – the only times in his life he’d gotten in trouble involved drinking too much. An honest fellow, John Birks Gillespie.

And reacting is always going to yield frustration – the fact is, the real problem is a number of very irresponsible people. Unless they clean up their acts, all we will ever be doing is picking up after them.

by MN exile on Mar 11, 2009 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whole heartedly agree

I live right by the stadium and have never thought to complain about noise, traffic, etc. I moved to the neighborhood about five years ago when I was twenty for the exact that people complain about. There is no better place to live for a cubs fan in his twenties.

As for the rooftop owners. They should just keep milking the cash cow and shut up

by JJDiesel21 on Mar 11, 2009 4:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Residents

I do have little sympathy for the residence BECAUSE THE BALLPARK WAS THERE WHEN THEY MOVED THERE.

I live in Park Ridge as most of you know. If I talk about the airport all I hear is it was there when you moved here. But I love Park Ridge for many other reasons including we can be downtownin half hour by train and at Wrigley in 45 minutes by PT as well. I was raised in PArk Ridge and am raising my kids here (in fact in the same house I grew up in as we bought my mother’s house).

I lived in Wrigleyville in my mid 20s there is no better place to live in your 20s if you’re single heck even if you aren’t a Cubs fan. There are almost as many problems on non game days as there are on game days. In fact there’s less security so sometime’s theres more.

The best story I remember is listening to WLS a few years ago and they talked about the problems and this woman came on and raged on and on about what happened to her property when she was on a 5 day business trip that she came home the night before.

Problem? The Cubs were at the time at the tail end of a 10 day road trip. So according to this woman Cub fans came down there to pee on her lawn despite the team being out of town.

JIXAVERSARY! March 7, 2000 to March 7, 2009. My avatar refers to me participating in the writing challenge and making it~

by cubstoseriesby100 on Mar 11, 2009 4:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And for the record

For the record I do also put the rooftop owners in a different category than the residents.

I remember going to a wedding reception on a rooftop as recently as 1993 and I don’t remember how much it was but it wasn’t all that much. I can ask the couple as I will see them tomorrow.

We looked into having our 10th anniversary on a rooftop last summer it was actually more expensive than where we had it which was the bleacher party area.

JIXAVERSARY! March 7, 2000 to March 7, 2009. My avatar refers to me participating in the writing challenge and making it~

by cubstoseriesby100 on Mar 11, 2009 4:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The problem is fans like you

Honestly.

Fans who come in for games and treat it like the vacant area around a venue, not a neighborhood with actual human beings living in it. Fans who don’t have any respect for the delicate balance that has to be struck between those who visit and those who have to clean up the vomit and beer cans afterwords.

What makes Wrigley awesome is that it’s actually part of a living breathing neighborhood in Chicago. But with that comes a need to be respectful of the needs and wishes of that neighborhood and not, you know, be a dick about it.

Also: there’s a pretty big difference, noise-wise, between a concert and a game. I don’t think anyone who bought in that neighborhood expected it to turn into Red Rocks.

by Wreckard on Mar 11, 2009 4:50 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

You & I don't often agree.

But you nailed it here.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 11, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the same time though...

It’s one extra night out of the year. I agree with Al, the Cubs certainly should have asked, but don’t act like this is the apocalypse here. And the comparison to Red Rocks is a little bit overboard. Sometimes this kind of stuff strikes me as the people who bought condos overlooking Grant Park complaining about Lollapalooza or the Obama election night party. Does it suck to have excess noise? Sure, but you aren’t the only one who lives in this city. Part of living in an urban environment(baseball field or no baseball field) is dealing with the fact that there is always going to be shit going on. If you want peace and quiet, then move to a gated community in the suburbs.

*Full disclosure: I live in Lakeview in a condo building near Wrigley. During the summer I do sometimes get noise from the games, but I’m so high up that it doesn’t really bother me. The traffic coming home from work can be really annoying, though. And don’t even think about going grocery shopping during a game… good luck getting to the store and back in a timely manner. But, I knew exactly what I was getting into when I moved here, and I’ve adapted my life around it. Being a really big Cubs fan helps, I suppose.

by hmlee on Mar 12, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Three concerts in the span of 6 days may be a bit much

although it’s no different than a weeks worth of home games

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 12, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I mean sure

They’re all bunched together, but I’d almost rather have that than have them spread out over the season…

by hmlee on Mar 12, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You'd think that DURING a game....

… say, around the 2nd inning when everyone’s there, and before about the 7th when people start to leave… that you could get stuff done in your neighborhood.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2009 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You'd think...

But some of the most trouble I’ve had has been not just before and after (when you’d expect it) but also during. I blame it on the fact that games draw people to the area in general. Nice weather, bars… restaurants… Etc.

by hmlee on Mar 12, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so the economy in the neighborhood

has a Cubs stimulus package

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Mar 12, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Word

+1 or whatever it is y’all do here. Agreed.

This is what I was trying to get at with about 800 more words above.

by One F on Mar 11, 2009 4:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Rascal Flatts concert

is taking place on the same day as the Summer On Southport Festival. This festival is a street festival, with numerous music stages on Southport Avenue. Southport will be closed from Addison, north to Byron. The festival was scheduled to take place on a weekend that the Cubs were not playing at home.

Many of you already know how bad traffic is, in the area, on a game day. Now imagine that stretch of Southport being closed, along with cross traffic on Waveland and Grace not able to pass. The two Elton John/Billy Joel concerts are taking place before, and after, the Summer On Southport weekend. For those two concerts, traffic can be managed (or mismanaged) like other Cubs night games. It will really be a challenge to direct concert traffic in, and out, of the neighborhood along with the festival street closures.

I just wanted to show how badly congested the neighborhood will be, if both events draw large crowds that night. I don’t live in the immediate area, but I do live in Lakeview so I can see how the neighbors are upset about the potential situation.

by holy mackerel on Mar 11, 2009 5:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My take on the rooftop owners

is that since the Cubs and the rooftop owners formed a pact or contract, that event basically “legitimatized” them as a business entity tied to the Cubs. If the Cubs put up Jumbotrons and block views, then the rooftop owner has a beef. I don’t believe he should totally stiff the Cubs, but a certain percentage agreeable to both is fair.

I agree with everyone that when you move into Wrigleyville, you get more than a great, vibrant neighborhood, you get the traffic and noise and people. But people coming to the park to see the Cubs or a concert should be respectful to the property owners. Those people have paid large sums for their residences and should not be expected to have to go out and sanitize their outer walls because of idiots urinating on them, or anything else destructive or lewd. Maybe there’s a way to hire more security to patrol the neighborhoods or something.

I have always enjoyed the entire Wrigley experience on gameday and love walking around the neighborhood. I’ve been gone from Chicago for 9 years now and whenever I come back to visit I try to get up there, winter, summer, no matter.

One of my joys in life was when I used to deliver bottled water for Hinckley & Schmitt back in the early 80’s and for 2 weeks I was on the route that was on the North Side. Seeing Wrigley Field from every possible side street and angle, near and far was something I have never forgotten. The best part is that the Cubs used to buy our water for their offices so I got to go into the park on an off day and walk around.

Wrigleyville is a special place and I wish more of the visiting fans or concert-goers would realize that it IS where people live and work and not the parking lot at the United Center.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Mar 11, 2009 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

RESPECT

Is what it is called . Would you pee in your own yard ?? I don’t think so . The residents and business owners in Wrigleyville deserve respect . To give them any less is just plain wrong . For 81 days they put up with alot of noise, crowds and the rest of things that go along with baseball . It is time to think about the residents of Wrigleyville for a change .

by cubs north on Mar 11, 2009 11:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Since I a hillbilly from NC and live on a couple of acres in the woods I do pee in my yard on occasion. Usually it’s when I’m out in the shed brewin up a batch of moonshine

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 13, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or while you're working on that '86 chevy camaro.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Mar 13, 2009 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we are dorf folks here

oops that’s frod, I mean mitsubishi

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on Mar 13, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Quite possibly one of the most saddening things I've ever read in my life ..

Last year, I paused my Tivo after the second error in game 2 and went outside for a breath. I heard the moan from Wrigley and within minutes many, many sirens.

Somehow, that just captures the Way It Is .. and hopefully, we’ll not see any repeat of it this year .. One F, that is a brilliant economy of words capturing the pathos of the day ..

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Mar 11, 2009 11:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't be saddened

One day the happiness you will get from the Cubs will be too much. I remember shots of Boston after they won a few years back and it was spectacular.

There was a improv troupe that I saw did a sketch of God answering prayers and the daily milion or so come in from Cub fans asking for another World Series. God replies, “I would but after Boston won they became such interminable @**holes.”

by One F on Mar 12, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

You can’t compare living next to o’hare and protesting adding runways to adding concerts to wrigleyville. Yes, there is a heavy residential population, but this is what attracts people to the neighborhood. It is why you’re apartment is more expensive than if you lived in rogers park. You never hear the phrase “close to o’hare” as a reason to live in a neighborhood, unless you are a flight attendant. As for the home owners who live there, I don’t see you complaining much about the increase of value due soley to the proximity oh the stadium. And the local businesses have no right to complain, because the only reason why they are in business is to serve the neighborhood that exists just because of the stadium.

by scarymonsters85 on Mar 12, 2009 5:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Posted this in another thread

Danny Mac has a good article on it.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mcneil/1472684,CST-SPT-mac12.article

The points he makes about the area residents being hypocritical drives the point home that certain people are never happy no matter what you do.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2009 8:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yabbut...

… don’t forget, as McNeil points out, there are city ordinances on the books that are being violated by the third concert.

You can make a legitimate argument that there shouldn’t be such limits. But as long as that’s the law, how do the Cubs get away with flouting it and then have a change passed after the concert is already scheduled and tickets sold?

Say you got a ticket for going 65 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. Then you go to the authority that issued the ticket and convince them to change the law so that 65 MPH is the limit in that zone, and then you say, “Well, the limit is 65 NOW, so I shouldn’t have to pay.” Same principle.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So it's a hard limit?

Is that the actual wording, “a maximum of two concerts per calendar year”?

So has the 3rd concert been approved by the city?

Funny how it’s envoked that the number of concerts is being violated. Otherwise it’d be the noise. Oh wait, they’re already having a festival full of bands playing tunes. Better not envoke the “noise” issue. Let’s envoke the “number of concerts” issue.

You can’t compare this to a speed limit. So many other factors directly related to the limit are in play, including the immediate safety of not only the driver themselve(s) but many others around them.

The bottom line is businesses profit considerably from the Cubs’ presence. Anyone moving into the area that doesn’t know the ramifications are either ignorant or just plain stupid.

Any area that has a large concentration of people for a various business or event will be subject to increased scrutiny of behaviour. Areas around parks could have lewd behaviour, areas near malls always are subject to the “wrong element” being around. It comes with the territory.

Just like mentioned earlier about O’Hare about the noise. If you don’t know ahead of time and you don’t like it, you’re an idiot.

Hey what about the El? Too much noise? Didn’t know that ahead of time? Either deal with it or don’t move there. Also near the stations there could be increased security issues.

It’s all about decisions. Now, if the Cubs really violated a ordinance, then they need to be corrected. I am of the opinion the Cubs would not overtly violate a hard limit. There has to be softer language in the ordinance or there’s a loop hole.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

clearly you don't get it, do you...

it’s not about living near Wrigley or O’Hare or the El. It’s about living near Wrigley or O’Hare or the El and all of sudden having the rules/guidelines/environment change and you not having a say in it.

I agree with you – anyone moving into the area, be it Wrigley, O’Hare or the El, that doesn’t know the ramifications of such a move is probably either ignorant or just plain stupid. Or has a $%#@$^ for a real estate agent.

But someone who does their research, who asks questions of the local gentry, who checks with the alderman’s office and other municipal departments, who reads the newspapers and gets a pulse for what’s going on and what is on the drawing board to be going on – someone who does all their due diligence and makes the decision to move into the area; now they have a baseline of expectations in place that they have accepted.

And when something is proposed that exceeds that baseline, damn straight they have a right to complain. And when that baseline is just outright violated, they have a right to bitch even more. And if you can’t find a scenario in your life where you would feel the same way, well I guess you’re perfect and ride around on a unicorn with rainbows and stars in the sky (Sorry Matt – you’ve been bumped…)

As for the actual wording of the agreement/ordinance, I’m going to try and get over to the alderman’s office in the next few days and see if someone there actually knows what’s going on. I’m not gonna hold my breath though – they can be pretty weasley at times.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 12, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I get it

Look- if you live in Wrigleyville, you live next to a huge entertainment venue. You should expect lots of crowds, traffic and noise. You should not complain, because you knew what you were getting into when you moved there. Just as I knew what I was avoiding when I moved FROM there.

You should also expect some drunk people wandering around your streets peeing on your lawn. This sucks, and is a criminal act. I agree that a greater security presence should be around to prevent incidents like these. But the fact that people act unlawfully should NOT prevent the Cubs from using Wrigley for night games or events.

I dont really have a huge problem with the residents protesting a concert, but it does really bug me when they organize to prevent night games, etc. But really… once you agree to one concert.. you’ve got to expect the floodgates to open if they are popular.

In terms of the ordinance, once again… you KNEW you were living in a city with a corrupt government, just as I knew that greasing the palm of a home inspector would get you out of having to build things to code. You also elect an alderman.. the businesses dont. Vote em out!

by Champ Summers on Mar 12, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I get it

I get it that if there’s not one thing to whine about, there’s another. Finger pointing: It’s something where today’s society is rather accomplished.

All of a sudden things change? There’s been nothing but change around the ball park for years. It’s been totally under change the last few years. Anyone that couldn’t see that coming with the bleacher expansion and TribCo’s constant talking of increased revenue streams simply cannot understand business. Wake up and smell the coffee. REVENUE: One of us hard core capitalists’ favorite words.

And as far as your unicorn comment, that’s a crock. I simply limit my risk by thinking out of the box and not putting myself into situations that cause anguish. You know like a large home in a gated community. And I worked my ass off for 20 years to be able to do that. Sure, things always happen but nothing that a change or 2 doesn’t fix.

Look, many fans do respect the area and there’s always a few that gives the larger number of folks a bad overall name or ruins it for someone else. It’s like why fireworks are illegal. Too many morons blowing off their hands. But those of us who respected fireworks (me 35 years running) and never ever been close to being burned, get screwed.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, the ordinance had a hard limit.

Now it doesn’t, thanks to Ald. Tunney pushing through an ex-post-facto law.

The Cubs should have checked with the city first. The rest of your argument isn’t relevant to this specific issue, and I happen to agree that in general, the neighbors don’t have any right to complain.

However, I should point out that while everyone moving to the area knows there’s a ballpark there, that didn’t necessarily include it being a concert venue three times in one week., including one day on which there was already a large neighborhood festival scheduled.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Technically, the Rascal Flatts concert was 1 of 2 concerts originally scheduled on the calendar (Saturday Night, July 18)

Elton John / Billy Joel was always scheduled for July 21. After selling out, a second EJ / BJ concert was added to the calendar (July 16).

The Rascal Flatts date conflicts with the Summer on Southport Festival which always is set for the weekend of July 18—-the same night as the Rascal Flatts country music concert.

July 18 is a Saturday. The Cubs don’t hold Saturday night baseball games because of neighborhood resistance. Now there is a concert on a Saturday night. 7:00PM CDT

Question: If the second Elton John / Billy Joel concert is not added, is this a non-issue?

Or is this an issue because it conflicts with the neighborhood’s Summer on Southport Festival?

Or is this an issue because it falls on a Saturday night?

I wonder if Elton John is going to sing Saturday Night’s Alright (for Fighting)?

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 12, 2009 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had heard rumors about how it was actually the 2nd EJ/BJ concert that was in violation but never knew it for sure.

As to your questions – if the second EJ/BJ concert is not added, I think it becomes less of an issue, but doesn’t go away. Then it becomes more of a community outreach effort to address the festival conflict and Saturday night issue. But the smoking gun of exceeding the number of concerts is no longer a factor so the furor is significantly lessened.

In all of these instances, this is where the Cubs failed miserably by not doing their homework. Somebody should have realized this was going to ruffle some neighborhood feathers, especially when adding a third concert was envisioned. On the plus side, there is still several months before the concerts so it will be interesting to see if the Cubs do anything to try and make nice again with neighbors.

Just had a thought – anyone know why the second EJ/BJ concert wasn’t scheduled for the 20th or 22nd? Seems odd now that I think about it, that the two concerts are several days apart. I’m guessing there were conflicts with existing dates on the tour?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 12, 2009 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classic case of ask for forgiveness rather than permission?

"I knew we were in for a long season when we lined up for the national anthem on opening day and one of my players said, 'Every time I hear that song I have a bad game.'" - Jim Leyland

by flachimesa on Mar 12, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"That's the Chicago way!" he said in his best Sean Connery accent... ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Mar 12, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I guess now

the complaint will only be about a 3rd concert and not a concert on the same day as a neighborhood festival.

Hmmm…let’s wait and see how this is spun.

So this was such a nightmare, Tunney allowed the 3rd concert anyway.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Mar 12, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I checked the tour list.

Sure enough, there’s a concert in between the 7/16 and 7/21 dates — in Boston.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree 100%

My hope is that Tom Ricketts plays hardball with the whiners and complainers in Wrigleyville. Bottom line is you live in a neighborhood where the ballpark came first, and your property owes its exorbirent value to the Cubs.

Ricketts needs to stand up to Richie Daley, Tom Tunney and the Wrigleyville neighborhood. When it comes time to make major renovations at Wrigley then the city and the neighborhood need to be enablers for the Cubs and not their typical obstructionist selves. The way things stand right now major renovation of Wrigley will be an expensive, dragged out bureucratic nightmare to get off the ground.

by BLou on Mar 12, 2009 9:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

One thing that will truly unite us all...

will be the godawful upheaval that will come for the city of Chicago should they win their bid to host the Olympic Games. I can’t even begin to imagine it. We will laugh at our concern over night baseball and concerts.

"I've got an idea...an idea so smart my head would explode if I even began to know what I was talking about." ~Peter Griffin

by Goodie1969 on Mar 14, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs