The Cubs today made two announcements of changes to Wrigley Field, subject to the approval of the city Landmarks Commission, which must sign off on such things, and is expected to do so on Thursday:
first, that there will be a rotating advertising sign put behind home plate, as there is in literally every other ballpark today, and
second, that they will make permanent the seating that for the last few years has been known as the "VIP Box", two rows of seats adjacent to the first-base dugout, totalling 80 seats, probably to be sold at the same price as the $250 behind-the-plate seats added a year ago.
On the second, this is long overdue -- those seats were basically given away to politicians, friends of players and employees, and other MLB friends. Quick math says that for 80 seats for 81 games at that price, the Cubs gross $1.6 million.
On the first, there will no doubt be anguished hand-wringing that the Cubs are "selling out", that they are tainting the sainted brick walls, and for me, this is no big deal. Frankly, it won't be much of a big deal for most people at the ballpark, because they won't see the sign. Its presence is mostly for the CF television camera, and sometimes I forget that the Cub experience of many of you is not at the ballpark, but via television.
Look, if you're upset, ignore the ads and focus on the game. Or make a list of every rotating-sign advertiser and write them and the Cubs and tell them you'll boycott them, if that'll make you feel better.
For ill or good, this game has become all about money. Ticket prices are going up 17%, and that, hopefully, will be put to the player payroll, or most of it. Last year's increase in ticket prices mirrored the player payroll increase.
And if the approximately $5 million that the Cubs can take in from this sign can help them buy a player who can get us to the place that our big brothers the Red Sox finally got to in 2004, I'm all for it.
Ignore the ads. Watch the baseball. That is, after all, why we are Cubs fans.
first, that there will be a rotating advertising sign put behind home plate, as there is in literally every other ballpark today, and
second, that they will make permanent the seating that for the last few years has been known as the "VIP Box", two rows of seats adjacent to the first-base dugout, totalling 80 seats, probably to be sold at the same price as the $250 behind-the-plate seats added a year ago.
On the second, this is long overdue -- those seats were basically given away to politicians, friends of players and employees, and other MLB friends. Quick math says that for 80 seats for 81 games at that price, the Cubs gross $1.6 million.
On the first, there will no doubt be anguished hand-wringing that the Cubs are "selling out", that they are tainting the sainted brick walls, and for me, this is no big deal. Frankly, it won't be much of a big deal for most people at the ballpark, because they won't see the sign. Its presence is mostly for the CF television camera, and sometimes I forget that the Cub experience of many of you is not at the ballpark, but via television.
Look, if you're upset, ignore the ads and focus on the game. Or make a list of every rotating-sign advertiser and write them and the Cubs and tell them you'll boycott them, if that'll make you feel better.
For ill or good, this game has become all about money. Ticket prices are going up 17%, and that, hopefully, will be put to the player payroll, or most of it. Last year's increase in ticket prices mirrored the player payroll increase.
And if the approximately $5 million that the Cubs can take in from this sign can help them buy a player who can get us to the place that our big brothers the Red Sox finally got to in 2004, I'm all for it.
Ignore the ads. Watch the baseball. That is, after all, why we are Cubs fans.