BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Mariotti: Zell is starting to scare me

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Mariotti: Zell is starting to scare me

At one point, Kenney told an audience of concerned fans that the William Wrigley Jr. Co., of chewing gum fame, should ante up fees for the free publicity it has received. Never mind that Wrigley Field was so named by Bill Wrigley when he owned the Cubs many decades ago. Kenney sees dollar bills when the rest of us see ivy and bricks.

``In my perfect world, the Wrigley Co. would step up and start paying for what they’ve been getting free all these years,’’ Kenney told the fans.

We talk endlessly about steroids in sports. But greed, too, can poison what we love about the games of our lives. The owners of the Red Sox wouldn’t dare sell naming rights. Same goes for the Packers, Yankees and Knicks. When Cuban last was in town, I asked if he would ponder leaving Wrigleyville for better business opportunities as Cubs owner.

He looked at me like I had five eyeballs. The reason he wants to buy the Cubs, you see, is the reason so many people love the Cubs: He loves sitting at beautiful Wrigley Field with a beer, a hot dog and a smile on his face. Sam Zell never will understand.

Repoz Posted: January 22, 2008 at 01:01 PM | 22 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Business, Chi Cubs

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1. baudib Posted: January 22, 2008 at 01:19 PM (#2673590)

I'd like to see Wrigley torn down.

2. Lassus: Posted: January 22, 2008 at 02:30 PM (#2673643)

And, playing the part of pancakehead, baudib!

-scattered applause, coughing-

3. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: January 22, 2008 at 02:45 PM (#2673654)

I think Sam Zell understands. I think he just doesn't care, though. It's his team, his money, etc.

4. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: January 22, 2008 at 02:52 PM (#2673659)

Zell will be flipping the team so I think this naming rights stance is to broadcast to the world that the Cubs have untapped revenue sources so he can get more for the team.

5. jolietconvict Posted: January 22, 2008 at 03:19 PM (#2673684)

I know this is shocking, but Mariotti is being dishonest here. After Kenney made the remark about the Wrigley Co. someone asked him if he was joking and he said he was.

6. Gern Blanston Posted: January 22, 2008 at 03:41 PM (#2673707)

And, playing the part of pancakehead, baudib!

You're apparently not versed in his posts. This is par for the course.

7. Greg (U)K Posted: January 22, 2008 at 03:54 PM (#2673723)

I never realized this, but is baudib, Muad'Dib's little brother or something?

Maybe the Wrigley hate comes from a secret Harkonnen training ground hidden beneath the stadium

8. Lassus: Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:21 PM (#2673749)

You're apparently not versed in his posts. This is par for the course.

Nah, I've been paying attention, it's just that I was struck by the similarity to the most recent 12-year-old to grace the shores of BTF.

Is there any prevailing fan opinion or feedback on the prospect of Cuban's ownership? My apologies if this has been asked and answered.

9. Pete Toms Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:31 PM (#2673762)

On the rare occassion that I read Mariotti I don't like it. But, I think he's right about this. The Cubs are worth more if the public pays for the necessary repairs / upgrades / maintenance at Wrigley. Think Henry wouldn't have liked the same arrangement at Fenway?

I think the ISFA is wrong in thinking that the Cubs could leave "Clark & Addison" if they don't buy it. No prospective owner would leave Wrigley, it's a goldmine. I also think they're wrong in assuming a naming rights deal will happen if they don't intervene. Fenway remains Fenway, Yankee Stadium will remain Yankee Stadium. The lure of these names is worth more than naming rights.

10. McCoy Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:46 PM (#2673780)

Any stadium in which a team doesn't have to pay for it is a gold mine.

11. Rocco's Not-so Malfunctioning Mitochondria Posted: January 22, 2008 at 04:54 PM (#2673789)

The first two lines of Zell's new employee handbook:

Rule #1: Use your best judgment.

Rule #2: See Rule 1.

NOT renaming the stadium wouldn't be using Rule #1.

What about using the proceeds of the renaming to pay for stadium repairs?

12. Quiet Flows the Don Taussig Avenger (Edmundo)

Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:06 PM (#2673808)

I also think they're wrong in assuming a naming rights deal will happen if they don't intervene. Fenway remains Fenway, Yankee Stadium will remain Yankee Stadium. The lure of these names is worth more than naming rights.

Take a page from the Angels: Wrigley Field at Trident Gum Ballpark

13. Pete Toms Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:08 PM (#2673814)

#11 - why use the naming rights loot to pay for stadium repairs if taxpayers will foot the bill?

14. Dan The Mediocre Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:23 PM (#2673837)

I think the ISFA is wrong in thinking that the Cubs could leave "Clark & Addison" if they don't buy it. No prospective owner would leave Wrigley, it's a goldmine.

If the Cubs and Wrigley Field have different owners, I could believe that the Cubs might want a new stadium. Why would they want a stadium deal similar to what the Marlins have?

15. Gern Blanston Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:53 PM (#2673876)

I see your point, DTM, but the owner of the Cubs will realize huge profits simply by virtue of the team's PLAYING in Wrigley (even if it doesn't own the stadium) that it wouldn't elsewhere (and certainly wouldn't playing in the likes of Prorobbie Playerphin Stadium).

16. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: January 22, 2008 at 05:55 PM (#2673880)

#11 - why use the naming rights loot to pay for stadium repairs if taxpayers will foot the bill?

"Earmarking" the money is merely a method of framing the debate for the possibly dismayed public. They're essentially losing money if they make nothing of the asset that is the right to name the field.

17. Robert Machemer Posted: January 22, 2008 at 06:18 PM (#2673909)

A title called "Zell is starting to scare me" and no Marathon Man reference? I'm disappointed.

18. Pete Toms Posted: January 22, 2008 at 06:50 PM (#2673938)

#14 - not owning the stadium you play in is fine if you don't have to pay taxes, maintenance, upgrades, reconstruction. In fact it is preferable. There is lots of speculation that Wrigley will be a sinkhole for whomever owns it. Zell isn't stupid, he's playing chicken with IL & Chicago politicians, driving up the value of the franchise.

Maury Brown, speculates that Zell also needs cash, motivating him to sell Wrigley before the franchise.

19. Gamingboy Posted: January 22, 2008 at 11:12 PM (#2674231)

Dear god, I agree with Mariotti. Truly a sign of the end times.

20. McCoy Posted: January 23, 2008 at 04:15 AM (#2674414)

21. Dan The Mediocre Posted: January 23, 2008 at 04:23 AM (#2674419)

#14 - not owning the stadium you play in is fine if you don't have to pay taxes, maintenance, upgrades, reconstruction. In fact it is preferable. There is lots of speculation that Wrigley will be a sinkhole for whomever owns it. Zell isn't stupid, he's playing chicken with IL & Chicago politicians, driving up the value of the franchise.

Maury Brown, speculates that Zell also needs cash, motivating him to sell Wrigley before the franchise.

Over time it still makes sense to own the stadium because it will be profitable.

And my mother speculates that Zell will sell the naming rights as a way to get money. He's leveraging this Trib deal so badly that he may have interest payments due before he even gets the company.

22. Guy LeDouche Posted: January 23, 2008 at 08:31 AM (#2674522)

Maybe Carlos Zambrano's new nickname can be Juicy Fruit?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

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Mariotti: Zell is starting to scare me

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