Cubs angling to buy rooftop buildings

October 2, 2002

BY FRAN SPIELMAN CITY HALL REPORTER

First the Cubs accused rooftop clubs overlooking Wrigley Field of ''stealing our product.'' Then they put up windscreens to try to stop it. Now they're effectively saying, ''If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.''

During protracted--and now stalled--negotiations over how much rooftop club owners should pay to compensate the Cubs, team officials have asked for the right of first refusal to purchase the 13 buildings that line Waveland and Sheffield.

That's apparently one more reason why rooftop owners are so dead-set against the Cubs' demand that they purchase licenses giving them the right to view Cubs games.

''We believe this is an attempt to gain control over the buildings so that, at some point down the road, they would actually end up having ownership of the buildings,'' said Ken Jakubowski, a consultant to the Wrigleyville Rooftop Owners Association.

''When the Tribune Co. bought the team and the stadium, they could have purchased every building on Waveland and Sheffield for less than $3 million. They finally realize they made a mistake. Now they're figuring out how to join the party. One way to do that is to try and force us into entering into licensing agreements that, ultimately, would be used against us to gain control over the buildings.''

Mark McGuire, vice president of business operations for the Cubs, refused to discuss the request for right of first refusal. He also held out little hope for an agreement with rooftop owners, who have offered to pay the team $14 for every patron they draw. The Cubs, who have demanded $19 a head, have turned their attention toward cutting a deal with the city in time to meet an Oct. 6 deadline to landmark Wrigley.

Two months ago, Mayor Daley denied the Cubs' request for more night games at least through 2003. He ruled out sidewalk support pillars, effectively cutting the proposed 2,000-seat bleacher expansion in half. And he ordered the Cubs to pay fair-market rent for city-owned land adjacent to the ballpark that the team has been using for free.

On Tuesday, Planning and Development Commissioner Alicia Berg told reporters a deal between the Cubs and rooftop owners is not a prerequisite for City Hall approval of the Wrigley expansion project.

''We thought it was a good idea,'' she said. "We thought it was a rational business agreement. And it could still possibly be worked out, as far as we understand. But it's not a requirement.''

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