Ricketts Basically Told The Rooftop Owners To Go Fuck Themselves Today, Finally

LINK TO VIDEO BECAUSE WHY WOULD MLB EVER WANT US TO SHARE VIDEO ON THE INTERNET RIGHT?

CHICAGO — The Ricketts family, which has delayed its efforts to renovate 100-year-old Wrigley Field while negotiating with the rooftop owners, now plans to go ahead with the ballpark’s restoration and add additional signage in the outfield. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts sent a letter and video to Cubs fans late Wednesday, saying they are going to “put the team and the fans first.” Ricketts said they will submit a revised expansion plan to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, asking for approval of additions to the original proposal to add several signs and a revised seating configuration in the outfield. If approved, Ricketts said they are prepared to begin construction.

The new outfield signs will provide an additional revenue source to help fund other parts of the restoration, Ricketts said. The revised expansion plan will include additional seating and open spaces in the Budweiser Bleachers, including new group terraces in right and left field and enclosed hospitality areas. They are also asking for new outfield lights that will reduce shadows, allowing fly balls to be lit from both front and back. All lighting will be directed inside the ballpark and not outside to the community. “We’ve spent endless hours negotiating with the rooftop businesses,” Ricketts said. “We’ve gotten nowhere in our talks with them to settle this dispute. It has to end. It’s time to move forward.” Ricketts said they hope to avoid “going to the courthouse” to deal with the rooftop owners. “Being unable to improve our park puts us in the hole by tens of millions of dollars every year,” Ricketts said. “Our competitors in the Central Division don’t suffer that restriction. They can put up signs in the outfield and create other revenue to invest in their baseball teams.”

I’m going to let Carl expand on this later but here are my quick thoughts.

1) Good on Ricketts. Enough talk. The Wrigley renovations have taken forever to get going and Ricketts has basically said he’s not spending money on the team until the facilities are upgraded. Do I think that sort of sucks and that it’s not unreasonable to both renovate and spend money on players simultaneously (like re-signing Samardzija)? Yes, but I’m not the one writing the checks. So if he wants the increased revenue from signs and upgraded park features before he starts throwing cash at Free Agents I get it. Thankfully it sounds like he’s finally at the point where he’s going to tell the Rooftop owners to fuck off. I love it. Let’s get this shit rolling.

2) Ricketts is so fucking creepy. I don’t know what it is about him but he just screams weird Dad with a dorky long bill baseball hat at a little league game. Stop doing videos dude, just give us a winning team.

“I feel like I have to poop but I’m just going to go with a fart for right now”

PS

This is so classic Cubs

They are also asking for new outfield lights that will reduce shadows, allowing fly balls to be lit from both front and back

We just want our players to be able to actually see the ball in the year 2014. It’s going to be groundbreaking stuff.