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Maybe he hasn't made Keith Olbermann's nightly list yet, but Sam Zell is quickly cementing his place among the "Worst People in Chicago" as he continues to antagonize Chicagoans since his takeover of the Tribune Co.
Not content simply wanting to replace actual news with "profitable" features and celebrity news, Zell is working overtime to squeeze every last nickel out of the Cubs before he sells off the team.
This week, he reiterated on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that he intends to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field to whomever is willing to bid the highest. Of course this news has the whole city in a tizzy. Rick Morrissey says it doesn't matter -- we'll all call it Wrigley anyway.
But when the park's no longer Wrigley Field, then what'll we call the neighborhood surrounding it? What about Bank of America? Like the ring of BOAville? While Chicagoist commenter Spook suggested Old Style Park, is there enough room in Chicago for both an Old Town and an Old Style Town? And what if John Canning -- the frontrunner to buy the Cubs -- pays for the right to put the name of Madison Dearborn-owned CDW on the park. Is there anything that works with that?
With fears of what call the neighborhood around the ballpark when it's rechristened on the minds of local residents, they can add another concern to their list. The Cubs are looking to add more evening events to the schedule. Not only do they want to increase the number of night game the Cubs will play, but they also want to add more concerts to the summer line-up. And we're willing to bet the neighbors won't be getting the same concessions that they got when previous shows were held at Wrigley.
But hey, Zell's gotta get top dollar from the state when he sells us his newly monetized ballpark.
Got an opinion on the Wrigley naming rights issue? You could win $1,000 from the Sun-Times by writing a song and uploading a video about it. But we'll mock you endlessly if you parody "We Didn't Start the Fire."
Wrigley Field photo by Benjy Lipsman
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Hey, I have an idea. Let's talk about the exact same thing EVERY day and expect the commentors to come up with new and fresh snark. Jesus. Why don't next time you just post a picture of Zell from Flickr with a cute caption and see how many comments THAT solicits.
BOOOOO-RRINNNNG
I find it amusing that you seem focused on the naming rights.
Who cares?
The far more important issue, the one that could cost us all indirectly through the tax system, is Zell's desire to have the state more or less take over the park, and/or have tax revenues diverted for park improvements, all so rich people can get richer.
Free market my ass.
Maybe they can call it "Macy's Field" and Chicagoist can organize a boycott?
In any event, I think that the old Tribune Company ownership had a certain understanding that that you can't mess to much with Wrigley Field, or you risk damaging its appeal. When everyone was excited last year about the Cubs being sold, I was worried. I'm still wary that Zell and any future ownership of the Cubs will establish all sorts of bad changes for the fans and the neighborhood, and still won't deliver a championship.
As for whether the state buys Wrigley, I don't really care, as long it makes money for the state in the long run.
G-R-E-E-D
Giving capitalism a bad name since the end of feudalism!
Let's start a move to begin referring to the Tribune by another name.
"As for whether the state buys Wrigley, I don't really care, as long it makes money for the state in the long run."
Are you willing to pay taxes for this?
Or, are you willing to have taxes diverted, for perhaps a generation, from other needs--perhaps schools, perhaps public safety, perhaps road improvements--to fund improvements?
As well, if you are, why shouldn't the team's owner--you know, the free-market capitalists with millions in their bank accounts--not pay for this?
I think those are some of the questions you must consider.
Loser Field anyone?
Who cares? Fans should care about the team competing to win the world series, not the name of the ballpark.
And what is up with the Sun Times rallying on the idiots who are causing an uproar about this? The front page, back page, and far too much in between talked about how Cubs fans need to stand against Zell. Stop it. Please.
If I'm not mistaken, the neighborhood is called Lake View.
I find it interesting that the Tribune has no stories about this.
Also Wrigley Corp should just buy the naming rights again.
Also, matty, you are a dick for not coming to Trivial Pursuit.
It will always be Drunk-Assholes-That-Pee-On-My-Bushes-Ville to me.
Man Mariotti let him have it yesterday.
If the new name changes completely, you'll all be calling it by that name within 10 years. I've never heard anyone talk about heading down to Comiskey for years. Or Sox Park. Or whatever.
It's kind of like when you whine about there being "ads" in the park -- so what? It's always been a commercial enterprise..
F*CK SAM ZELL
1) Trying to sell Wrigley and the Cubs separately
2) Screwing the Trib staff with his crappy stock deal
3) Breathlessly threatening Cubs fans with various forms of blasphemy.
Hey Chicagoist: How about an expose on all the things Sam Zell has an interest in so we can go about properly boycotting them until he stops threatening us.
If Cubs fans have one thing it is purchasing power- and no I will not become a Sox fan or boycott Cubs games so lets get creative here.
Kfunk: Great idea for deeper reporting.
Are you willing to pay a fee to read this site's content so that the site can pay for professional, experienced reporters who can actually investigate public-affairs issues? Such an expose would require hours of digging through various papers and databases, at the least.
Why can't you tackle this as a concerned citizen?
Actually that kind of "expose" would only require a Wikipedia or Forbes search. Anyway most of his money is in real estate holdings (or was until he sold it).
You could boycott Trib-affiliated holdings, though.
A2: You would certainly want someone to double-check this, I would think. Not to draw out the point.
I think the best avenue here is not to boycott the Trib--this city desperately needs multiple sources of journalism--but to work against any state or city subsidies for Wrigley Field. That place is a cash cow, and while I do not mind a bit of symbolic help, I have a hard time understanding why we need to help rich people make more money.
Or we could just enjoy the kooky old man and his insane rantings...
Funny how when it was named "Wrigley" nobody cared when the Cubs sold out then. Wait, none of us were around for that :) It has always been a corporate name so who cares what it will be next.
If you are a true baseball fan does it matter if you are going to Wrigley Field or Bubbalicious Field?
Yeah unless the city is getting a cut of the action beyond the regular taxes, etc., I don't think it should be subsidized. I don't really know much about it, though.
@Spav:
I know. Bill Cunningham laces into Obama as a "Hack, Daley style Chicago Politician", which if I'm not mistaken has something to do with Chicago, and we get double the Wrigley news and a new Google chat feature.
@Matty:
What Spav said.
sam zell would play a great rich uncle pennybags in monopoly: the movie.
I like how Prescott Carlson's concerns just get ignored! What about his Bushes? He pays his taxes on time!
I hereby declare a personal boycott of purchasing any of Sam Zell's corporate real estate holdings.
@petey:
You are totally on point. Which Ridley Scott is producing. For Fuck's sake, someone get ahold of Sam Zell's agent.
@Plum:
Maybe CHICAGOIST should do a feature on how they have sold out to corporate advertising which we can't comment on.
FASCIST
@Benjy:
Also, I believe that it was "spookhatespuppies" that voted for "Old Style Park".
Plus, I heard he's a handsome devil, to boot.
Jesus fucking christ. I got tied up at work. RELAX
@matty:
That is what Spook said.
Liars.
@ Matty:
Look, I know it gets real crazy this time a year down at the ol' Handjob factory, but you COULD have called.
@Spav:
I can't wait to read that article New City did on us. Jesus.
@Plum:
I know, right. We are famous.
Who could I have called? I don't know any of you people.
Good grief.
Who the F reads Mariotti or the times? It's just a longer and more costly Red Eye.
Name it Summers Eve park at Wrigley field.
@ Matty:
I'm kidding. RELAX.
And besides, we just name dropped spook the most.
Details! Details!
Who showed up? Who won Trivial Pursuit? And most importantly, any Chicagoist hook-ups?
@Pinko:
Read all about it in my post under "Extra, Extra" last night.
Long story short... I crushed all.
@Plum
Thanks about the boobs.
What? They're fantastic.
I was wearing a T-SHIRT for christ's sake. They have looked better.
Eh. I came away impressed. And to douse all rumors, there were no hook-ups. I just like boobs. A lot.
I'm too old, too bald, and entirely too self-medicated to deal with an ex-sorority girl fresh out of college. Besides, I somehow doubt Spav1 can fulfill my C-Section scar fetish.
That said, it was nice to put a face to some people. It's weird, you just can't be mean anymore to someone you met in real life. Maybe we should've had a Chutes and Ladders night to make it more accessible and thus, more people would want to meet face to face and raise the level of discourse here.
On second thought, fuck Chutes and Ladders.
You throw down a Trouble challenge and I'm all over it.
I'm also terrible at Boggle, Sorry, Jenga, and Checkers.
Sooo...
Did anyone take any pics of these allegedly fantastic boobs?
@pinko
Come on man. Only I can use "allegedly" and only referring to Drew Peterson.
And they are great.
I'm still at work! Somebody bring me a DRANK, bitches!
Ya see now, Spook? If only you had showed up at Sheffield's last night, Chicagoist could have put a face to your diatribes (and you could have witnessed Spav1's "great" breast-eses too)...
How far are you willing to go down the rabbit hole?
@spook:
What is your drink? And preferred neighborhood so I can come to your turf and kick your incomprehensible ass?
I kid because I love, though. Everyone showed up merely based on a rumor that you might be there. That's saying something...