Cubs Sale Hits Turbulence

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 19, 2009 2:40PM

And you thought the Cubs' problems this season were confined to a shaky bullpen and quiet bats. It seems the Tribune Company isn't dealing with just the Ricketts family, the original high bidder, anymore. According to Crain's, a "period of exclusivity" has elapsed, opening the door for the Tribune Company to begin negotiating with other bidders, specifically those who the Ricketts had previously outbid. The group the Tribune Co. is now talking to includes investors Marc Utay and Leo Hindery, who had previously bid on the team.

According to a report in this morning's Tribune, it seems the issue in negotiations with the Ricketts family was with broadcast rights. Sources say that the Tribune Co. is actively pursuing negotiations with the second group but may use those negotiations into forcing the Ricketts' hand on the contested broadcast aspect of the negotiations - which involves a stake in Comcast Sports Net.