Cubs Say No To Rooftop Owners Billboard Proposal

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 26, 2013 7:00PM

Fans at the August 30 Cubs game against the Pirates.

The Chicago Cubs on Friday rejected a proposal by Wrigleyville rooftop club owners to erect video billboards above their buildings in order to generate revenue that could be used by the ballclub for renovations to Wrigley Field.

Dennis Culloton, spokesman for Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, said the estimated revenue of $10-20 million annually the rooftop owners' proposal would generate are realistic and that, when it comes to sponsorships and advertising, "it's all about broadcast views" and that the Cubs could generate more money from billboards erected inside the ballpark. But they can only do that if the city relaxes the landmark status on Wrigley Field.

Culloton, in a delicious bit of irony, suggested rooftop owners make their proposal to them first, not the media.

"They would be advised to discuss it with the team instead of holding press conferences because a deadline is fast approaching for the team and the city to move forward."

--snip--

"Time is a wasting," Culloton told DNAInfo. "They need to get it together."

DNAInfo Chicago's Serena Dai reported that Cubs director of business operations Crane Kenney, executive vice president of community affairs Mike Lufrano and vice president of communications and community affairs Julian Green were all at the Wednesday 44th Ward Community Directed Development Council meeting where the proposal was first announced, but they didn't report back to the Ricketts family about it or any other proposals.