03-25-2010, 03:39 PM
I'm starting to like Ricketts more and more, though that last comment is debatable.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=37576
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->(Crain’s) — Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is gently reminding city officials of Wrigley Field's role as an economic engine as he seeks approval to add new advertising at the historic ballpark.
Addressing hundreds of business people at an Executives’ Club of Chicago breakfast Thursday, <b>Mr. Ricketts used a PowerPoint presentation to show that Wrigley is one of the city’s top tourist attractions: It generates nearly $400 million a year in spending and funnels $59 million in tax revenue to city coffers.</b> More than one-third of fans are out-of-state visitors.
Then he flashed the next slide: an image of the 60-foot, lighted Toyota sign he’s seeking to install behind the left-field bleachers, which would likely bring the ballclub more than $2 million a year.
<b>“So I don’t think it’s too much to ask,”</b> he deadpanned amid laughter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Mr. Ricketts used Thursday's prime opportunity to remind the crowd, thick with executives, that tickets are still available.
The new owners aren't just trying to make money — they're spending money, too, Mr. Ricketts said. The tab for mundane Wrigley fixes like bathroom renovations, rehabbing the 73-year-old scoreboard and expanding the players’ clubhouse during the offseason has run up a tab of more than $10 million.
The audience applauded when he said the owners aren’t considering a naming-rights deal for the stadium.
<b>“Wrigley is a name people really associate with a lot of positive things,” he said. “I’m not sure we’d really ever want to mess with that.”</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=37576
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->(Crain’s) — Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is gently reminding city officials of Wrigley Field's role as an economic engine as he seeks approval to add new advertising at the historic ballpark.
Addressing hundreds of business people at an Executives’ Club of Chicago breakfast Thursday, <b>Mr. Ricketts used a PowerPoint presentation to show that Wrigley is one of the city’s top tourist attractions: It generates nearly $400 million a year in spending and funnels $59 million in tax revenue to city coffers.</b> More than one-third of fans are out-of-state visitors.
Then he flashed the next slide: an image of the 60-foot, lighted Toyota sign he’s seeking to install behind the left-field bleachers, which would likely bring the ballclub more than $2 million a year.
<b>“So I don’t think it’s too much to ask,”</b> he deadpanned amid laughter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Mr. Ricketts used Thursday's prime opportunity to remind the crowd, thick with executives, that tickets are still available.
The new owners aren't just trying to make money — they're spending money, too, Mr. Ricketts said. The tab for mundane Wrigley fixes like bathroom renovations, rehabbing the 73-year-old scoreboard and expanding the players’ clubhouse during the offseason has run up a tab of more than $10 million.
The audience applauded when he said the owners aren’t considering a naming-rights deal for the stadium.
<b>“Wrigley is a name people really associate with a lot of positive things,” he said. “I’m not sure we’d really ever want to mess with that.”</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->