By Dave van Dyck
The Chicago Cubs today received final approval from the City Council to hold three concerts this summer at Wrigley Field.
Although the Southport Neighbors Association opposed allowing more than two concerts, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) signed off on the plan, saying he would work to “minimize the concerns of the community at large.”
Southport Neighbors holds its annual festival in July on the same weekend that country band Rascal Flatts will play on a Saturday (July 18). The following week, Billy Joel and Elton John will team up for weeknight concerts at Wrigley.
The Cubs initially booked just Joel and John for one night, adding Rascal Flatts to make it a profitable package for a promoter. But the one-night stand became a two-date run after Joel and John quickly sold out the baseball stadium.
Update: Cubs chairman Crane Kenney, speaking in Arizona at spring training, defended the expanded revenue-generating projects in and around Wrigley Field, saying "it sounds odd, but Elton John will help us win ballgames," he said."CBOE [sponsorship] paid for Rich Harden."
Cubs add restaurant at Wrigley Field, may move spring training home from Mesa
MESA, Ariz.--Cubs chairman Crane Kenney said the Cubs probably would not be sold by opening day, but still predicted it could be finalized shortly thereafter and that none of the holdups "was in any way fatal."
Among other topics covered during Kenney's long meeting with media Thursday:
A new restaurant, run by Harry Caray's restaurant, will be ready for the start of the season. The indoor-outdoor "sports bar" facility will envelope the entire triangle at Sheffield and Addison and surround the statue of the late broadcaster. It will be open year round and will seat 491, replacing the Friendly Confines restaurant in the right field corner.
The Cubs might leave Mesa as a spring training homeafter 2012. Kenney said the Cubs need a more modern and expanded facility, especially for their year-round baseball operations, and have been talking with cities in Florida.
"We've been in touch with a number of municipalities and states," said Kenney, adding that the team would be "the most desireable free agent on the market."
He also said the Cubs have no desire to share a new facility with another team, as the White Sox have done with the Dodgers near Glendale, Ariz.
"I think the Cubs deserve to stand on their own," Kenney said.
They must tell Mesa officials by spring training next year if they plan to leave. One possibility could be Sarasota, Fla., a former spring training home of the White Sox.
Kenney defended the expanded revenue-generating projects in and around Wrigley Field, saying "it sounds odd but Elton John will help us win ballgames," he said."CBOE [sponsorship] paid for Rich Harden."
Kenney also said the Blackhawks game at Wrigley Field helped and that the NHL will pay for re-sodding Wrigley Field before opening day
"We have to be as aggressive off the field as on," he said..
General manager Jim Hendry will have money to spend if he desires at the All-Star break, although that will be up to the new ownership of the Ricketts family. But Kenney said that may not be necessary.
"We think this club is better than the club that won 97 games last year," he said.
The so-called "triangle building" at Clark and Waveland is on hold right now, but it could include a year-round restauarnt and a hotel.
The Cubs "are not actively discussing" more night games at Wrigley.
"The recession has been tough on everyone, especially sponsors," Kenney said. However, Kenney said there would be new sponsorship for the outfield doors after Under Armour pulled out of its deal.
Kenney was intrigued by the idea of a jumbotron scoreboard, which the NHL tried at Wrigley, but said it was not now on the drawing boards.
Among other topics covered during Kenney's long meeting with media Thursday:
A new restaurant, run by Harry Caray's restaurant, will be ready for the start of the season. The indoor-outdoor "sports bar" facility will envelope the entire triangle at Sheffield and Addison and surround the statue of the late broadcaster. It will be open year round and will seat 491, replacing the Friendly Confines restaurant in the right field corner.
The Cubs might leave Mesa as a spring training homeafter 2012. Kenney said the Cubs need a more modern and expanded facility, especially for their year-round baseball operations, and have been talking with cities in Florida.
"We've been in touch with a number of municipalities and states," said Kenney, adding that the team would be "the most desireable free agent on the market."
He also said the Cubs have no desire to share a new facility with another team, as the White Sox have done with the Dodgers near Glendale, Ariz.
"I think the Cubs deserve to stand on their own," Kenney said.
They must tell Mesa officials by spring training next year if they plan to leave. One possibility could be Sarasota, Fla., a former spring training home of the White Sox.
Kenney defended the expanded revenue-generating projects in and around Wrigley Field, saying "it sounds odd but Elton John will help us win ballgames," he said."CBOE [sponsorship] paid for Rich Harden."
Kenney also said the Blackhawks game at Wrigley Field helped and that the NHL will pay for re-sodding Wrigley Field before opening day
"We have to be as aggressive off the field as on," he said..
General manager Jim Hendry will have money to spend if he desires at the All-Star break, although that will be up to the new ownership of the Ricketts family. But Kenney said that may not be necessary.
"We think this club is better than the club that won 97 games last year," he said.
The so-called "triangle building" at Clark and Waveland is on hold right now, but it could include a year-round restauarnt and a hotel.
The Cubs "are not actively discussing" more night games at Wrigley.
"The recession has been tough on everyone, especially sponsors," Kenney said. However, Kenney said there would be new sponsorship for the outfield doors after Under Armour pulled out of its deal.
Kenney was intrigued by the idea of a jumbotron scoreboard, which the NHL tried at Wrigley, but said it was not now on the drawing boards.
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