Sam Zell,
the owner of the Tribune Company, is fast becoming Public Enemy Number One.
The
publishing and real estate magnate also owns the Chicago Cubs, and he's been
alienating fans, the media and legislators with his arrogant talk about
auctioning off the naming rights to Wrigley Field and cutting a deal which
would dump landmarking requirements on the building before selling the ballpark
to the state.
Cub fans
are outraged at the possible desecration of their holy shrine. White Sox and
Cardinals fans - who tend to despise Cub fans for their puppy love of a
dilapidated stadium - are incensed that the state would dare do anything on
behalf of the Cubs. Taxpayers are furious. Legislators are freaking out.
"Excuse
me for being sarcastic," Zell told a cable TV interviewer who asked about
the uproar over selling the naming rights, "but the idea of a debate
occurring over what I should do with my asset leaves me somewhat questioning
the integrity of the debate."
Zell is a
tough-talking, no nonsense, hugely successful businessman. But good baseball
owners are stewards of beloved institutions that will outlive us all. For Cub
fans, that park is everything. Relaxing the landmarking requirements - which,
among other things, prohibit changing the signage outside the stadium - is a
horrifying thought to many. If the naming rights are sold, fans could be
welcomed by a giant neon "Waste Management Field" sign or some such
atrocity out front.
And being a
billionaire doesn't necessarily prepare oneself for passing a hugely
controversial piece of legislation. Zell, who came up with the idea of selling
the park to the state, is obviously hurting his own cause.
"Over
my dead body," declared one powerful Democratic state Senator last week
when asked whether the state purchase would be approved. His sentiments were
echoed throughout the Capitol.
Some
legislators who have had meetings with Zell's people say Zell is merely
attempting to strong-arm the Wrigley Company into paying for the advertising
that it's received gratis for decades. But if the Wrigley Co. folks don't cave
and buy the naming rights, it will be almost impossible for any legislator with
Cub fans in his or her district to vote for a state takeover of Zell's ballpark
because the bill would essentially codify a name change. Even if Wrigley does
give in, the rest of the state is not going to go easy into the night.
Former Gov.
Jim Thompson is in charge of crafting the sale. Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked
Thompson to get this done, and he's doing his best, but he admitted last week
that he was "presenting this idea at the worst possible time."
Still,
Thompson said, "Everybody should calm down about Zell or destroying
Wrigley Field or putting up some sort of name."
Thompson
said he wouldn't do anything to "destroy the charm" of Wrigley Field
if the state buys the park and leases it to the new Cub owners. "I love
the Cubs," he said.
But what
about all that talk of relaxing or even abandoning the stadium's landmark
status? Thompson vowed to "keep those elements of Wrigley which are
landmarked and which the city won't agree to change," like the signage out
front. However, he said, he needed to make sure the park was
"habitable" for the teams. Plus, luxury suites need to be added to
produce revenues. "We need to retain the charm and ambiance which brings a
full house every game day and make it a decent, inhabitable revenue producing
stadium."
Even
without Zell's remarks, Thompson would have a tough time. Illinois politics is
an absolute mess right now. The Democrats are fighting each other and nothing
is getting done. The budget is deeply in the red. The governor's advisor Tony
Rezko is about to go on trial for corruption. It couldn't get much worse.
Thompson
knows the future is perilous. He has to first craft a deal that "lets us
acquire and restore Wrigley at no cost to the taxpayers." Then, he said,
he could "at least make the argument with a straight face" to all the
parties involved. And then he has to pass the bill.
All I know
is Thompson's game this spring will surely be more entertaining than anything
played at Wrigley.
Go
Sox.
-30-
Rich Miller
also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and
thecapitolfaxblog.com.