Wrigley Night Games off the Table in 2013

After ideas to introduce Saturday night games at Wrigley Field created controversy, the Cubs now say that ideas are off the table—for now.

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts gave his annual springtime media address Sunday at Fitch Park in Arizona Sunday, telling reporters Saturday night games and massive billboard advertisements in the outfield won’t happen in 2013, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

But the long term plan could still include both, with the Cubs saying there was no plan being pushed in 2013, anyway.

Lake View business owners got heated in the past, saying games on Saturday nights would kill their restaurant business. In addition, owners of the Wrigley rooftops say they've spent more than $50 million collectively to create the 3,200 seats, and huge advertisments in the outfield would destroy the views.

The announcement is combined with the Cubs saying they'll start discussing rights fees with media partner WGN-TV this year, writes the Chicago Tribune. The team has been broadcasted on the TV station since 1948, but with their contract set to end in 2014, the Cubs could move on.

Ricketts told the Sun-Times “in the next few weeks” he hopes to make enough progress on neighborhood restrictions to move forward with a new ordinance. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) was expected to introduce new legislation Feb. 13, but needed more time to work out a comprehensive deal.

"In the end it’s going to be a compromise, and not everyone will like the agreement. The good news is something is moving forward."

Tunney is out of the office this week and could not comment on the Cubs’ decision to pull night games off the table this year. His staff said it was “sensitive information,” and they did not feel comfortable commenting on his behalf.

Cubs Vice President of Communications Julian Green says the team would still like Saturday night games, and it might be a part of a future long-term deal. But with renovation Wrigley in mind, the Cubs say they're careful not to compromise too much.

"We remain interested in additional night games for 2013 and beyond, but given the current state of negotiations, the more we compromise on our ability to run our business, the more we hurt our ability to fix Wrigley, create jobs and build a World Series Winning franchise," Green said.

A spokesperson with the Ricketts family told the Tribune on Feb. 13 that they’re hoping to get the issues resolved by Opening Day at the latest.

The Lake View Citizens Council, a group comprised of 38 Lake View officials, plan to write a follow-up letter to the alderman sometime in the next two weeks detailing a deal its members would be comfortable with.

The first letter, sent last year, said the group would only be comfortable with three more night games and a total of four concerts, with some exceptions for MLB demands. Tunney said he sticks closely to that recommendation, and according to LVCC President Will DeMille, the group hopes he’ll do the same with the follow-up.

“We’re very happy Ald. Tunney isn’t rushed to get this through, and we’re very happy he’s embraced (our letter),” DeMille said. “… In the end it’s going to be a compromise, and not everyone will like the agreement. The good news is something is moving forward.”

Patch will update readers with the LVCC's recommendation when the letter is completed.

Follow Us on Facebook!