Advertising, JumboTrons and street fairs are all part of a reported plan by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to make sure the Chicago Cubs get the money they need to renovate Wrigley Field.
The plan, similar to the one that saved Fenway Park in Boston, could ease the landmark status at the ballpark and allow the Cubs to raise as much as $150 million in advertising and sponsorships.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Emanuel wants to renovate 98-year-old Wrigley Field without overburdening taxpayers. He reportedly is calling it his "Fenway Plan,"modeling changes at Wrigley similar to changes at Boston's historic ballpark that paid for expensive renovations there.
Emanuel's plan includes creating a game-day street fair on Sheffield, a JumboTron in the outfield and sponsored gateway arches on the streets around Wrigleyville. The ideas is that the revenue from increased ads and sponsorships would off set the need for taxpayer money to fund the renovations.
For some Wrigley Field purists, increased advertising around the Friendly Confines would be an abomination and insult to the park's storied tradition.
Nothing was set in stone Monday, but the city says it is close to a deal with the Cubs. A few weeks ago, Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said once they figure out what the solution is, it should be a big win for everybody.
