PROBLEMS FOR NEW OWNERS??

everyone in cub world breathed a sigh of relief back in january when the chicago based ricketts family was announced as the 'winner' in the sweepstakes to buy the sad sack north siders for a mere 900 million dollars. the asking price would be met by the billionaire family with no problem and the pressure of being 'unsettled' was now off the ball club and they could just concentrate on baseball. (like members of the cub roster read the financials....or even read).

but wait jusssssssssssssst a minute. it seems that the family has run into a bit of a stumbling block and is currently unable to raise the funds from the three institutions they were banking on to bankroll this exercise in futility. seems that something like the current economic disaster we're living in has thrown out the anchor and the lenders are less than eager to finance a virtual 'titanic' in the money world.

save your screams, cub fans. "we're worth a billion" "everyone wants to buy us" "we sell out every game" doesn't mean squat in a world dependent on EXPANDING your sources of revenue and that my friends, is what dooms any owner of the cubs.

where do you expand? how do you increase revenue? and before the bellicose north side drunks start proclaiming "just raise ticket prices" and "increase commercial rates," that ship has sailed long ago. raising advertising rates when you're already the highest in town is a recipe for disaster today and wouldn't necessarily benefit the cubs directly as WGN is not part of the tribune sale of the cubs and i think you saw what happen when the yankees tried screwing their fans with $2500 seats.....the fans screwed back and just flat out refused to buy them.

MARK CUBAN, the owner that everyone wanted said it best. "it's a losing proposition to buy the cubs and makes absolutey no sense business wise. why is that?? well, the park is ancient and has high maintenance costs. there is no room to expand because wrigley has landmark status and you can't change the structural integrity and still maintain that status which helps the cubs tax wise. the interior of wrigley is a joke and there is no more room for skyboxes, clubs, restaurants.....all the things you need in today's ownership world. the white sox did it right when they built a new stadium which gives them numerous opportunities to maximize and continue to grow. but if you buy the cubs, you better be ready to lose money every year because they will never make money in their current location."

now friends, that wasn't me talking but cub lover mark cuban. this is a situation that will rectify itself in time as far as new ownership but don't expect seashells & balloons when the new owners take over because they will constantly be strapped for cash. NOTHING will change with this team. nothing unless they tear the park down. remember where you read that.