Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2017 18:18:22 GMT -5
The Chicago Cubs continue to make headlines at the Winter Meeting in Kissimmee, Fla as today as Cubs management
announced that they will be expanding Wrigley Field by 7259 seats, bringing maximum capacity of the old ballpark up
to 45,000. GM Matt Andersen, when asked about the expansion explained "We are coming off of what has been one of
the most successful 10 year periods in our franchises history, yet, this management has yet to bring home a World Series
Title. I think we've shown our commitment to taking that final step with the moves we've made this off-season and this
is just another step in rewarding the fans that have come out. We recognize that it's becoming more and more difficult
to find a seat when the team is winning, we fully anticipate this will expand our fan base and let more people come out
to the ballpark to support the product that we are committed to putting on the field".
It makes sense that the Cubs are looking for new sources of revenue, which is exactly what this feels like to this old
beat writer. The Cubs have added 44 million in salary for next year in the acquisitions of 2B Vern Fuller, RF Richie Hebner
and the bringing back of SP Bill Singer. There have been seasons that the Cubs haven't had an entire PAYROLL of 44 million
and now they have committed that to 3 players. There was no doubt that the Cubs needed to address the offense, which
continues to be the only thing holding them back from doing more than finishing as NL Central runner ups over and over.
The question is at what cost, and while the cost in players lost was relatively low, the cost in dollars was high. It's often
been rumored that the Wrigley's have been hoarding the money they've made off of these last number of winning seasons,
so it's refreshing to see them open up the pocket book. Let's hope the financial commitment leads to a little bit better
product on the field.
Wrigley Field current capacity:35,751
cost per seat to go to 45,000=$1,000
20 million base fee
7,259,000 seat fee
27.259 cost, all coming from current stadium account
announced that they will be expanding Wrigley Field by 7259 seats, bringing maximum capacity of the old ballpark up
to 45,000. GM Matt Andersen, when asked about the expansion explained "We are coming off of what has been one of
the most successful 10 year periods in our franchises history, yet, this management has yet to bring home a World Series
Title. I think we've shown our commitment to taking that final step with the moves we've made this off-season and this
is just another step in rewarding the fans that have come out. We recognize that it's becoming more and more difficult
to find a seat when the team is winning, we fully anticipate this will expand our fan base and let more people come out
to the ballpark to support the product that we are committed to putting on the field".
It makes sense that the Cubs are looking for new sources of revenue, which is exactly what this feels like to this old
beat writer. The Cubs have added 44 million in salary for next year in the acquisitions of 2B Vern Fuller, RF Richie Hebner
and the bringing back of SP Bill Singer. There have been seasons that the Cubs haven't had an entire PAYROLL of 44 million
and now they have committed that to 3 players. There was no doubt that the Cubs needed to address the offense, which
continues to be the only thing holding them back from doing more than finishing as NL Central runner ups over and over.
The question is at what cost, and while the cost in players lost was relatively low, the cost in dollars was high. It's often
been rumored that the Wrigley's have been hoarding the money they've made off of these last number of winning seasons,
so it's refreshing to see them open up the pocket book. Let's hope the financial commitment leads to a little bit better
product on the field.
Wrigley Field current capacity:35,751
cost per seat to go to 45,000=$1,000
20 million base fee
7,259,000 seat fee
27.259 cost, all coming from current stadium account
