Cubs' Non-Baseball Business is Booming
"...Elton John's going to help us win some ballgames."
So says Crane Kenney in explaining how the extra revenue the Cubs will realize from three Wrigley Field concerts this summer, including the Elton John/Billy Joel event in late July, will translate into additional payroll flexibility.
More from Kenney:
"The CBOE [seat] auction last year paid for Rich Harden. The 'Road to Wrigley' game sponsored our Asian scouting operation. That's the way, from the business end, we look at these things. All these elements really help our business move forward. My view is if you're a Cub fan, you should enjoy the concerts whether you're an Elton John fan or not."
The Trib's Dave van Dyck also reports that the Cubs will be opening a new, year-round, 7,000-square-foot sports bar at Addison & Sheffield in time for the home opener on April 13th. The Harry Caray's Restaurant group will run the place, which will replace the Friendly Confines Cafe and be accessible to fans whether or not they hold a ticket to the game.
"We need to compete with all the other bars and restaurants in town," Kenney said.
Indeed. We can't have our baseball team not competing with all of the city's bars and restaurants.
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