The status quo is not acceptable.
Unfortunately, Tom Ricketts is quickly becoming one of the few people that actually wants Wrigley to be renovated.
The rooftop owners don't want the stadium renovated. They say it's because of partially obstructed views. I believe it is because the renovations will make Wrigley Field a more attractive option than the rooftops.
Last week, a group of residents, with their leader Tom Tunney, demanded that the Cubs provide more parking before they would approve of any renovation plans.
Now residents don't want a parking garage near the ballpark because it will cause too much congestion.
Dave Kaplan has indicated on a couple of occasions now that some in the Ricketts family inner circles are fed up.
Today the Tribune reports that the ballhawks, the people who catch home run balls before and during games on Waveland Avenue, are balking at the renovations plans because the proposed video board in left field would interfere with their collecting of baseballs.
Tom Ricketts repeated on numerous occasions yesterday that he is committed to seeing this stupid renovation thing through. He said that Wrigley is too important to consider any other move.
Wrong. Tom Ricketts needs to stop acting like a fan (and a fan from 15 years ago at that) and consider other options.
Ricketts is the most popular sports owner in this city right now...not because he's doing a good job with the fans and producing a good ballclub. He's popular because people feel sorry for him. He's going to spend $500 million of his own money and no one will allow him to spend it.
Right now the call for moving to a new ballpark is louder than it has ever been. Some less than scientific polls have shown that a large majority of people support building a new ballpark.
Ricketts should seize this opportunity and begin the long process of building a new stadium NOW! Renovations will only patch up this ballpark. Less than 15 years from now this place is going to need work again. Then what? The same crap will happen all over again.
Build a new ballpark. Start the process now! When it's to the point that the goofs who catch home run balls on Waveland are complaining, it's time to go.
Start the process to build a new stadium now...before the seagulls, street musicians, and Ronnie Woo Woo start to protest the renovation.
Stop with this sentimental bullshit. Sentimental feelings have only produced 104 years of losing.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
