The Future of the Chicago Cubs - Colangelo interested; Tribune puts them up for sale

TestSubjekt · 11-25-2006, 03:04 PM

Colangelo interested in buying Cubs

Quote:

CHICAGO (AP) - Former Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo would be interested buying the Chicago Cubs if Tribune Co. puts his hometown franchise up for sale.

Colangelo, chairman of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and former controlling owner of both the Suns and Diamondbacks, said Wednesday he has held "preliminary discussion" with unspecified other people who share his interest in buying the Cubs.

He declined to say whether he had spoken to Tribune Co. or the Cubs about his interest, but said: "You can speculate that."

"If in fact the Cubs become available, and that's a big if, I've stated that I would have great interest," he told The Associated Press. "I'm just trying to keep my options open at this point, that's all."

Colangelo said he had spoken with two different groups of prospective bidders. However, he added, "I have my own interest, not necessarily tied to any particular group."

What would a new owner mean to the Cubs? I really have doubts he'd try to build a new ballpark. So aren't his different avenues of revenue, other than charging more for tickets, pretty much exhausted without owning tv rights?

steeplechase3k · 11-25-2006, 06:57 PM

The Red Sox have shown that old stadiums can be renovated and more reveune can be generated. I could see the Cubs going in the same direction.

bedir than average · 11-26-2006, 07:47 PM

The exploration of a local sports cable station in the #3 market in the country would be a great idea. Odd that the Tribune Company has never done that, at least not that has gotten out publically.

Boston and the two New York clubs are proving that it can build enourmous revenue.

Maybe it would just take new ownership for the thought to be explored for a regional sports cable station that has dozens of college football and basketball teams, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, and the Fire.

The market could definately support a local all sports channel.

John F · 11-26-2006, 08:33 PM

The Tribune Company, in my humble opinion, is part of what has tied down the Cubs these years. The Cubs (and the Chisox) are the marquee happening on their superstation WGN. While making the Cubs part of their media empire, they've botched up keepign the team competative time and again and focused on th bottom line instead. A so-so team, or one that is even mediocre will bring people to their TV channel and boost ratings for their homer-ific broadcasts.

JoseA · 12-08-2006, 06:01 PM

I personally heard it would be Mark Cuban possibly from a collegue of mine, but that is not certain. It depends if he wants to shell it out.

bedir than average · 01-08-2007, 06:47 PM

DAILY SOUTHTOWN :: Sports :: Colangelo looking to fix the Cubs, Assembly Hall

Quote:

Colangelo, a Chicago Heights native, would consider owning the Cubs "a dream come true." He has already won a World Series as an owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and has been to the NBA Finals in his role as the chairman and CEO of the Phoenix Suns.

"I think it's way too early for me to say anything other than I'm really interested, and if the opportunity presented itself, I'd love to be able to put a deal together," Colangelo said.

When the rumor of an ownership change stays constant for months it is likely that the party looking to buy wants in more than the party wanting to sell.

JoseA · 04-04-2007, 02:23 PM

Quote:

CINCINNATI -- The Chicago Cubs opened the 2007 season Monday with a new manager, a new center fielder and the prospect of a new owner in 2008. The message to the team is that it's business as usual.

The Tribune Co., which includes the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, TV stations and the Cubs, has accepted a buyout offer from real estate investor Sam Zell in a deal valued at about $8.2 billion.

The Tribune Co. also said it plans to sell the Cubs baseball team and its 25 percent stake in local sports cable channel Comcast SportsNet Chicago at the end of the season. The company did not say whether it intended to sell Wrigley Field, which has been the Cubs' home since 1916.

Article

Wow, kind of suprised by this. Over the past few years, it has been rumored the Cubs were going to be sold. I just thought it actually wouldn't happen!

Hopefully the new owner, Sam Zell will keep investing money in the team. I thought that we put out a decent product with Tribune over the past few years. Lets reverse the curse now!

JoseA · 04-04-2007, 03:52 PM

More on the situation:

Quote:

CHICAGO -- Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig had planned to be at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday afternoon for the 2007 season opener between the White Sox and Indians. But with the morning news of Sam Zell's purchase of the Tribune Company, Selig also addressed the impending sale of the Chicago Cubs during a 15-minute session with the media.
The sale to Zell would take the Tribune Co. private, but there was an accompanying announcement that the Tribune intended to sell the Cubs and its 25 percent interest in Comcast SportsNet Chicago. According to the Tribune Co., the sale will be complete in the fourth quarter of this year.

Selig expects a new owner to be in place with the Cubs (other than Zell, who is a limited partner with the White Sox) by the start of the 2008 season.

"I always say for new ownership, it's best to get it done in the offseason and certainly by the time Opening Day comes, it should be done," Selig added. "As I think about it, that should work."

Article

Well, it looks like the new ownership plans to come in by next season, which is a good sign. I wonder if this will have an affect on some contact negociations, like Zambrano. Hopefully we will continue building a strong team, and we don't fall back like many franchises do when a new ownership comes....

TheAJx · 04-10-2007, 03:59 AM

Who is this Sam Zell clown. He isnt some sort of clown is he? Jerry Coangelo is a freaking baller, and Marc Cuban does what it take to field a competitive team . . . I know what I'm getting with those guy. Hopefully they can take the CUbs over in 2008 or something.

Sawman · 04-10-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAJx

Who is this Sam Zell clown. He isnt some sort of clown is he? Jerry Coangelo is a freaking baller, and Marc Cuban does what it take to field a competitive team . . . I know what I'm getting with those guy. Hopefully they can take the CUbs over in 2008 or something.

Sam Zell is not going to be the owner of the Cubs, seeing as how he is a limited partner in the White Sox. The Cubs will be up for sale this fall, and they won't know who their owner will be for several months.

11-25-2006, 06:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
steeplechase3k Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 125	The Red Sox have shown that old stadiums can be renovated and more reveune can be generated. I could see the Cubs going in the same direction. __________________ --There are some who call me... Tim.--

11-26-2006, 07:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	The exploration of a local sports cable station in the #3 market in the country would be a great idea. Odd that the Tribune Company has never done that, at least not that has gotten out publically. Boston and the two New York clubs are proving that it can build enourmous revenue. Maybe it would just take new ownership for the thought to be explored for a regional sports cable station that has dozens of college football and basketball teams, the Bulls, the Blackhawks, and the Fire. The market could definately support a local all sports channel. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

11-26-2006, 08:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
John F Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, Florida Posts: 2,497	The Tribune Company, in my humble opinion, is part of what has tied down the Cubs these years. The Cubs (and the Chisox) are the marquee happening on their superstation WGN. While making the Cubs part of their media empire, they've botched up keepign the team competative time and again and focused on th bottom line instead. A so-so team, or one that is even mediocre will bring people to their TV channel and boost ratings for their homer-ific broadcasts. __________________ The more they over think the plumbing, the easier to stop up the drain.

12-08-2006, 06:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
JoseA Moderator Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,097	I personally heard it would be Mark Cuban possibly from a collegue of mine, but that is not certain. It depends if he wants to shell it out. __________________ Register here and join the discussion

04-10-2007, 03:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
TheAJx Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 849	Who is this Sam Zell clown. He isnt some sort of clown is he? Jerry Coangelo is a freaking baller, and Marc Cuban does what it take to field a competitive team . . . I know what I'm getting with those guy. Hopefully they can take the CUbs over in 2008 or something.