You might not like what the Cubs have done to Wrigleyville, might not like the theme-park vibe to the area around the ballpark, but you can’t say the franchise beat taxpayers over the head to renovate Wrigley Field. Oh, they tried. They asked for $150 million in public assistance, but the city of Chicago said no. In the end, the Ricketts family decided to pay for the work out of its own pockets.
This isn’t to say that the Cubs are somehow nobler than the Bears, who are going from town to town with their hand out these days. Three years ago, Wrigley Field received National Historic Landmark status, which made the Cubs eligible for federal tax credits. I don’t think the Rickettses are history buffs. I think they’re money buffs.
