# Fight My Wrigley Rooftop Ignorance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688 "2013-04-14T16:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/1 "2013-04-14T16:06:26Z")
I don’t understand why the Chicago Cubs pay any heed whatsoever to the rooftop owners across the street. I don’t mean that in a mean way; I have no problem with people who can see into the stadium watching the games. They do seem somewhat parasitic in nature to me, and should consider themselves lucky to have been able to enjoy what they have so far. But if the Cubs want to put up a scoreboard, or a sign, why not just do it? Is there a financial, or some other benefit that the Cubs recieve from being good neighbors to the rooftop owners? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/2 "2013-04-14T16:11:29Z")
For starters, I’ll bet they have permits. On top of that, can I safely assume that they sell beer and food for the people that are watching from those seats? If they do, the city/state is collecting sales tax from. Also, I’ll bet those houses have massively higher property tax bills. If the stadium is publicly owned, they aren’t going to want to lose that revenue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/3 "2013-04-14T16:16:54Z")
[Here’s](http://www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com/Pages/Pin-Results.aspx?pin=14202280070000&hnum=3633&sname=sheffield&city=chicago&zip=&unit=) the tax bill for a random place with rooftop seating…$78,000 in 2011. Yeah, that’s why they don’t block the view. [Here’s](http://www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com/Pages/Pin-Results.aspx?pin=14203180270000&hnum=1320&sname=henderson&city=chicago&zip=&unit=) another somewhat similar looking place a few miles away with a $5000 tax bill in 2011. ETA and they’re both assessed within about 100,000 dollars of each other. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/4 "2013-04-14T16:18:41Z")
I see. Yes, they do sell beer and food. A friend of mine saw a game that way, and said it was a very cool experience. There was almost a buffet style grilling operation going on, and he was able to park his car under the L tracks near the building. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/5 "2013-04-14T16:24:39Z")
78k! Ouch!! Ha-ha. Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/6 "2013-04-14T16:24:40Z")
Why are the viewers parasitic ? They have to endure having a sports facility as neighbour, and if they happen to look in one direction they get a free performance: this is due to the laws of nature, if you dance in the street where I walk and the view is unobstructed I have to see you whether I want to or not. And I should object to having to pay for your dance just because I can’t help seeing it. The sort of people who want to watch grown men running around a giant playpen are welcome to enjoy it for free, poor devils. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/7 "2013-04-14T16:38:11Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > … I have no problem with people who can see into the stadium watching the games. … Parasitic in that they seemed to be taking without giving. Which I now see isn’t the case. ---
**Author:** ![Cheryl44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@Cheryl44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheryl44)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/8 "2013-04-14T22:54:07Z")
It used to be there were just rooftops there–no bleachers, no grilling stations. Just the people who lived in the buildings and their friends, some lawn chairs, a cooler and a radio to follow the game. Then one of the owners built bleachers and sold tickets and didn’t let the tenants up there unless they paid admission. Then others followed suit. The Cubs sued, and got an agreement out of the owners to pay the Cubs a percentage of the take. Now the Ricketts apparently want out of that agreement, which has XX years to run (no, I don’t know). So they’re making these _let’s build a Jumbotron_ noises in order to either get out of the agreement altogether or get a larger percentage of the take. My guess is the larger percentage of the take option, but who knows. Maybe they’re really, really wanting to just move the team to Arlington Heights or something. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/9 "2013-04-15T03:27:26Z")
> [@Cheryl44](#): > > Now the Ricketts apparently want out of that agreement, which has XX years to run (no, I don’t know). Ten more years to that contract, which will not expire until 2023, according to this [Chicago Tribune article](http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-07/news/chi-chicago-cubs-wrigley-field_1_rooftop-clubs-16-rooftop-venues-rooftop-owners). Note that the contract was signed with the rooftop owners by the Cubs’ old owners, the Tribune; the Ricketts family inherited the contract when they purchased the team. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/10 "2013-04-15T05:28:12Z")
It seems an agreement has been reached, though I didn’t listen to the details. Seeing some of the rooftop buildings from the El - they’ve put some serious cash into infrastructure of these buildings based on the rooftop bleacher business. Wheelchair access, including elevators, bathrooms, and steel rear staircases, plus the food services, all based on the longevity of that contract. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fight-my-wrigley-rooftop-ignorance/655688/11 "2013-04-15T05:39:41Z")
I’ve lived within a couple miles of Wrigley for about twenty five years, and I’m getting really, really tired of the bullshit. I used to think it was cool to live so close to such an iconic location. But now? I’m ready to see them pack up their shit and move to Arlington Heights. Hasta la Vista, dildos. Let the suburbanites put up with your crap for a change. I’d like my city back.