Is there a lesson from Fenway?

SPRINGFIELD -- At the turn of the century, the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park were slumping. The dilapidated stadium, in vital need of a makeover, was showing its age. Some thought it required a total teardown.

The team was similarly mired in futility, having not won a World Series in more than 80 years.

Making matters worse, both the Red Sox and Fenway had a "for sale" sign out front.

Then, in 2002, new ownership took over, eventually pouring more than $100 million into the historic ballpark and turning the team into contenders. The Red Sox have won two World Series titles since.

As such, the Fenway sale and subsequent Red Sox rebirth stand in marked contrast to Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Tribune-owned Cubs now are soliciting the state's help in selling off the ballpark, which hasn't hosted a World Series since 1945 and has never had a series winner call it home.

Amid concerns, no matter how unlikely, that the Cubs could flee the Friendly Confines, state officials have shown interest in buying the stadium, with language written in the lease that would force the team to play at Wrigley Field for decades to come.

Lawmakers' involvement in stadium deals has essentially become a Chicago tradition, argued former Gov. Jim Thompson, the potential pointman on a Wrigley deal. And he should know. As governor in 1988, Thompson twisted enough lawmakers' arms to win approval of a deal that kept the Chicago White Sox from uprooting to Florida. He also lobbied on behalf of the Chicago Bears in 2000 for the nearly $400-million pact that financed Soldier Field's renovation. Tax breaks also eased construction of the United Center.

"Wrigley Field would simply be the last of the major sports facilities in the state of Illinois," Thompson said. "All the rest are being owned by or being helped by the state."

As the Cubs ponder joining the growing trend of professional sports franchises turning to government and taxpayers for help, a look at the Red Sox shows a markedly different route, keeping the government role to a minimum.

Arguably, no other existing franchises or ballparks have a greater similarity in Major League Baseball than those of the Cubs and Red Sox. They play in the two oldest stadiums in baseball, tout fans that blame losing seasons on curses and have been put up for sale in recent years.

Last year, Tribune Co. officials announced their intent to sell the Cubs. Initially they hoped to have a deal done by Opening Day, but have recently said it's unclear when a sale will be finalized.

The Tribune Co. has owned the Cubs since 1981.

While private individuals have expressed interest in buying the ball club, real-estate tycoon and new Tribune Co. owner Sam Zell has approached Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other state officials in recent months gauging their interest in buying Wrigley Field.

For the right price, the team and the stadium could have separate owners. The price for both the team and park has been estimated at more than $1 billion.

If the state bought the stadium, one deal discussed would implement a sales tax incentive just for Wrigley Field, Thompson said. Such a move would keep future sales tax revenue from beer and other ballpark sales within the Friendly Confines rather than shared with the city, county and state. The tax revenue would finance Wrigley improvements.

That could make the team's sale more attractive as the owner would not have to worry about paying for expensive and extensive Wrigley renovations. But in order for that to pan out, the idea would likely require Springfield lawmakers' approval.

In Boston, talk of government involvement initially focused on using state powers to gain control of the property and knock down Fenway to make way for a new ballpark. Dismayed fans were in an uproar, helping to spark creation of a non-profit organization to save Fenway Park.

"When Fenway was at its most threatened point, city and state threatened to use eminent domain," said Steve Wojnar, president of Save Fenway Park. "We fought tremendously against that."

But it was a deal proposed by a group headed by former Florida Marlins owner John Henry that helped save the stadium. Its members said they wouldn't demolish Fenway, and instead put millions of dollars into its revival.

Henry's organization not only won the bidding war for $700 million, but perhaps something more important -- fan approval.

The group added seats atop the Green Monster, the stadium's 37-by-240 foot left-field wall. It also funded improvements to the Red Sox scoreboard and addressed clubhouse needs, promising more renovations for the future, all while winning two championships and making the team perennial contenders.

"We're pretty pleased with what they've done," Wojnar said. "Anybody who has never been to Fenway would have to ask, 'What's old and what's new?' "

In contrast to the possible Wrigley deal, the only state involvement in Massachusetts was a $50 million investment in improving the community around the ballpark.

"The role of government is helping people, educating kids and keeping people safe," said Michael Ross, a Boston city councilman. "Major League Baseball is very capable of taking care of itself without public subsidies."