State offer for Wrigley near

State offer for Wrigley near: The state-backed sports agency that wants to acquire and renovate Wrigley Field expects to make a formal offer to Tribune Co. for the historic baseball park next week or the week after, its chairman said Tuesday.

Former Gov. James Thompson said the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, which has been looking into a Wrigley purchase since December at Tribune owner Sam Zell's request, is still assessing the expected cost of needed restoration work at the 94-year-old stadium.

Thompson said the agency, which also owns the Chicago White Sox's U.S. Cellular Field, remains determined to do the deal at no cost to taxpayers and to retain Wrigley's character.