Thompson: Agency hopes to keep Wrigley name

Former Governor Jim Thompson says the agency that could buy Wrigley Field wants to the name and character of the historic ballpark to stay as is.

Thompson says he hasn't heard of any deals by Illinois Sports Facilities Authority to link Wrigley's name to a corporate sponsorship.

Thompson is chairman of the agency, which has been in negotiations to buy the park from the Tribune Company for months.

He said Wednesday after a meeting of the ISFA board that the agency still wants a deal that wouldn't involve taxpayer money and thus could gain approval from city and state officials.

Tribune Chairman and CEO Sam Zell hopes to sell Wrigley separately from the Chicago Cubs, who play there.