State plan for $45 mil, 5 pct stake in Wrigley proposal

Tribune Co. could have received as much as $45 million and a 5 percent stake in a leased Wrigley Field under a deal for the state to loan $300 million toward restoration of the historic ballpark. Documents released by the Illinois Finance Authority Monday indicate the state would've loaned money to a new corporation that would fix up and rent the Chicago Cubs' home field for $25 million a year for 30 years. Tribune is trying to sell the team and ballpark. Secret negotiations between Tribune and the state that began last fall stopped abruptly when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 on corruption charges. Among other allegations, Blagojevich is accused of trying to pressure Tribune to fire unfriendly editorial writers in exchange for the deal. Messages left for a Tribune spokesman Monday evening weren't immediately returned.