Easy compromise on Wrigley rooftops

The Wrigley rooftop owners have offered the Chicago Cubs a compromise; no lawsuit if the Cubs agree to the jumbotron scoreboard and the right-field sign and drop the plans for the five additional signs that were approved by the Chicago Landmark Commission.

A concession the Cubs should make to the rooftops is a double-sided jumbotron in left and right field. The rooftops get the same replays and whatever else is projected to fans in the ballpark. The Cubs benefit by getting additional advertising dollars by taking advantage of the fans sitting on those rooftops.

The Cubs should even consider broadcasting the entire game on the boards facing the rooftops thus creating the world's largest sports bar. How many of the fans populating the rooftops stay in their seats and watch, with the same intensity, the game as those inside Wrigley?

Most television shots of the rooftops show "fans" milling around, drinking and eating, with an occasional glance toward what's actually happening on the field. Much the same things happen in sports bars - lots of drinking, eating and socializing with a passing interest in what's actually taking place during the game.

The world's largest big screen televisions. 4,000 square feet or more would guarantee full rooftops. The Cubs get 17 percent of larger rooftop revenues while increasing advertising rates based on more "eyeballs" watching the those big screens.

Seems like a simple solution to me.

Steve Sarich

Grayslake