No Cubs, no additional revenue for Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars earned $278,469 less in sponsorship and advertising revenue than it did at this point last year.
And that means the Kane County Forest Preserve District, which owns the ballpark in which the Cougars play, likely won't get extra money from a revenue-sharing setup.
Any year in which the Cougars gross between $8.25 million and $13.25 million, the forest district gets a 12 percent cut.
At the end of the third quarter last year, the Cougars had earned $8.26 million. This year, it's at $8.05 million.
Ken Stanish, the district's finance director, said the drop in sponsorships and ads may be attributable to a change in the team's affiliation. Last year, it was a Chicago Cubs minor league team. This year, it is affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Speaking at the district's land acquisition committee meeting Thursday, Stanish said ticket and souvenir sales were up. Food and beverage sales were slightly less. Typically, he added, not much revenue comes in during the fourth quarter.
Commissioner John Hoscheit pointed out that the naming-rights contract for Fifth Third Bank Ballpark expires next year, and that a new contract could pay more.