Cubs battling owner of rooftop clubs
Published: Feb. 16, 2008 at 5:18 PM
CHICAGO, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The Chicago Cubs are going after the owner of three rooftop clubs near Wrigley Field with a lawsuit and banners to block his patrons' view.
The team claims Tom Gramatis has failed to abide by an agreement the Cubs reached in 2004 with the clubs. After years of warfare, the team agreed to market the clubs and provide compensation if stadium expansion blocked their views, while the clubs agreed to turn over 17 percent of gross revenues, which has totaled $3 million since then.
The Cubs say Gramatis wants to overturn the agreement or to get a better deal than other owners, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. In a suit filed Friday, the Cubs ask that Gramatis abide by the agreement or close his clubs.
"It's disappointing because we have a healthy and growing partnership with all of the other building owners," said Crane Kenney, the Tribune Co. executive who runs the Cubs. "We hoped to be beyond that aspect of our relationship with the neighboring rooftops and have been for four years."
Kenney said the team also is working on a "self-help" solution, testing decorative banners that would block the view from Gramatis' roofs, while leaving others open.
The team claims Tom Gramatis has failed to abide by an agreement the Cubs reached in 2004 with the clubs. After years of warfare, the team agreed to market the clubs and provide compensation if stadium expansion blocked their views, while the clubs agreed to turn over 17 percent of gross revenues, which has totaled $3 million since then.
The Cubs say Gramatis wants to overturn the agreement or to get a better deal than other owners, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. In a suit filed Friday, the Cubs ask that Gramatis abide by the agreement or close his clubs.
"It's disappointing because we have a healthy and growing partnership with all of the other building owners," said Crane Kenney, the Tribune Co. executive who runs the Cubs. "We hoped to be beyond that aspect of our relationship with the neighboring rooftops and have been for four years."
Kenney said the team also is working on a "self-help" solution, testing decorative banners that would block the view from Gramatis' roofs, while leaving others open.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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