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Fans upset by possible Wrigley name change


Published: Feb. 28, 2008 at 12:14 PM
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CHICAGO, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Many Chicago Cubs fans appear to be up in arms over the mere suggestion of selling Wrigley Field naming rights as Tribune Co. boss Sam Zell did this week.

Zell said on CNBC he had no qualms about renaming the 94-year-old baseball stadium if someone came up with the cash, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday. Several major stadiums around the country have sold naming rights to wealthy corporate sponsors.

"I can just imagine it would be an international incident," said George Schipporeit, an architect and teacher standing in line at the Wrigley Field ticket window. "There are some things that are in the public trust, and I don't think you can violate some of those things. Would you change the name of Michigan Avenue?"

Nearby, at the Sports Corner, bartender and Wrigleyville resident Matt Cypher summed it up for the fans.

"I think it'll always be Wrigleyville and it'll always be Wrigley Field," he said.

Cubs management is looking into the possibility of playing more night game and hosting more concerts as revenue-generating events.

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