Report: Offer made to buy Wrigley Field

CHICAGO, July 18 (UPI) -- The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc. has submitted an offer to buy Chicago's Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, a newspaper report said Friday.

The landmark home field was put on the selling block by the Tribune Co., the team's owner, several months ago. An undisclosed source told the Chicago Sun-Times Thursday Inland's offer is believed to be close to $300 million.

Tribune Chairman Sam Zell reportedly wants out of Wrigley if he sells the team and the property separately.

"I think anyone would want to own Wrigley Field," Inland Vice Chairman Joseph Cosenza told the newspaper. "It's really no different than some of the purchases we have made over the last year or so."

Inland, based in Oak Brook, Ill., is among the largest owners of shopping centers in the United States and reports that it manages assets worth $21 billion.

Its size and prominence demonstrates the depth of interest in the investment potential of Wrigley Field.