So who's going to the once-in-a-lifetime game at the old North side ball yard tomorrow January 1st?

As this is a baseball site I know I may over-stepping my bounds a bit since hockey was always my first sport.  I can't explain how charged up I am about a Blackhawks game in recent memory given their "issues" the last 10-15 years.  Even with the loss last night, this team has come a long way in a short time.  And to see them in Wrigley is simply amazing.  Only thing that could have topped this personally is if the game were against the Canadiens.

I understand there will be all sorts of activities before the game at Clark and Waveland between 9-12 and then the F18/A flyover during pre-game and various fun things through out the day.

I ended up changing my seat location due to a last-minute change in plans and will now be in section 121 instead of 138. 

Do other BCB'ers want to meet up anywhere and would anyone care to do a picture sharing thing afterwards?  I know I'm going to try to shoot as many pics as possible and have my DSLR ready to go.

The Suntimes has a nice article today about how famed Wrigley Field is going to be outfitted with the "standard"  200' x 85' NHL rink for New Years Day.

There's some perspective by one of the chief players in getting the rink built out and with the best possible quality come Jan 1st, per Dan Craig, known as the NHL's "Ice Man".  There's a total of 10 ice experts, 2 from Chi-Town that are part of the main team getting this done.

Work will begin in 10 days with several trucks coming to Chi-Town from Toronto.  Material will include a complete refrigeration system.  They speak of an ice surface 2" thick (about double of a typical indoor hockey rink) and needing 12,000 gallons of water.  Those numbers don't seem to jive too much as  it should take about 21,000 gallons for a 2" thick ice surface, but one of those numbers may be a typo.  The floor base is made of Aluminium panels.

They're ready for anything that can happen.  Dan was interviewed between periods of the 'Hawks game the other night and is very excited to be playing a marquee NHL game between 2 of the original 6 teams (Bruins, Rangers, Canadiens & Maple Leafts are the other 4) in one of baseballs' shrines.  I know I can't wait to head over to Wrigley that day; I don't care how cold it is outside.

The rinks' long side closer to the main grandstands will be only 8-10' behind the mound.  The rink [length-wise] will face approximately NW to SE.  So centre ice will be just a few feet on the pitchers' mound side of the 2nd base bag.  The rink ends will extend about 25' past the foul lines along the line drawn from the corner bases. There will be no "glass seats" for spectators BTW.

I can't remember where I saw this but it was another article; several of the Cubs players plan to be at Wrigley for the game especially native Canadian's Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden.

I for one believe they have every angle covered and can't wait to head over to Wrigley on Jan 1st! 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/1315619,CST-NWS-rink05.article

Any one ever heard of a bizofbaseball site?  Well, they feel that the Ricketts family may have won the bid for the Cubs. 

http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2467:rumor-ricketts-will-land-chicago-cubs&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42

There's also a bit in there about Stoney and his interest in minority ownership.  Guess it goes that once Stoney found out Ricketts won the bid and his chance of getting into the ownership thing (something many of us bantered about in the past) was not about to happen, he signed his 6-year deal to be in the TV booth on the south side.

There are many links at their site that point to other articles, including the entire list of bidders at one time or another.

http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2361:cubs-sale-hits-stride-bids-due-today&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42

So, if this ends up being the guy (Thomas) and family (Ricketts), what does that do for the Cubs being perennial contenders?  I don't know much about them but know they've made money off me since I have a TD/Ameritrade account. 

I was always in favor of Don Levin just because having met the man and know 100% he's not only a Cubs fan but an outstanding businessman.  After he dropped out, I had to consider Cuban - if not for just a minute - because he would not be afraid to spend. 

So will the Ricketts spend and spend wisely?  Will they continue this momentum so in 10 years we can all be talking about multiple WS titles? 

Twice in the game where the US blew out China 9-1, there were collisions at the plate.  The Chinese catcher taking a good shot from a US runner scoring on the play.  Each time the US player went in high with a shoulder.

Jim Lefebvre (think we all remember him) now coaching China got tossed arguing one of the plays at the plate. 

Matt LaPorta, one of the runners scoring earlier took one in the head on his next AB.  He was taken to the hospital for observation.  The Chinese pitcher and Steve Ontiveros got tossed for that.  That was clearly a head hunting throw, rather similar to the throw towards Fonzie's head last week.

Then for the final out, the US pitcher took a come-backer and ran down the batter to tag him out; tossing the ball towards the Chinese dugout.

Video can be viewed at http://www.nbcolympics.com/index.html in the exclusive video section on the right-hand side bar.

Corey Provis reporting on the 'GN post game show, the Cubs, Blackhawks and the NHL have agreed to showcase a Blackhawks / Redwings game at Wrigley Field New Years Day, 2009.  Corey states this comes from David Kaplan.  More certainly to come later.

The long awaited announcement - by me at least - has come at last.  Our buddy John McDonough is showing yet again why he is the big time marketing genious that lofted the Cubs to the top of MLB.  He's now doing with the Blackhawks.

Well, that sales tax growth-related plan (read as tax-subsidized gift to Sam Zell)wasn't going to work with the city, so big Jim [Thompson] was going with plan-B by trying equity seats rights to get the sale of the ball park to the state completed.

Zell needs to sell the team and ballpark to retire $13B of debt remaining from his leveraged buyout last year.

This is the gimmick where certain (read as the best) seats would be sold, like a mortgage either fixed or an agreed-upon variable, likely rising rate for a given time period.  The amortization of these seats would then be used to renovate the park.  Some of the numbers being thrown around were 20% of the seating, about 8,000 seats would raise monies in the neighborhood of $300M.

Since Zell and Kenney think it would violate the IRS code and be against MLB rules, they decided against this type of plan, who's inventor is trying to patent.

Bottom line is Zell is going to package the shrine at 1060 W. Addison with the Cubs.

So with the whole entire ruckus over these past several months, we should finally see the sale process accelerate.

In other news, Zell is selling Tribune Co's NY Newsday paper for $650M.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/946163,CST-NWS-wrigley13.article

MLB offices is reviewing the Cubs books now and if approved will forward to the bidding parties.  Only parties mentioned are the old cronies club (Selig and Reinsdorf) headed up by John Canning, the Ricketts family of Omaha and our buddy Mark Cuban.  Nowhere is Don Levin mentioned; that is disappointing to say the least.

Well, our buddy (not sarcastic) John McDonough is making more moves.  Dan Kelly was fired as play-by-play of the Blackhawks.  It certainly makes the room for Pat Foley, he of a quarter-century experience in the 'Hawks broadcast booth, to come back.  His contract with the Wolves expires after this season which in normal fashion, goes well beyond the regular season.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/blackhawks/933387,CST-SPT-hawk06.article

It's funny how things get done by a team when they hire a guy that by golly gets things done.  We can truly appreciate what John had done for the Cubs all those years now that it's a little more easy to see when he's doing it from 1901 W. Madison instead of 1060 W. Addison.  I know, I know, he's a marketing guy, not a baseball guy.  But he's part of the reason why the Cubbies are a national draw and in my opinion the team that has the MOST fans of ANY MLB team OUTSIDE their geographic market.

I think it's already a done deal but it won't be announced until after the Wolves finished playing.  No need to rush guys, let's get title #4.  I mean come on, it's been SIX YEARS since you've won  :^).  Speculation has been abound since the announcement of the team's first fan convention that Foley coming back will be announced by then.  There is really no more need for speculation.  I thought that a couple months ago when we discussed it here, now I'm sure of it.

It's ironic the move happens now in that the last couple months, every time the Wolves would play Rockford (they're in a 2nd round playoff series with them now, up 2 games to 1) Pat would actually refer to Rockford's NHL parent club as the "Blackhawks".  For several months earlier in the season he would say, "the NHL affiliate in Chicago", as if he still had hard feelings.  He's also gone as far as to praise plays by Rockford players several times rather than just stating it once and moving on.  Since he already knows he's coming back (IMHO) guess he should start getting attached to some of those kids because they're certainly going to be playing at 1901 W. Madison come October.

Now, does Billy Gardner follow him back and make a 3-man TV booth (can't jetison Eddie Olczyk) or does Billy stay at the AllState?  I also expect Judd Sirott to come back to the Wolves.

What a whirl-wind set of events since June.  Kane drafted #1, a number of other acquisitions and signings, Toews certainly captain material (he's 19 years old) kids playing well at Rockford (thanks coach Haviland), Rocky takes over, Pulford put in the penalty box permanently, McDonough hired, games start on TV, excitement back, TV contracts signed for next season, games on WGN, now Pat Foley.  Next thing is to sign Brian Campbell and Langkow or Hossa on July 1st.

In the Trib this evening a very detailed article was posted. It discusses the present landmark status elements, which to my surprise includes the exposed steel columns and overall height.

The ordinance does not shut out changes which includes the seats themselves and configuration. More advertising has been added in the concourses

Of most interest is if the upper deck is razed, there is a motivation to increase the mezzanine skyboxes to the point where a new upper deck would be higher.

ISFA is expecting renovations to be $350-400B; that's up to 2/3rds of the cost of the catastrophy that occured at 16th and Balbo.

They also compare/contrast to Fenway and that Fenway is in the pending state for landmark status. There appears to be a good faith agreement in bean town that may or may not be present here in the windy city.

So it remains to me at least, that the landmark ordinance may not have to be relaxed as a whole, only in parts, and significant changes can occur.

From this it appears there will come many a proposals on how to get around or alter the landmark status points. It really looks like things are going full speed ahead folks.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-thu_wrigley-field-mar13,1,4054437.s tory

An article by Barry Rozner, IMHO the best Chicago sports columnist, today discusses Don Levin in consideration buying the Cubs.

I'm totally biased in favor of Don Levin owning the Cubs - plus actually considered campaigning for him to buy the Blackhawks if he didn't get the Cubs and Rocky Wirtz didn't take over - because of his classy approach in connecting with a fan base of a minor league hockey team in a big city. Don's ownership of the Wolves should be a benchmark on how professional teams shall be run.

He's been approved to see the books but none have yet been available.

While patient and as always saying the right thing, Levin wouldn't be surprised if the team sale won't occur until after the season.

He knows Zell has had to think this out and believes the ball park sale may work out better for the buyer. He's mindful that a greedy lease from the state won't help prospective buyers.

Don is obviously a smart businessman and, unlike what I've seen with Zell thus far, a gentleman. He understands what it will take to balance the mix financially that would make it a win-win situation for both the seller and buyer.

While patient he's still a bit anxious and is looking for resolution soon stating, "I just hope I can buy the team while I still have the strength to walk up the ramp at Wrigley Field".

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=151786

Barry Rozner - the best Chicago sports columnist IMHO - in his Herald column today wrote about the potential negative impact on the team and its fans by having Wrigley sold separately from the team.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=110335

His reasoning is (with the state owning the park) by a new team owner having now to pay rent, not get any naming rights revenue or revenue streams by altering the park, the opportunity for profit is limited; perhaps to the nine-figure range per season!

Thinking about what he wrote, I jumped on the impact to the fans, us, those who truly bleed cubbie blue. Without those additional revenue streams and now having to pay an eight-figure per-season rent will us fans see even higher ticket prices? Will the payroll suddenly stop growing or worse yet, drop?

I feel that Zell doesn't give a crap about the fans, its cut throat business. Sound like another owner in this town from several decades past? Don't know who that is, here's a hint: See my user ID.

What I was thinking earlier, mostly due to Rozner's writing a few months ago was how Selig can actually come in and do something that in the end, benefits us the fans.

Back in the 80's the commish (obviously not Bud) used his "best interest of baseball" clause and disallowed Tribune Co. from tearing down Wrigley.

Well Selig may have to use that clause again, this time not permitting the sale of the team without the ballpark as part of the package. The sale value is much higher with the park and it's what Selig would want, greater team value. It has a trickle down affect for the other clubs.

I agree with Barry. The state can't run their existing enterprises. Do we want to trust them with the old North side ball yard? I don't think so.

I fear this little deal with the state is simply a way to generate more revenue so they can get the awful transit crisis solved. Here's $50 million bucks CTA, will that help you? Hey, I have an idea, how 'bout the transit outfit learn how to run a business?

I want the Cubs to stay at Wrigley. I'd prefer limited changes to the park but know some change is inevitable. I also want to see the Cubs continue to grow their payroll and act like the big market club they are. I also feel it's fair that the new owner (please let it be Don Levin) be able to manage their own revenue streams and costs without uncontrollable circumstances. So here I am hoping Bud Selig does something good for the game again - like the wild card - assure the sale of the Cubs includes the old North side ball yard.