The Chicago Cubs are now one step closer to obtaining approval for major renovations to historic Wrigley Field after Chicago's landmarks commission signed off on a proposed jumbotron that would be built as part of the renovations:
The Chicago Cubs, which waited decades to install lights at Wrigley Field and has waited more than a century to win a World Series, took a giant step toward ending the wait for something every other team in the majors already has: a Jumbotron.
The city's landmarks commission, which must sign off on such plans because Wrigley is a city landmark, approved a plan Thursday to allow the team to build a first-ever electronic Jumbotron and other sign above the ivy-covered outfield walls. It did so despite objections from the local alderman, who said the signs would harm the quality of life in the neighborhood, and rooftop owners, who complained the signs will cut into their views and devastate their businesses.
The full City Council still must give its approval. Traditionally in such zoning and development issues, the other aldermen vote the way the local alderman wants. But the tradition of doing what the mayor wants is even stronger, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel clearly wants this deal to go through.
Rahm Emanuel has every reason to aggressively push for approval of renovations to Wrigley Field: he's already alienated teachers and progressive activists over his appointees on the Chicago school board closing dozens of public schools in Chicago, and the last thing Rahm wants to do is alienate Cubs fans as well.
If the renovation plan is rejected by the Chicago city council, the Ricketts family, who own the Cubs, may move the franchise from Wrigley Field. If the Cubs leave Wrigley, you may be asking yourself this question: where would they move to?
Here's several possibilities for where the Cubs may make their new home at if they leave Wrigley:
1) Elsewhere in Chicago - The last time two MLB clubs shared the same home ballpark was from 1974 to 1975, when the New York Yankees and the New York Mets shared Shea Stadium on a temporary basis while Yankee Stadium was being renovated. The last time two MLB clubs shared the same home ballpark on a long-term basis was from 1920 to 1953, when the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) shared Sportsman's Park. If the Wrigley Field renovation plan doesn't get approved, it's possible that the Cubs could move to U.S. Cellular Field, currently home to the Chicago White Sox, on a long-term basis and share that ballpark with the White Sox. (It's also possible that U.S. Cellular Field may be used as a temporary home for the Cubs during the Wrigley renovations if the renovation plan is approved) Another possibility is that the Cubs may build a new ballpark in another location in the City of Chicago, but I don't know of any specific locations where they may do so.
2) Chicago suburbs - Cicero, an inner suburb that immediately borders Chicago to the west, has been floated as a site for a possible new Cubs ballpark. Another possible location for a new Cubs ballpark is somewhere in the northern Chicago suburbs.
3) Downstate Illinois - I highly doubt that the Cubs would move to a location in Illinois outside of the Chicago metro area. Most of the people in this region of Illinois (and I live here) are rabid fans for St. Louis and Indianapolis-based sports teams who would have a "not in my backyard" reaction to any Chicago-based sports franchise moving to this region of Illinois. During the early 20th Century, the NFL's Staleys were based in Decatur before moving to Chicago and becoming the Bears.
4) Des Moines, Iowa - This is a more likely possibility than one would think. The State of Iowa lacks a "big four" (i.e., MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) franchise, and the Cubs' AAA minor league franchise is based in Des Moines.
5) Indianapolis, Indiana - Indianapolis currently has NBA (Pacers) and NFL (Colts) franchises, and it is one of the largest cities in the United States to currently lack an MLB franchise.
6) Charlotte, North Carolina - Charlotte would be one of the potential candidates for an expansion American League franchise if there is a future MLB expansion, because of the long distance to the nearest AL ballpark from Charlotte, so I highly doubt that the Cubs would move to Charlotte.
7) Omaha, Nebraska - Nebraska lacks a "big four" franchise, but Omaha is a big bastion for college baseball (the College World Series is held in Omaha annually). The Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs, has a presence in Nebraska: Pete Ricketts was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Nebraska in 2006 (losing to Democratic incumbent Ben Nelson), so it wouldn't be out of the question for the Cubs to move to Omaha.
8) Somewhere in Tennessee - The Cubs' AA minor league affiliate is based in the Knoxville area, however, Nashville (currently home to the NFL's Titans and the NHL's Predators) and Memphis (currently home to the NBA's Grizzlies) are two more likely locations.
9) San Antonio, Texas - Despite the State of Texas having the second-largest population in the country, it currently has only two MLB clubs (the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, both of which are in the American League). Texas could, at least theoretically, support a third MLB club.
10) Portland, Oregon - The National League currently lacks a team in the Pacific Northwest, and the Cubs would have a new interleague rivalry with the Seattle Mariners if they were to move to Portland.
11) Somewhere in Western Canada - Since Montreal proved it couldn't support a Major League club, could Vancouver or Calgary support a MLB club? Those are two possible locations if the Cubs were to move north of the border.
Of course, all of these scenarios can be adverted if the City of Chicago were to approve the Wrigley Field renovation plan.