CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Subsidizing Wrigley

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Borden's Frosty Malt — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:28:26 -0000

I just read from Crain's that Zell is considering selling the naming rights for Wrigley Field.

Maybe he could sell them to the W.W. Wrigley Company, in which case it could be called Wrigley's Wrigley Field.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Rich Miller — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:19:05 -0000

LOL. Touche.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:14:13 -0000

BTW - I didn't grow up in the suburbs. I don't plan on moving to the suburbs. I didn't go to the UofI. I didn't marry a cubs fan (but she is one now!).

But, I understand your characterization. When you have millions upon millions of fans, it is expected to have some bad apples.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:12:45 -0000

Or the Sox Fan way of life -

Grow up in the suburbs. Stay in the suburbs. Get married to your kin. Stay in the suburbs. Drive in to Comiskey, ignore "Comiskeyville", and pretend you are "from Chicago."

Raise kids who attach first base coaches, etc.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Just Observing — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:11:30 -0000

I'm not an apologist for the Assessor's office, but in all fairness ALL assessed values are below market rate -- even single family homes. It is not an accurate assessment of the true value -- and it really doesn't matter if everything else is under-assessed too.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Rich Miller — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:06:13 -0000

GoBearsss, odds are you'll be moving to the 'burbs anyway.

It's the Cubbie Blue Triangle of Life...

Grow up in the suburbs. Attend the U of I. Move to "Wrigleyville." Get married to a Cub fan. Move to the suburbs. Raise kids who go to the U of I, etc. :)

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Prairie Sage — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:57:12 -0000

Rich, you should ask Brown if he owes you and your commenters a hat-tip. We discussed the property tax issue -- with many of the same numbers -- earlier this week.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

MOON — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:29:28 -0000

Wrigley Field is grossly under assessed, resulting in the form of subsidy by Assessor Houlihan. Houlihan is totally incompetent. He increases the home owners assessed value far greater than needed, resulting in higher taxes then runs to Springfield seeking cover with what he calls " The 7% Solution". Then he has the gall to blame the legislatures when they refuse to bail him out of the problem he created.

Mr. Houlihan, you created this mess, now you are subsidizing the millionaires who own Wrigley Field, all at the expense of the home owners.It's time for Houlihan to pack it in......Quit or retire. You have been a miserable failure!!!!!

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:47:10 -0000

bored - they are talking about buying it for far less than that - $1.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

bored now — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:42:11 -0000

i'm all for the state buying wrigley for $12.3M. hell, if people object to state ownership, i'll buy it for $12.3M...

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

enrico depressario — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:25:30 -0000

Can't wait for Fitzgerald to write Big Jim's ticket to Wisconsin. The shareholders of Hollinger got the same treatment as your average Illinois taxpayer from Big Jimâ€”screwed.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Rich Miller — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:23:52 -0000

===need to ensure that the assessment they have quoted is not simply the 1/3 property value that is taxed===

I'm sure it is. But that would still be a huge lowball and a giant subsidy.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

publius — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:20:04 -0000

i think if you examine the building of united center you will find that it was done with private money

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

ptabski — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:08:56 -0000

need to ensure that the assessment they have quoted is not simply the 1/3 property value that is taxed....

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:07:58 -0000

Actually, from the inside, Soldier Field is a fantastic stadium for playing and watching football.

From the outside....

umm....

go bears!

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Macbeth — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:06:32 -0000

Yeah, and we all know how *wonderful* the new Soldier Field is.

(That's sarcastic, BTW. The new soldier field looks awful and is an awful, awful stadium for football.)

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers P — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:05:21 -0000

Oops, my bad, missed the extra comma in the numbers. Sorry. lol

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:32 -0000

Broken Heart - you pay $1 million in taxes a year on your condo? No wonder you are so grumpy!

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

GoBearsss — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:00:01 -0000

If, as a result of your tireless and misguided campaign against the State getting Wrigley field for free, there become separate owners for Wrigley Field and the Cubs, and then a lease dispute erupts, and the Cubs play hardball - saying they don't have to play in Wrigley - and then they move to Schaumburg or (heaven forbid) Comiskey, then I will personally find you, tie you up, and force you to drink Old Style from a plastic cup until the Cubs return to Wrigley.

Mark my words.

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers P — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:58:58 -0000

I pay more in taxes on a 1900 sq foot - two bedroom condo a mile away. WTF?

Re: Subsidizing Wrigley

Garp — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:51:13 -0000

Big Jim's arguement seems to be, the tax payers are getting pillaged at all the other stadiums so why not Wrigley? I guess your answer to him today is that the tax payers are getting pillaged at Wrigley so he can relax and sleep tonight.