Since Wrigley Field was built in 1914 in the heart of Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood, it’s been more of a tradition for fans to watch games from the rooftops across the street. These heightened rooftops offered a front-row view of the Cubs games. In 2002, the organization filed lawsuits against 13 local homeowners, claiming these rooftop operations were “stealing their product.”

Well, the tension finally cooled down when a deal was signed that the team would receive 17% of the revenue from these rooftop owners. In exchange, the organization couldn’t obstruct the rooftop views over the next 20 years.

Apparently this deal expired two years ago. After which, the Cubs didn’t just try to renegotiate. Under new owner Tom Ricketts’ leadership, the Cubs took a far more aggressive approach.

The Cubs started pressuring rooftop owners to sell their properties outright. They went so far as to involve their mortgage companies or threaten to block views. The Cubs acquired almost all rooftops around Wrigley by the end of 2015 through a series of shell corporations.

They began charging $150 to $400 per ticket. However, the revenue generated via tickets wasn’t the team’s real goal. Their end goal came to revelation last April. The city approved the Cubs to add sponsored signage on the buildings they owned in the neighborhood.

The predicted profits were massive but at the same time not every building was under Cubs control. There was one last property that remained that was still operated by its owner. It was still in litigation over the right to sell tickets.

When Expedition Money pointed out, if the Cubs can put a massive Coca-Cola sign on one building, then there is nothing that’s stopping a nearby defiant homeowner from putting up any other sign, like Pepsi. That one single act could immediately devalue exclusive sponsorships. Plus, it could potentially cost the team millions of dollars. Now, let’s hear the take of Wrigley View Rooftop across the street.

Chicago Cubs vs Wrigley View Rooftop

The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of their legal battle against the Wrigley View Rooftop. It’s a company that provides 200 guests with a. View of Cubs games/Wrigley Field in exchange for fees. Wrigley View Rooftop insists that it has never prevented anyone from going to Wrigley Field. They do agree that the view from their rooftop includes Wigleh Field.

However, at the same time, their argument is that the Cubs didn’t put up high fences to block the view. Apparently, the Cubs themselves have made it easy to see the field from the rooftop. On the other hand, the Cubs say that the Wrigley View Rooftop is misrepresenting the case.

The real issue according to the organization, is that the rooftop is making money from Cubs games by selling tickets. As per the Cubs, only they have the right to sell tickets for any Wrigley Field event. The club also pointed out that the rooftop agrees the team owns the rights to recordings of games but the argument from their side is without any legal support.

Currently, this case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. It’s strange that what once started as a beloved, community-rooted tradition has transformed into a legal battlefield with millions of dollars at stake.