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March 18, 2010
Wrigley Field to get giant Toyota ornament?
The Chicago Cubs have let drop another element of their Wrigley Field renovation plan, and this one could be less universally popular than adding bathrooms: Team owners want to erect an illuminated red Toyota logo atop the left-field bleachers. (Yes, Toyota. Make your own jokes about how the cursed love company.)
The new signage — which would be by far the most obtrusive at what's baseball's least ad-festooned ballpark — would accomplish two goals: First, raise money to help pay for the renovations (and Alfonso Soriano's contract). And second, partially obscure the casino ad on a neighboring rooftop that's been peeving Cubs execs, in no small part because it's designed to get free airtime on game telecasts.
The sign could still be denied by the Chicago Commission on Historical Landmarks, which has jurisdiction since the Chicago board of aldermen landmarked Wrigley back in 2004, as part of the bill that allowed expansion of the ballpark's bleachers. No word yet on when a decision is due.
