The Chicago Cubs have sued a nearby restaurant, Wrigley View Rooftop, which sells rooftop stand access with an excellent view of the field where the Cubs play.
The Cubs allege that the restaurant misappropriated the team’s property rights.
Wrigley View Rooftop alleges that the Cubs don’t own the building and that the restaurant has a legal right to conduct business on its rooftop as it sees fit.
I can’t imagine the Cubs winning this lawsuit, but I don’t think the legal issues are the most relevant here.
If I were advising the Cubs, I would tell them to end this lawsuit immediately because the optics are atrocious.
A small business is lucky enough to own a rooftop with a view of the baseball field, so they decide to sell seats to watch the game while serving them food and drink, and somehow, the Cubs feel entitled to a portion of that revenue?
In fact, for a long time, they actually did.
Prior to 2024, the Cubs and Wrigley View Rooftop (and other companies that offered rooftop seats near Wrigley Field) had a licensing arrangement where about 17% of revenue from out-of-stadium rooftop seats and 11% of billboard revenue were shared with the Cubs. But when those arrangements ended, the Cubs informed Wrigley View Rooftop that it could no longer sell tickets to view Cubs games, concerts, and other live events at Wrigley Field.
Crazy. Right? You own a building, but you’re restricted from making a profit from its view?
But even worse, it makes the Cubs look petty.
It positions them as anti-business.
It hurts their fans.
It makes them look like jerks.
According to Forbes’ 2026 MLB franchise valuations, the Chicago Cubs are worth approximately $5.0 billion, making them the fourth most valuable team in Major League Baseball.
Forbes estimates the Cubs generated about $599 million in annual revenue and $58 million in operating income, with the team value increasing roughly 9% over the previous year.
When your pile of money is this large, you should not be trying to hurt the little guy.
It makes you the bad guy in the minds of most people, and for what?
An infinitesimally larger pile of money?
Given their history, it’s hard to hate the Chicago Cubs unless you’re a Chicago White Sox fan, but thanks to their pettiness and greed, I have now soured on the Cubs.
To hell with those bullies.
Go, White Sox. Go Cardinals.
I never thought I’d say this, but even the Brewers, who are currently leading their division. I couldn’t tell you one player on the Brewers. I can’t even tell you what their team logo looks like.
But if they are beating the Cub, I’m happy.
Pettiness and greed will always make you the bad guy. Every time.
