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Should state buy Wrigley Field? Depends on who is asked

Posted March 06, 2008 10:00 pm

John Sharp

Kriss Cochran might be a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, but even she thinks it's questionable for state government to purchase Wrigley Field and make renovations to the ball park.

"I don't feel everyone in the state should pay for that," said Cochran, a Peoria resident. "What you are saying to everyone in the state is that we should work hard and pay our taxes for the Chicago Cubs."

Central Illinois lawmakers for the most part agree, setting up a potential battle in Springfield between Chicago and downstate Illinois legislators about whether the state should pursue purchasing 94-year-old stadium.

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, chaired by former Gov. James Thompson, is expected to make an offer to the Tribune Co. next week to acquire and renovate Wrigley Field. That bid could include a request from the General Assembly to issue state-backed bonds, authority spokesman Doug Scofield said Thursday.

"We're some time away from an agreement," Scofield said. "The only way to pursue it is if you can believe it's a good arrangement for not only the city of Chicago but the whole state."

Selling the state purchase of Wrigley Field to some central Illinois lawmakers, however, might be more difficult than finding a cheap ticket for a Cubs playoff game.

"I think it's a bad idea," said Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria. "It's nice we can all be nostalgic about the Cubs, but I'm not sure how any of us downstate (benefit) unless they put together a package that does benefit us."

Scofield said one possibility is to have lawmakers approve a program similar to what they endorsed in 2000 for the renovation of Soldier Field, home to the National Football League's Chicago Bears.

Lawmakers approved a $587 million package for Soldier Field and at that time, only 26 lawmakers downstate voted for it. That plan included about $400 million worth of taxpayer-supported bonds issued by the Sports Facilities Authority, which was created in the 1980s to build U.S. Cellular Field, home to baseball's White Sox.

Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, said he supported the Soldier Field plan and could back a similar proposal for Wrigley Field but he believes lawmakers should place a priority on approving a capital program to help build bridges, roads and schools. A capital program also likely would require approval of state bonds.

"For me, it would have to take priority on any deal to help out Wrigley Field," Smith said.

Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Gilson, said he isn't sure the state can even afford to issue bonds to purchase or renovate Wrigley Field. He, like Smith, said the focus for any additional state debt should be on a capital improvement program.

"My concern is the state is not as near of a good financial position when (the Soldier Field program was approved)," Moffitt said. "We are in desperate need of a capital bill for major projects."

Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Morton, said he thinks the ball park should remain out of the public domain.

"I think the people of the state feel that way, too, that it should be a private enterprise and has been that way all these years," he said.

John Sharp can be reached at (309) 686-3282 or jsharp@pjstar.com.

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