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CNN Saturday Morning News

Cubs Fans Complain About Blocked Views of Wrigley Field

Aired April 06, 2002 - 07:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Some baseball fans in Chicago are angry about what's happening with their rooftop view of Wrigley Park. We get details now from our Chicago bureau chief Jeff Flock.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The programs are out. They're lining up. The rooftops are packed, and the view is lousy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's ridiculous.

FLOCK: It is Chicago's version of the green monster, a curtain designed to ruin the view of the people who have been perching on rooftops across from the stadium and peeking in on the game for decades.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the whole spirit of Wrigley Field; and you're ruining the whole spirit of Wrigley Field by trying to cut off everyone that wants to just hang out and have a good time.

FLOCK: Petitions are already out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is her ninth opening day. She's 8 years old. She even said it looks horrible.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's the point of putting fences up when they're already paying money to have permits?

FLOCK: Indeed, 13 of the rooftops are officially licensed city businesses, and owner have spent thousands on bleachers and picture windows to attract fans. Tickets go for $60 a pop or more. The Cubs make nothing on them.

The club wants to put up some new bleachers of their own which would block the rooftop view, but building owners are fighting to block city approval, and so the team said curtains to the free peeks.

The Cubs, by the way, have not returned repeated phone calls to comment.

(on camera): The problem is if the Cubs were trying to block people's view, they didn't do a very good job. As you can see from this perspective, you can see most of the action over the screen. Even on the lower floors where it's in your way, it's possible to see through it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I say put like a 15-foot wooden wall up there so these dummies can't see none of that.

FLOCK (voice-over): Others, though, say it is Cubs who should make the money on the seats.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they put more seats, then we can be more competitive and maybe would change the jinx.

FLOCK: The jinx, of course, has kept the Cubs out of the World Series since 1945. And the truth is most fans would be willing to stare at green mesh all season if it meant an end to that.

I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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