Part 3/9:
Legal Battles and Changing Fortunes
The Cubs took action in 2002, launching a lawsuit against rooftop operators who they claimed were profiting off their brand without contributing to its cost. A settlement in 2004 allowed rooftop owners to pay 17% of their gross revenues to the Cubs, but as the years rolled on and renovations were planned, tensions reignited.
The Ricketts family, who purchased the Cubs for $845 million in 2009, commenced an ambitious $575 million renovation project, effectively blocking views from some rooftops. Rather than prolonging a costly legal battle, they opted to buy out many rooftop properties, turning former competitors into allies. Yet, several operators resisted, including Aiden Dunin, who owns the Wrigley View Rooftop—one of the last holdouts.