Lifelong fans sound off on proposed sale of home team

By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The Tribune Company has announced plans to sell the Chicago Cubs at the end of the 2007 season. The announcement came just days after the Tribune Company accepted an offer to take the company private through a sale to real estate mogul and Highland Park native Sam Zell.

“The Cubs have been an important part of the Tribune for more than 25 years and are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports,” Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune chairman, president, and chief executive officer said in a statement. “In our last season of ownership, the team has one mission, and that is to win for our great fans.”

Chasing the championship
“This transition will not impact our on-field performance,” John McDonough, Cubs president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “We expect to compete and win—our goal of bringing a World Series championship to Cubs fans everywhere hasn’t changed.”

The historic baseball franchise and ballpark have reportedly attracted a host of interested buyers—from McDonald’s chairman Andy McKenna to Chicago Wolves co-owner Don Levin.