The Cubs responded Tuesday to the rooftops filing a request for an injunction, or restraining order, to stop the ongoing construction at Wrigley Field.
According to the Tribune, the team “asked a judge Tuesday to deny an emergency request from two rooftop businesses to temporarily stop construction at Wrigley Field” and to dismiss the lawsuit that was filed against the Cubs and Tom Ricketts last month.
In court documents obtained by the Tribune, the Cubs said, “Lakeview Baseball Club and Skybox on Sheffield haven’t provided any evidence that they will suffer any harm over the next few days or weeks to justify an emergency restraining order.” The Tribune explained the Cubs said “there is no emergency” and pointed out “the rooftop businesses have known for more than a year about outfield signs that could obstruct their views and waited too long to file the emergency request.”
Reports last week indicated the rooftops were pushing to have the request for the restraining order heard by Wednesday.
The Cubs “are prepared to proceed right away to an injunction hearing” according to the Tribune.
Owners of the two rooftop clubs that filed a lawsuit against the Cubs and Tom Ricketts in January for violating terms of its revenue-sharing contract went to court last Thursday seeking a restraining order to stop the installation of the outfield signs.
From the Feb. 12 report, the two rooftop club owners are attempting to stop the installation of the video board in right field and the additional signage the team received approval from the city to install because the signs will block their views into Wrigley Field.
Ed McCarthy, the majority owner of the properties at 3633 N. Sheffield, the Lakeview Baseball Club, and 3627 N. Sheffield, Skybox at Sheffield, filed the lawsuit in January. McCarthy’s group said the team’s action has created a life-or-death situation and the owners want a temporary restraining order because they say their businesses will be destroyed before the case goes to trial. It’s a short-term fix as the lawsuit seeks a judgment to permanently bar the Cubs from blocking the views into Wrigley.
If the restraining order is granted, it would further delay the rebuilding of the bleachers. The rooftops were trying to have a judge hear their request by Wednesday, Feb. 18 according to the Tribune.
Due to delays at the beginning of Phase One of the project, the bleachers will not be ready on Opening Night when the Cubs take on the Cardinals. Without any further delays, the Cubs said during the convention last month the left field bleachers were scheduled to be completed by May 11 and the team was targeting the end of May to open the right field bleachers.
The left field video board is scheduled to be installed and operational by Opening Night. The right field video board would be installed and operational at the same time the right field bleachers opened.
- Full Report from the Tribune
- Rooftop Owners Seeking Restraining Order to Stop Sign Installation (Feb. 12)
- Rooftop Owners File Lawsuit Against the Cubs (Jan. 20)
Construction has continued on the left and right field bleachers since the rooftops filed for a restraining order last week. The Cubs have not provided an official update on the bleachers or addressed if the latest legal issues will further delay the completion of the bleachers.