MLB’s Cubs file lawsuit against Wrigley View Rooftop

The Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball (MLB) team has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Wrigley View Rooftop, a business that sells rooftop tickets in a building overlooking Wrigley Field to watch games and concerts.

According to Sportico, the Cubs filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday as the team describes the business’s practices as ‘unlicensed sales’ and ‘intellectual property theft’. 

It is not the first time the Cubs and the owners of the adjacent buildings have taken legal action over the owners’ right to make money from events staged at the 41,649-capacity Wrigley Field because of their location. 

The report from Sportico added that the team and owners made a deal some 20 years ago, where the owners agreed to share roughly 17% of their revenue from out-of-stadium rooftop seats and 11% of billboard revenue with the Cubs. 

Over the last two decades, the Cubs purchased some of the properties and deals with remaining owners recently came to an end. 

In April, there were reports that negotiations over new contracts had become rocky. Tim Cerney, an attorney representing Wrigley View Rooftop owner Aiden Dunican, said that the Cubs had demanded revenue share be increased to 30% and billboard revenue to 50%. Additionally, the dispute involved possible signage and screens that could block the views from out-of-stadium rooftop seats. 

The Cubs argue that Dunican and his business are “liable for misappropriation, unjust enrichment and unfair competition”. The Cubs added that other rooftop owners had obtained a license to sell tickets, while Dunican continued to sell without one. Additional accusations include false advertising a Cubs’ endorsement, which the Cubs believe can result in consumer confusion, as well as the use of Cubs logos.

The lawsuit also says the business generates revenue while not paying for the product they are selling. The Cubs spend millions on employing players, coaches, scouts, technology providers and much more, before recouping some of this payment through ticket sales. 

The Cubs argue that Dunican and his business make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, but without the costs incurred from running a Major League Baseball team.