Proposal says Chicago Cubs could sell beer and wine outside Wrigley Field

Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney, 14th has been a critic of the Chicago Cubs proposals, but has proposed an ordinance that would allow the Cubs to make money on liquor sales at the Cubs’ new outdoor plaza.

"The Chicago Cubs would be able to sell beer and wine in their new plaza outside Wrigley Field under a proposal introduced today by Wrigleyville Ald. Tom Tunney, 14th.The “sports venue plaza liquor license” would allow alcohol to be sold in a plaza next to any Chicago sports stadium with capacity above 30,000, so Tunney’s plan could potentially apply to Soldier Field or U.S. Cellular Field as well.The license would allow beer and liquor to be sold in a sports plaza directly adjacent to the stadium from 11 a.m. until midnight on weekends and until 11 p.m. on weeknights. It also would permit the sales during events on non-game days like the concerts or ice skating programs the Cubs have talked about for the plaza west of the park. Under the terms of the ordinance, special events with “equipment that electronically amplifies sound” could be held in sports plazas.The proposal also would make it legal for fans to carry alcohol out of the ballpark and into the plaza."

If passed this proposal would generate a lot of money for the Cubs, as alcohol sales are one of the biggest profit-makers for any sports franchise. Tunney has publicly criticized several proposals by the Cubs on their renovations to Wrigley Field based on his ward’s best interest.

Selling alcohol on the outdoor plaza will require a greater police presence on game days and draw business out of the bars on Clark Street into the Cubs’ pockets.

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