Cubs: Comcast, Marquee Sports Network have reached a deal

(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs, Comcast and the Marquee Sports Network have reached a multiple-year deal. Thank goodness.

Rest easy. The Chicago Cubs, Comcast and the Marquee Sports Network have reached a deal that will bring MSN to Chicagoland fans. The agreement was for a ‘multi-year deal,’ only it wasn’t discussed. Either way, Chicago fans should be happy about it. I’ve read the Twitter posts about it. Near 90% were bothered by it. Well, there you go.

The pact was to carry Comcast in every Xfinity home. Crane Kenney, Cubs president of business operations, didn’t disclose the terms of the deal–but said it was a ‘multiple-year deal.’ The Comcast channel went live this morning, reaching approximately 1 million Chicagoland subscribers.

Kenney went on to say the delayed July opening day allowed Marquee and Comcast to get something done. Threatening to blackout most Cubs fans?  Yeah–that isn’t going to happen. Remember the days of WGN? Free games? Well, reverse that. Good thing they got together Marquee Sports and made that happen.

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"“This is the catalyst — the beginning of the regular season — that we needed to finish the agreement,” Kenney said. “I know it wasn’t perfect for our fans. I really appreciate their patience.” h/t Paul Sullivan and Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune"

The team was set for Opening Day on March 26–before the COVID-19 virus took over. Four months later, on July 24, they’re celebrating Opening Day 2.0. Social-distancing, self-quarantine, ‘flattening the curve’ and the coronavirus has become the talk of the town. It’s maddening how the COVID-19 took over–but you better believe you should listen to the experts.

The season will be a 60-game season, and a16 team postseason. To be honest, whoever starts hot will end hot. It’s 60 games. How can you not keep the fire burning? But the playoffs? That’s when it becomes difficult. Remember the 3-1 deficit the Cubs had? AND it went to extras. God, I still get chills from that.

Marquee Sports would’ve picked up 150–give or take–with the other 12 or so games picked up by MLB partners. Tom Ricketts and Marquee have been at the core since they took over in 2009.

The Cubs might be done–for now.

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