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Ivory CoastChicago Cubs Win Court Battle Against Last Rooftop Holdout
A federal judge has ordered the owner of the last independent Wrigley Field rooftop to stop selling tickets to watch Chicago Cubs games.
Court Shuts Down Wrigley Rooftop
A federal judge has ordered the last independent rooftop owner in Wrigleyville to stop selling tickets to watch Chicago Cubs games. On September 30, the same day the Cubs finished their season, Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled in favor of the team.
The Cubs sued Aidan Dunican and his business in 2024, calling his operation parasitic and arguing he was illegally profiting off their property. Dunican, 64, is the last holdout among the rooftop owners surrounding the stadium.
"Unfairly capitalizing on another's labor and expenses offends principles of justice, equity, and good conscience," Judge Coleman wrote in her ruling.
The Cost of Doing Business
Dunican bought his property in the 1990s and built a four story building where he still lives. For years, fans paid between 100 dollars and 300 dollars for a seat on his Wrigley View Rooftop, which included food and drinks. The business brought in about 1 million dollars annually before expenses.
Until 2024, Dunican paid the Cubs 17 percent royalties under a 2004 agreement. When that deal expired, Dunican offered 20 percent of his gross revenue to renew it. The Cubs demanded 30 percent for regular season games and 40 percent for postseason games.
Dunican said those terms would have put him out of business. The Cubs argued they spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year running the team and maintaining the stadium, and that Dunican was capitalizing on their investment.
The Fight Against Goliath
The Ricketts family, who own the Cubs, have steadily bought up the neighborhood. They now own Wrigley Field, a television network, and 11 of the rooftop buildings around the park. Dunican refused to sell.
"There's bullying tactics," Dunican said. "And you see how billionaires are pushing around everyone else today. And I live here. So I'm not going to do anything else."
The Cubs even installed translucent screens to block the view from Dunican's rooftop. Despite the court ruling, Dunican said he is considering an appeal and wants to keep his 30 year old business alive next season.
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