Court Blocks Last Independent Wrigley Rooftop From Selling Game Tickets

The Court Ruling

A federal judge has ruled that a rooftop business across the street from Wrigley Field can no longer sell tickets for fans to watch Chicago Cubs games. The Cubs sued Wrigley View Rooftop in 2024, claiming the business was making money off the team without a financial agreement.

Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman ruled in favor of the baseball team. Coleman wrote that the business profited from ticket sales without contributing to the games. She stated that capitalizing on the labor and expenses of others offends principles of justice and equity.

The Cubs released a statement saying they are pleased with the ruling. The team said the decision protects their intellectual property rights and affirms that businesses cannot profit from games without authorization. A lawyer for Aidan Dunican, the owner of the rooftop business, declined to comment.

A Long History of Rooftop Seats

Wrigley Field sits in a residential neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. For decades, fans have watched games from the tops of buildings just beyond the outfield walls. Wrigley View Rooftop has been operating for about 30 years. It was the last rooftop business that had not signed an agreement with the Cubs or been bought by the Ricketts family.

The Ricketts family bought the Cubs in 2009. Since then, they have purchased and now operate 11 of the rooftop buildings beyond the outfield bleachers. The relationship between the team and independent rooftop owners has been tense for years, leading to multiple lawsuits over ticket sales and stadium signage.

The End of the Agreement

Wrigley View Rooftop, located beyond the left field foul pole, argued that the Cubs had the right to block their view but could not control how the property was run. The two sides had a revenue sharing agreement from 2004 to 2024. Under that deal, the rooftop business paid 17 percent of its revenues to the team.

The Cubs filed their lawsuit after that agreement expired and negotiations for a new deal failed. The team also put up translucent screens behind the third base grandstand to block the view from the rooftop. The business now has to decide whether to appeal the decision, try to reach a new deal with the Cubs, or stop selling tickets during games.

What it means for the next game

Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (MLB, Fri, 02 Oct): San Diego Padres win 49%, Chicago Cubs win 51%; projected score San Diego Padres 4, Chicago Cubs 4. Our safest pick: Cubs +2.5.