The Ricketts family, who also own the Chicago Cubs baseball team, primarily own the majority of the rooftop seats surrounding Wrigley Field.
The Ricketts Family and Wrigley Rooftops
The ownership of the iconic rooftop establishments overlooking Wrigley Field is largely consolidated under the Ricketts family. After their acquisition of the Chicago Cubs in 2009, the family initiated a strategy to purchase many of the independent rooftop businesses that had long been a distinctive part of the Wrigleyville experience.
Their rooftop holdings are managed through specific entities:
- Greystone Sheffield Holdings
- Hickory Street Capital
These operations are unified under the brand and marketing arm known as Wrigley Rooftops. This integrated approach allows for streamlined management and marketing of their portfolio of rooftop venues, providing fans with unique perspectives of the games.
The Evolution of Rooftop Ownership
Historically, the rooftops bordering Wrigley Field were independently owned and operated businesses. They gained fame for offering unique, elevated views of Cubs games, providing an alternative to traditional stadium seating. The relationship between the Cubs organization and these independent rooftops was often complex, particularly concerning revenue sharing and potential view obstructions.
Following their purchase of the Cubs, the Ricketts family began strategically acquiring these properties. This pivotal shift transitioned them from being independent entities to becoming a consolidated component of their broader sports and entertainment portfolio. This strategic consolidation aimed to:
- Enhance control over the overall fan experience both inside and outside the ballpark.
- Generate additional revenue streams directly for the Cubs organization.
- Integrate the unique rooftop viewing experience more formally with the official Cubs brand and operations.
This consolidation has simplified the intricate landscape of Wrigleyville's viewing opportunities, bringing a significant portion of external game-watching venues under unified ownership. Today, visitors have various options to enjoy a game from these elevated positions, many of which are directly managed by entities associated with the Ricketts family.
| Owner/Entity | Role and Function |
|---|---|
| Ricketts Family | The ultimate owners of the Chicago Cubs and the majority of the surrounding Wrigley Rooftops. |
| Wrigley Rooftops | The marketing arm and brand representing the Ricketts family's rooftop holdings. |
| Greystone Sheffield Holdings | One of the primary entities through which the Ricketts family holds ownership of rooftop properties. |
| Hickory Street Capital | Another key entity used by the Ricketts family for holding rooftop property assets. |
This strategic move has fundamentally transformed the dynamic between the historic ballpark and its surrounding businesses, centralizing control and extending the official Chicago Cubs experience beyond the stadium's physical boundaries.
