The Omaha Cubs (AAA)

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:24 pm

The Omaha Cubs (AAA)

I've been hearing this nonsense/potential great news all day. I think it's unlikely but would be awesome if it happens. What do you all think?

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:29 pm

Its all joking. Â There is zero percent chance that would ever happen.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:35 pm

The cubs and wrigley field are an American icon... They will NEVER move.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:40 pm

The MINOR league team.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:42 pm

Oh. Â Don't think that will happen either. Â But about one million times more probable.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:43 pm

Oh, if people would put the name of the post in the tread too besides just the title!

I'll go fix it.

Post by **Coyote** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:46 pm

Matt Perault has been talking about this for the last couple hours. Ricketts buying the Chicago Cubs - TD Ameritrade has naming rights for Omaha's Downtown stadium - which opens in 2011 - Iowa Cubs agreement with Chicago expires in 2012 - there are more Chicago Cubs bars in Omaha than KC Royals... put all the pieces together.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:54 pm

Coyote wrote:Matt Perault has been talking about this for the last couple hours. Ricketts buying the Chicago Cubs - TD Ameritrade has naming rights for Omaha's Downtown stadium - which opens in 2011 - Iowa Cubs agreement with Chicago expires in 2012 - there are more Chicago Cubs bars in Omaha than KC Royals... put all the pieces together.

That doesn't mean much. Â Somehow you would have to get the Royals to play downtown or get them to leave and then lure another AAA minor league team to Omaha? Â I can't listen because my radio is busted...

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:58 pm

Coyote wrote:Matt Perault has been talking about this for the last couple hours. Ricketts buying the Chicago Cubs - TD Ameritrade has naming rights for Omaha's Downtown stadium - which opens in 2011 - Iowa Cubs agreement with Chicago expires in 2012 - there are more Chicago Cubs bars in Omaha than KC Royals... put all the pieces together.

There is probably more Chicago Cubs bars in Kansas City than there are Royals ones.

Post by **Coyote** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:00 pm

No - it doesn't mean much - it is just a crusade Perault has started today. He thinks there are at least twice the amount of Cub fans in Omaha than Royal fans - that Omahans look up to Chicago but think KC is just a little larger Omaha, they could market the Omaha Cubs better than the Royals - better retail would come to North Downtown - grow ivy in the outfield...

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:02 pm

I really like the idea, just don't see it happening.

Post by **Coyote** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:04 pm

I googled "Omaha Cubs" and came up with this : http://omahacubsfans.com/

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:04 pm

Brad wrote:
That doesn't mean much. Somehow you would have to get the Royals to play downtown or get them to leave and then lure another AAA minor league team to Omaha? I can't listen because my radio is busted...

We'll we are doing all we can to get them to leave so that's one strike. Two, since the Ricketts would own the Cubs they would also get the minor league team.

I'm going to put on my super crazy conspiracy theory hat and say this was the plan all along. I probably think I've even said this before. But again it's still a lot to get to fall into place and maybe we're making connections that just aren't there.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:06 pm

Iowa Cubs exec: Big-Cubs sale won't affect us

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/articl ... 2/90123023

RANDY PETERSON wrote:The sale of the Chicago Cubs will not impact its triple-A affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe said today.

“We’re contracted to be with the Chicago Cubs through the 2012 season,” he said, “and our lease on Principal Park doesn’t expire until 2034. I think it’s safe to say that there will be triple-A baseball in Des Moines for a lot of years to come.”

The Chicago Cubs have endorsed a $900 million offer from Thomas Ricketts to purchase the club. He lives in Chicago.

His father, Joe, is a former chairman of the board of TD Ameritrade, a brokerage in Omaha — where another triple-A facility exists.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:12 pm

Jim Henry cubs GM coached at Creighton...

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:19 pm

The I-Cubs are one of the most successful AAA franchises in the nation, I cannot ever see them moving from Des Moines... a market which actually understands the value of top tier minor league sports.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:45 pm

True but I think many people would want to ride on the coattails of a crappy Chicago team instead of a crappy Kansas City team.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:27 pm

Just because people here might want to follow one suck team over another has absolutely NO bearing on if a team is going to relocate here. I'm thinking the ownership group in Des Moines might have something to say about it. Let alone if the Royals end up staying, then that blocks it right there. It's not happening people.

SabrinaFaire · Post by **SabrinaFaire** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:12 pm

I'm sorry where the Chicago Cubs not in the playoffs this year? Who you calling crappy?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:41 pm

SabrinaFaire wrote: Who you calling crappy?

The Cubs. They'd win the series and still suck.

I think a lot of people are grasping at straws here but it's something nice to think about.

Wags, you know the Royals aren't staying here so that frees Omaha up for another AAA team.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 8:46 am

DTO Luv wrote:True but I think many people would want to ride on the coattails of a crappy Chicago team instead of a crappy Kansas City team.

Eeeeeeasy...

cp jay 07 · Post by **cp jay 07** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 5:06 pm

Stargazer wrote:The I-Cubs are one of the most successful AAA franchises in the nation, I cannot ever see them moving from Des Moines... a market which actually understands the value of top tier minor league sports.

I wouldn't quite say that, they may draw well for the Cubs but the Iowa Chops (former Stars) are drawing an average of about 3,000 a game, and I read the other day that they had an ANNOUNCED CROWD (not actual, announced) of 1,746.

By the way the Quad City Flames are drawing an average of 2,751. Omaha never dropped below 3,000, and we were never in the last place of league attendance, the flames were in last place a couple weeks ago. Good move Calgary, especially since Omaha was ranked 4th in attendance in the playoffs for the one round they were in. Good move.

elwood · Post by **elwood** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:12 pm

...neophytes.

NovakOmaha · Post by **NovakOmaha** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:29 am

You'll see an editorial cartoon in the Sunday "Omaha Monopoly Fishwrap" that seems to be drawn after misreading this forum. Â It's tongue in cheek, but there is a little bit of "look down your nose" as well, which is funny coming from a second rate "publication" that participated fully in the hoax known as the reporting of the "carefully crafted hoax". Â

What's good for the goose....

By the way, what are the stats for HaroldAndersen.com?

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:32 pm

It is just like the comments on here.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:39 pm

And when said owner of the major league team also owns the naming rights for the stadium in another market, sometimes the synergies force the issue.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:41 pm

That could be but the I Cubs have a long history in Des Moines. Â I understand all the excitement on the Ricketts issue but I still don't see this happening.

Greg

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:17 pm

Now I don't know what to root for. I did want the Cubs here but now I'm not so sure.

As far fetched as that may seem I don't think it's too far out of the realm of possibility that they may seriously look at moving the I-Cubs here.

Bosco55David · Post by **Bosco55David** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:18 pm

Big E wrote:Regardless, no one will give a flip about baseball in Sarpy County in four years when the AAA Cubs are in downtown Omaha filling their 24,000 seat stadium for every game. I will give D'Shawn a handy on 11th & Howard if the Ricketts don't yank the affiliate contract from Des Moines in a few years and put the AAA franchise in the stadium named after the company they used to fund the purchase of the Chicago Cubs.

I could go for that! Â :mrgreen:

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:50 pm

Big E you better start warming up your hand unless you think the Royals are leaving. There's NO WAY that the Cubs team comes here if the Royals build in Sarpy. There are territorial rights for teams and they are both in the PCL. NO WAY that two AAA teams here happens.

If you are implying that the Royals leave and the AAA Cubs team is moved here, then I hope that is what happens. Its the best case situation now at this point.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:14 pm

Serious question about a hypothetical situation:

If you could have the Royals in La Vista now or wait until 2011 to have the AAA Cubs DT which would you rather have?

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:20 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Serious question about a hypothetical situation:

If you could have the Royals in La Vista now or wait until 2011 to have the AAA Cubs DT which would you rather have?

Cubs. Then we can get some Bears, and Otters.
Figure it out.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:31 pm

Maybe Omaha leader's reluctance to work with the Royals is a sign they don't want to work with them and are secretly putting together a deal for the I-Cubs. Mwahaha! Conspiracies!

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:43 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Maybe Omaha leader's reluctance to work with the Royals is a sign they don't want to work with them and are secretly putting together a deal for the I-Cubs. Mwahaha! Conspiracies!

Conspiracies are good. The more I hear, the more I like these Cubs. (though the Ricketts make me puke.)

Of course, whatever happens, nothing can be as stupid as the Golden Spikes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:48 am

The I Cubs are not moving here. Â The best the ricketts could do is drop them in favor of a team that would move. Â In which case we would have Cubs but it would be a different organization, which probably wouldnt matter to those in here I suppose!

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:52 am

that and i saw on ketv.com that the Royals and Sarpy county reached a long term deal.

HskrFanMike · Post by **HskrFanMike** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:31 pm

One of the main reasons why people think the Cubs AAA affiliation could move to Omaha is TD Ameritrade's connection to the downtown stadium. When the Des Moines/Cubs affiliation expires, there might be a desire on the part of the Ricketts family to put their minor league team in the stadium named for the company they help operate. That would require negotiations between the Cubs and Alan Stein for a minor league affiliation down the road. Â Stein controls the exclusive rights to operate a minor league franchise in the Omaha area, so there's no way the Iowa Cubs simply move downtown to compete against the Omaha Royals.

But since Stein seems ready to sign a long term deal with Sarpy County, the only way this happens is if Ameritrade decided to purchase the naming rights in Sarpy County instead. And since the rumored Sarpy stadium is apparently being sized to fit a KC minor league franchise (last report was 5,000 seats), that's looking more and more unlikely.

Now, if everybody takes a step away from the edge of the cliff, and the Sarpy county deal fails with Stein and MECA suddenly compromise with each other, this isn't outside the realm of possibilities.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:51 pm

The Iowa Cubs are not coming here... Â Speculate all you want, but the best attended team in Minor League Baseball is not going to roll up the carpet and head to Omaha. Â

Here is to Cubs talk

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:56 pm

Lets see. The OWH site super crashes on the day the Ricketts' bought the Cubs. The only other time it did that was when 8 people were gunned down in Von Maur. The Cubs have a big following here and having the minor league team playing in the hometown of the owners is pretty enticing. The AAA Cubs would have a following anywhere. Why not get them here?

Post by **Brad** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:59 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Lets see. The OWH site super crashes on the day the Ricketts' bought the Cubs. The only other time it did that was when 8 people were gunned down in Von Maur. The Cubs have a big following here and having the minor league team playing in the hometown of the owners is pretty enticing. The AAA Cubs would have a following anywhere. Why not get them here?

First off, I am not saying I don't want them here. Â However there is way more to it than Rickets saying move them to Omaha... Â The league has to approve it, then the League owners would have to approve it, then there is lease issues with the stadium in DesMoines. Â Its a really far fetched idea that they would ever end up here.