Wrigley Field, rooftop owners dispute won’t get Supreme Court hearing

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is leaving in place a court decision dismissing a lawsuit filed against the Chicago Cubs by the owners of rooftop clubs adjacent to Wrigley Field.

Skybox on Sheffield and Lakeview Baseball Club sued the Cubs in 2015, arguing in part that a right-field video board the team was adding would block their views of the ballpark and violate terms of a 2004 revenue-sharing agreement.

A federal judge dismissed the case. Judge Virginia Kendall said the board was allowed because the agreement allowed “any expansion of Wrigley Field approved by governmental authorities.”

A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in September upheld the decision to dismiss the case. The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear the case, leaving the lower court decisions in place.

The Cubs released a statement Monday afternoon saying they were thrilled with the Supreme Court’s decision.

“The opposition of rooftop owners and local aldermen to Wrigley Field renovations has unfortunately cost the team time and energy to refute allegations we understood from the beginning were meritless,” the statement read.

“We thank our fans who stood with us in the process. The Cubs have the greatest fans in baseball and we hope to continue to reward their dedication by standing for what we believe is right: winning baseball, preserving and improving Wrigley Field and being a good neighbor. While it is unfortunate we have to defend challenges like this from those who have benefitted from Cubs baseball, we will continue to do so and will always put the history, tradition and the future of the team and our fans first.”

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