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One-on-one with Cubs chairman Crane Kenney
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About two weeks ago a good friend and I had the opportunity for a private sit-down with Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney. I learned quite a lot from the man who shares a suite inside the ballpark with Jim Hendry. While he was candid, there were some topics that were off limits to share.
We talked about how the economy is affecting everything, including baseball and the Cubs. That day, in fact, Kenney had sent a letter out to all season ticket holders announcing a slight increase in prices for the 2009 season.
“I know some people wish there wasn’t [a price increase]. But we think it is modest in comparison with what we’ve done in the
past and allows us to achieve some payroll increases that are going to allow us to fix a couple of places in the roster that we want to improve and maintain the facility. You know we’re one of the few privately owned facilities around,” he stated.
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The increase in ticket prices will help not only the team payroll but will help fund improvements within the ballpark. Kenney told us that an additional women’s washroom will be built near where the first aid station currently is and improvements will be made to the existing washrooms. That was a relief to hear. I can tell you that in the past 20 years, the women’s restroom near the Waveland entrance has not changed. In fact, a couple of years ago, when more advertising was allowed in the park, we decided they should have sold naming rights to that bathroom. I suggested the Old Style Women Room at Waveland. I will be checking it out on Opening Day!Kenney shared with us how the team is putting resources in Asia, not just Japan, but Korea, as well. And how the Cubs facility in the Dominican Republic is shaping up.
“We are mining a lot of talent in Asia. Paul Weaver and Steve Wilson and our crew that are out there…. The bottom line is the resources that we’re putting to bear, whether it’s in Asian scouting, amateur draft, domestic amateur draft, our facility in Dominican … all of the resources we’re putting into the system over all are presenting itself in the Marmols and the Sotos and the Theriots, the young players, we now see [like] Samardzja coming up through the system. It’s not just the major league payroll,“ he stated.
Kenney shared with us that the facility in the Dominican is now a state-of-the-art facility. Currently, the team is housing approximately 60 players -- meaning food, lodging, schooling and working them out -- for about nine months of the year.
I asked Kenney about the two games the Cubs will play in New York against the Yankees in the New Yankee Stadium. He told me that the president of the Yankees approached him with the idea of doing a trial run before Opening Day.
“The media’s going to consider it the opening. They’re covering it like it’s the opening.” he said. “We talked to Lou about it, wanted to make sure it didn’t interfere with his planning and preparations. Normally we take those last couple of games and go up to Las Vegas, which is as much a distraction as anything, and Piniella thought it was a great idea.”
Kenney talked about a vision he has for the team and the ballpark, and that’s when it hit me… he’s just like us, the die-hard fans. He gets it! He personally felt the pain we all felt after the third playoff loss, especially after the incredible summer we’d had. Then he told me, “I shouldn’t have this job for a day longer than when I stop caring about this basically more than anything but my kids. Right? I’m getting paid to lose perspective and to lose sleep and to not eat and all that stuff because when you get to a point where it doesn’t matter, you shouldn’t have the job… I’m a fan first.”
Kenney would love to see the proposed Triangle Building erected, but plans like that will remain on hold until a new owner comes in, quite possibly before Spring Training begins. He has some great ideas about how the building can be used. He sees it as very fan-friendly, and a good addition to the ballpark.
And when asked about new ownership, all Kenney would say is that there are at least three viable candidates and any one of them would be a great fit for the Cubs.
To read the entire transcript of the interview, please go to http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2008/12/8/684681/bcb-interview-crane-kenney.
Photo of Crane Kenney by Miriam Romain
For more info: www.bleedcubbieblue.com
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