State purchase of Wrigley Field in jeopardy

State purchase of Wrigley Field in jeopardy

The government authority angling for Wrigley Field is expected to submit its bid as early as Tuesday, but the proposal will arrive badly bruised, according to sources close to the potential deal the Chicago Tribune reported.

"It's not dead, but it's on life support," said one source. "It's not evident the deal will get done at all."

The potential deal-killers are plentiful. Mayor Richard Daley is chafing at the prospect of sales tax revenue being diverted and the ballpark's landmark status being changed. Illinois lawmakers, faced with dire funding problems, are resistant to the idea of spending money to help out a private business. And Cub fans have been howling at the prospect of naming rights being sold to help fund the deal, and the outcry appears to be scaring off potential corporate sponsors.