WRIGLEYVILLE — Owners of two Wrigleyville rooftop businesses asked a federal judge to stop the Cubs from installing video boards and signage that would block their views into Wrigley Field.
The owners of Skybox on Sheffield, 3627 N. Sheffield Ave., and Lakeview Baseball Club, 3633 N. Sheffield Ave., filed a motion Thursday seeking a temporary restraining order.
The owners say the signage would illegally block their views of Wrigley Field and said their businesses have suffered a significant drop in sales for the 2015 season as a result.
"Many customers are either refusing to book rooftop dates because of the threat of signs blocking the views into Wrigley Field, or they are demanding refunds if signs are installed before the date of their event," Marc Hamid said in a statement. Hamid operates Lakeview Baseball Club and Skybox on Sheffield.
The move is part of an ongoing lawsuit in which the owners accuse the Cubs of violating their 20-year agreement, attempted monopolization and deceptive business practices.
If the restraining order is granted, it could lead to further delays for the Wrigley Field renovation, a five-year, $575 million project that began at the end of last season. The Cubs said in January the left-field bleachers would most likely be ready a month after Opening Day on April 5.
The Wrigleyville Rooftops Association and the Cubs did not immediately return a request for comment.
Last month, the Ricketts family, which owns the club, announced it had purchased three rooftop buildings.
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
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