A Wrigleyville rooftop owner, Aidan Dunican, is locked in a legal battle with the Chicago Cubs over the rooftop business he has run across from Wrigley Field for roughly 30 years. On a recent night, the view from his rooftop was partly blocked by a translucent screen the Cubs installed on the left-field grandstand, along with large letters advertising a 50-50 raffle. The Cubs sued Dunican and his rooftop business in 2024, arguing he was illegally profiting off their property.
On Sept. 30, the same day the Cubs' season ended, a federal judge ruled in favor of the team and ordered Dunican to stop selling tickets to his rooftop. Dunican told ESPN he is weighing his options for an appeal and intends to keep fighting to continue his business next season. He described the battle as one against bullying tactics by billionaires, saying, "And I live here. So I'm not going to do anything else."
The Ricketts family, which owns the Cubs, has spent years expanding its holdings beyond the team. The family owns Wrigley Field, co-owns the team's TV network and has bought 11 buildings with rooftop businesses around the park. Dunican, 64, was the last holdout. He bought his property in the 1990s, built a four-story building with two decks of rooftop seating and lives in the third-floor apartment.
An attorney who once represented rooftop owners in negotiations with the Cubs described the situation as a classic David versus Goliath story. Dunican's rooftop, the Wrigley View Rooftop, holds around 200 people and generates roughly $1 million annually before expenses. Until 2024 he paid the Cubs around 17% royalties under a 2004 agreement, which expired after the 2023 season. The Cubs rejected his offer of 20% of gross revenue and wanted 30%.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing