Cubs nearing agreement on night games

September 5, 2003

BY MIKE KILEY Staff Reporter

Cubs president Andy MacPhail acknowledged Thursday that the organization is hopeful it will have an agreement within the next month or two that would add 12 night games per season at Wrigley Field.

MacPhail said those night games will be phased in incrementally over several years. That means there could be four more night games next season, which would be an increase to 22 from the current 18. Those specifics have yet to be announced.

The ultimate goal remains 30 night games during an 81-game home schedule. While some players contend privately that's still not enough to enable them to have sufficient time to recuperate when arriving in Chicago late after night games in other cities, the Cubs are willing to take small steps. They are working toward a more reasonable home schedule than the one that has been filled with more afternoon games than any other club, fueling theories that the Cubs' failure to reach a World Series since 1945 stems partly from this format.

Cubs management has been in negotiations with Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), and both sides concur that progress is swiftly being made. They want a resolution in time to make sure the Cubs' additional night games can be worked into next season's Major League Baseball schedule. The Cubs reportedly are willing to spend money that helps the Wrigleyville neighborhood address sanitation and parking issues in exchange for more night games.

''We are still in the process,'' MacPhail said. ''There has been progress, but it's not done yet. I'd say we are down the road a pretty far piece.

''I can't give you any specifics because it isn't finalized yet. There are different steps that have to be taken that have their own time line. We would be hopeful it would be resolved to everyone's satisfaction in a timely manner, which would be in the next month or two.''

MacPhail wasn't prepared to say what the specific increase in night games would be for 2004. But he hinted that media speculation about phasing in the 12 night games incrementally over the next several years would be accurate.

''There has been a lot of speculation they would be phased in, and that's reasonable speculation,'' he said.

Sammy Sosa spoke on behalf of the team and urged the Wrigleyville neighborhood to accelerate its acceptance of more night games. Sosa argued that the Cubs had a better chance to be champions by increasing their night games and giving them more chance to rest during hot summer days.

''It's good to hear they are thinking of doing that,'' Sosa said Thursday. ''This team needs as many night games as possible. The more, the better. It'd help.''

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