Chicago politicians have been accused of a conflict of interest after they were given the opportunity to beat queues and buy tickets for the Chicago Cubs’ much sought-after MLB baseball playoffs tickets.
While fans on secondary sites are being forced to pay at least $2,500, and as much as $1m, for World Series games at Wrigley Field, all 50 aldermen — and state lawmakers who represent Chicago districts — have been offered the right to purchase two tickets for each home playoff game.
The Chicago Sun Times newspaper reports that the lucrative perk comes three years after the City Council gave the Cubs the go-ahead to rebuild Wrigley and develop the land around it. Since the same ticket perk was offered last year, the Cubs won the limited right to sell alcoholic drinks on an open-air plaza next to the stadium.
Cllr Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said he believes the offer could be viewed negatively by the public.
“Someone who seeks to … get benefits from the city is offering a gift to aldermen and I have issues with that. We should pay market price — just like anyone else. What they’re going for on the market — not what the face value is,” Ramirez-Rosa said.
“Sports teams are consistently asking cities where they’re located for benefits, for assistance. I just want to make sure that we don’t corrupt that relationship.”
Cllr Danny Solis, who turned down the ticket offer in 2015, rejected the accusation, adding: “I have constituents, supporters and staff who would really enjoy the opportunity to see this championship season and I’m going to take advantage of it. If you share that opportunity with people who normally wouldn’t be able to go, I don’t think it’s a conflict.”
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