Whether you like it or not the Chicago Cubs are officially getting a jersey patch sponsorship. According to a report from The Athletic, “Chicago-based communication company Motorola and the Cubs agreed to a multiyear deal for a uniform patch and for the company to be the “official smartphone” of the team.”
Fans at Wrigley Field will get to see the new-look Cubs jerseys with the Motorola sponsorship patch Thursday night, when the team begins a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Via The Athletic.
The deal was agreed upon around Tuesday’s trade deadline and was announced Thursday. The Cubs will unveil their classic pinstripe jerseys with the uniform patch for Thursday’s home game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Cubs chief commercial officer Colin Faulkner told The Athletic that it puts the team in “the upper end” of MLB deals and is “commensurate with the team and market.”
The Cubs are now the 23rd MLB team to have official patch sponsorships on their uniforms. The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are believed to have the biggest patch deals in the league, bringing in at least $20 million per year.
And honestly that’s what I care about the most. I know there’s going to be an uproar over this and how dare the Cubs disgrace their uniforms with a Motorola patch. However, use that fucking money to sign better players. I want to see a winning team again. So, Tom Ricketts, use this money.
Here’s what Ricketts said back in February about spending on the roster.
Via ESPN.
Asked what it would take to increase payroll — the Cubs are at around $200 million right now — Ricketts quipped “more revenue.”
The longtime owner isn’t focused on what the team doesn’t have — just what they can do with the roster they do have.
“We’re right there at CBT (Competitive Balance Tax) levels,” he said. “It’s kind of our natural place for us. That should be enough to win our division and be consistent every year.”
All right, well it looks like Tom should be getting about $20 million annually from this new deal from Motorola. Boom, more revenue. If you talk the talk, then walk the walk.
