Mark Cuban Comments on Buying the Cubs

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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is thought of by many to be a big spender. It comes as no surprise then that in 2007, Cuban put up his hand to buy the struggling Chicago Cubs franchise. Now basically out of the running, Cuban recently explained his attitude towards buying the Chicago Cubs on his blog, blogmaverick.com.

First the backstory…

Mark Cuban is no stranger to MLB, as he has previously stated his interest in owning an MLB franchise. He expressed interest in the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise, but never made any substantial moves. In 2007 however, Cuban put his hand up in the race to purchase the Chicago Cubs after the sale of the franchise to Sam Zell. In July, Cuban sent an application to MLB. In October of that year, Cuban stated that he would more than likely make a bid on the Cubs, which he did in July of 2008, when Cuban made an offer on the Cubs of $1.3 billion. Mark Cuban was later taken out of the running when he was indicted on insider trading charges.

In January 2009, Cuban explained his reasoning behind the move for the Cubs on his blog. Cuban explained that his goal was not to outspend major contenders such as the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees, but rather make the Cubs a leading National League team while keeping them in the second tier of payroll spending. This would have allowed him to invest in scouting and the Chicago Cubs farm system. Cuban sought to create a winning team while establishing a solid infrastructure for developing talent within the franchise.

Cuban explains that the economic crisis was a major hindrance to his purchase of the team. With a number of franchises struggling during the recession, it is no surprise that Mark Cuban, or any other owner or potential owner would rethink any major investment. Nevertheless, Cuban has asked for an extension on consideration for his bid, in hopes that he can still become a part of the Chicago Cubs franchise.

Professional sports is ultimately a business, and the reality is owners, much to the frustration of fans, often care more about the bottom line than fielding a competitive team. However, Mark Cuban is not merely an owner, but also a fan. Cuban has reinvigorated the Mavericks organization and built a competitive team. This has led to an increased fan base and a larger source of revenue for Cuban and the Mavericks.

Ultimately, a figure like Cuban is good for sports. Don’t get me wrong, I hate it when Cuban gets vocal regarding games or refs. In some cases he is an obnoxious fan with too much money. However, Cuban puts that money to good use and it has proven especially beneficial to the NBA.

Imagine having a vocal owner in MLB who cared about fielding a competitive team. Cuban is a lightning rod for publicity and would greatly enhance the competitive atmosphere in Chicago and in the National League. It is a certainty that an owner like Cuban would create more publicity for MLB and help to grow a large fan base, which would in turn drive revenue through ticket sales and merchandise sales. More importantly however, the quality of the game would be improved with more competitive teams developing talent in house. It is possible that big spenders such as Steinbrenner with the Yankees would no longer have such a dominance over the league, and more Cinderella stories would rise to the top.

Ultimately, the recent history of MLB is one of steroids, controversy, and owner greed. The integrity of the game has been called into question repeatedly, and fans are tuning out in increasing numbers. The league needs a boost of energy to regain it’s status as the pinnacle of American sport. Perhaps Mark Cuban is just the shot in the arm needed to revitalize MLB and get fans back in the seats.