Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts appeared unsuccessfully as a guest on “Shark Tank,” the popular ABC series where a panel of billionaires evaluate and negotiate investment proposals from would-be entrepreneurs.
Ricketts pitched panelists on investing in the team’s $575 million renovation of Wrigley Field.
Prior to the ball club executive beginning his presentation, shark Kevin O’Leary screamed, “I’m out,” and promptly left the set with Daymond John, founder of clothing manufacturer FUBU, and QVC shopping network guru Lori Greiner in tow.
All was not lost as panelist Mark Cuban offered $1,750 in cash and two upper level tickets to a Mavericks game. However, shortly after, Ricketts described a plan to remove troughs in the men’s bathroom. That’s when a disappointed Cuban said he also was out.
“Half the fun of going to Wrigley Field is drinking beer during the first five innings, then spending the next four innings taking a leak in the troughs,” said Cuban. “Good luck in getting that past the Landmarks Commission.”
Shark Robert Herjavec, who made billions of dollars in the software business, told Ricketts he wasn’t interested in the deal because “I don’t want to wait 106 years to get back my investment.”
