It’s no secret that financial times are tough for the Cubs after 2013 attendance took a hit and with prospects bleak for adding season ticket holders for 2014.
Team president Theo Epstein has worked overtime to create ways to save on costs with the club’s austerity program extending to the winter meetings held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando Florida.
“We would love to stay at the Disney hotel like the big shots at teams way richer than us like the Rays and Astros,” Epstein said of the four-star property that is hosting the meetings. “Unfortunately, that’s not in the cards this year.”
Cubs management instead will be headquartered at the Eatonville Motor Inn about a half-hour drive from Orlando with executives sharing rooms for the first time in recent memory. “Of course, Jed Hoyer and I will room together, as will Tom and Todd Ricketts,” Epstein said.
However, new manager Rick Renteria will have his own room, but he’ll split the cost with the ball club. “We learned during the vetting process before hiring Rick that he is not only a tremendous teacher of young ball players, he is also a tremendous snorer,” Epstein said.
“Every penny counts. With the money we’ll save just sharing rooms, we might be able to afford to sign a premiere closer, like John Axford, Tyler Clippard or Mike Storen.”
