South Bend will be the home of the Chicago Cubs’ Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate through 2041.
The South Bend Park Board on Jan. 19 approved an extension to the existing Use Operations and Management Agreement with the South Bend Cubs. The agreement amends a 2011 agreement, which preserves a 33-year arrangement between the City of South Bend and team until 2041.
“This is a win for the team and for the city,” said Aaron Perri, executive director, City of South Bend Venues, Parks & Arts. “The partnership between the ballclub and the city will continue to be phenomenal for another twenty years.”
Andrew Berlin, chairman and owner of the South Bend Cubs, called Four Winds Field, which was built 33 years ago, “one of the best in the country for minor league baseball.”
“The city and the team have both worked hard to keep it that way over the years,” he said. “It is one of the principal reasons we will continue our wonderful relationship with the Chicago Cubs.”
Perri said a recent study using AECOM Research & Development’s formulas, showed professional baseball contributes roughly $25 million a year in direct and induced economic impact to the region.
“The team is both a draw to the region and a valuable financial asset,” he said.
