When New York Yankees officials announced the creation of the Pinstripe Bowl in 2010, some college football fans thought it sounded more like a gag.
Wait, a bowl game in a baseball stadium in a cold-weather city in a pro sports town? Was Mars booked?
The Pinstripe Bowl has become a commercial and cultural success, with players visiting Times Square, Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in the buildup to the game.
"When we first announced the bowl game, there was a lot of criticism," Yankees President Randy Levine recalled. "Mayor (Michael) Bloomberg, who was sitting next to me, said: 'Wasn't football supposed to be played in cold weather?'
Substitute Michigan Avenue for Times Square, the Art Institute for Wall Street and the Barack Obama Presidential Center for the 9/11 Museum.
And Wrigley Field for Yankee Stadium.
Football will return to Wrigley Field in November of 2020, Cubs President Crane Kenney told the Tribune, with Northwestern's hosting multiple Big Ten games the team's "first priority."
More intriguing, Kenney said the Cubs "absolutely" intend to begin hosting an annual bowl game.
The bowl would be the first of its kind in the Chicago area, and the timing should be ideal.
By 2020 (actually 2018), fans will be able to eat in new Wrigleyville restaurants such as Big Star and Smoke Daddy, sleep at the boutique Hotel Zachary and revel in a tented plaza that can accommodate crowds of nearly 6,000.
And needless to say, the field area will be expanded to allow for two full end zones.
A closer look at some key questions:
