Who Wants To Be A Cubs Part-Owner?

Ours is not an economic climate conducive to large-scale purchases. When you're busy trying to figure out how to unload that private jet you bought last year -- for reasons of both perception and the fact that holy crap gas is expensive for those things, huh? -- you're probably less willing to part with a bunch of money over what is essentially a rich person's toy: a professional baseball team.

New Cubs owner Tom Ricketts is hoping that's not the case. He's seeking five to ten people to be part owners of the Cubs at $25 million a piece, according to Crain's Chicago Business. The benefits include front-row seats, the ability to hobknob with players, and being able to tell all of your rich friends at parties that you are a part owner of their son's favorite baseball team. Envy!

The downsides: You're not actually an owner. In five years, after Ricketts is finished paying off the debt his family owes to Zell for the team, you get your $25 million back, but you don't get to share in any of the appreciation of the club. So that sucks.

Still, though. The chance to own part of the Cubs for a year -- this is not a chance that many humans will have the opportunity to take. When we go out for a beer on Sunday afternoon, that's what we tell ourselves. We're lucky enough to have the opportunity. Might as well enjoy it, right? Such is the incredibly wealthy man's dilemma. Let's just hope there are enough uber-rich Chicagoans left to make it happen.

Eamonn Brennan is a Chicago-based writer, editor and blogger. You can also read him at Yahoo! Sports, Mouthpiece Sports Blog, and Inside The Hall, or at his personal site, eamonnbrennan.com. Follow him on Twitter.