Are The Cubs A Bunch Of Cheap SOBs?

Below is a chart that maps the Cubs payroll, revenue and ticket prices and maps them against the league average from 1999 to 2009.


(2009 revenue is based on an estimate I heard on TV earlier this week)

Things of note:
o Over the last decade, Cubs ticket prices have risen twice as fast as those of the rest of major league baseball (that includes the 2007 price freeze).
o From 1999-2007, the Cubs only once (2004) changed their payroll by more than league average. Despite this, from 1999-2009, the Cubs total % change in payroll almost exactly matched the team's total % change in revenue.

% of 2005 Revenue spent on 2006 Payroll
79% Washington Nationals
79% Chicago White Sox
74% New York Yankees
70% Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
67% Toronto Blue Jays
66% Detroit Tigers
62% Minnesota Twins
60% Houston Astros
60% Boston Red Sox
59% Los Angeles Dodgers
59% St Louis Cardinals
57% San Francisco Giants
56% New York Mets
56% Atlanta Braves
55% Chicago Cubs
53% Oakland Athletics
53% Philadelphia Phillies
52% Milwaukee Brewers
51% Seattle Mariners
49% Baltimore Orioles
48% Cincinnati Reds
48% Texas Rangers
47% San Diego Padres
45% Kansas City Royals
44% Arizona Diamondbacks
43% Pittsburgh Pirates
40% Cleveland Indians
32% Tampa Bay Devil Rays
31% Colorado Rockies
15% Florida Marlins

SOURCES
o http://forbes.com/baseball
o http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3867:a-decade-of-growth-examining-mlb-player-payroll&catid=26:editorials&Itemid=39
o http://www.stevetheump.com/fan_cost_index.htm
o http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/stories/2001-12-05-focus-expenses.htm
o http://www.teammarketing.com/
o http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/haupert.mlb