Cubs Offer Holiday Four-Packs Of Tickets; On Sale Monday
by Al Yellon on Nov 18, 2010 10:28 AM CST
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Well, this is interesting.
For the first time, you can buy Cubs tickets for 2011, before the calendar has changed to 2011, in "Holiday Gift Packs." According to a Cubs press release:
Fans can select from seven different four-game packages on Cubs.com (six packages in the seating bowl, one in the Bud Light Bleachers). Packages can be customized to include as few as two tickets per game or as many as 12 tickets per game in each package. Fans requesting quantities over 12 tickets per game should contact the Chicago Cubs Ticket Office at 773-404-4242. Total package prices will vary based on the number of tickets purchased.
As part of each Holiday Gift Pack, fans may opt to purchase Cubs Dollars at a scalable discount. Cubs Dollars are equivalent to cash at Wrigley Field and allow gift recipients to enjoy a complete experience at the ballgame.
Here is a complete list of games and prices from the Cubs website. It will be very interesting to see how these sell, especially while the current economy is still recovering and after Tuesday's news conference. Tickets go on sale via the Cubs website on Monday, Nov. 22.
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Holiday DESPERATION packs!
What a LOUSY selection of games to chose from! At least through in a couple of decent games in there.
I know...
I literally either can’t attend or have no desire to go to any of those.
Except maybe the Giants game on Sun May 15 in Pack C
Counting the days until 4/1/11...
meh
- Upper Deck Reserved Outfield – $92 per pack*
- Upper Deck Reserved Infield – $108 per pack*
- Terrace Reserved Outfield – $142 per pack*
- Bleachers – $184 for the Bleacher Pack*
#
Holiday Pack A
Date Time Opponent
Mon, Apr 4 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks
Mon, Apr 25 7:05 pm Colorado Rockies
Sat, Sep 3 TBD Pittsburgh Pirates
Mon, Sep 19 7:05 pm Milwaukee Brewers
#
Holiday Pack B
Date Time Opponent
Tue, Apr 5 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks
Tue, Apr 26 7:05 pm Colorado Rockies
Sun, Sep 4 1:20 pm Pittsburgh Pirates
Tue, Sep 20 7:05 pm Milwaukee Brewers
#
Holiday Pack C
Date Time Opponent
Wed, Apr 6 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks
Mon, Apr 18 7:05 pm San Diego Padres
Sun, May 15 1:20 pm San Francisco Giants
Tue, Sep 6 7:05 pm Cincinnati Reds
#
Holiday Pack D
Date Time Opponent
Wed, Apr 20 1:20 pm San Diego Padres
Wed, May 25 7:05 pm New York Mets
Wed, Sep 7 7:05 pm Cincinnati Reds
Sat, Sep 17 TBD Houston Astros
#
Holiday Pack E
Date Time Opponent
Tue, Apr 19 7:05 pm San Diego Padres
Wed, Apr 27 1:20 pm Colorado Rockies
Mon, Aug 8 7:05 pm Washington Nationals
Sun, Sep 18 1:20 pm Houston Astros
#
Holiday Pack F
Date Time Opponent
Mon, Apr 4 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks
Sat, Apr 23 TBD Los Angeles Dodgers
Mon, Aug 22 7:05 pm Atlanta Braves
Mon, Sep 5 1:20 pm Cincinnati Reds
#
Holiday Pack Bleachers
Date Time Opponent
Mon, Apr 4 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks
Mon, Apr 18 7:05 pm San Diego Padres
Wed, Aug 24 7:05 pm Atlanta Braves
Sun, Sep 4 1:20 pm Pittsburgh Pirates
Thanks for posting those.
They were not in the press release.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
wow... those suck.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
Wow they don't throw in even ONE good game?
To sell off the bad ones?
These guys are truly idiots.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 10:40 AM CST up reply actions
The ricketts family is AMAZING!!!!
Al, the next time you see your buddy Tom, ask him if he will start lowering prices for crappy games.
Should we not have to pay less for tickets since he is trying to pay less for players?
I like Pack A
For the lonely single guy in your life. Never know what to get him for the holidays.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Nov 18, 2010 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
Argh!!
As an out of towner, the packs are worthless no matter who is playing. I can’t afford to come to Chicago four separate times to see games. It’s not that the games aren’t good, the times are lousy. Best of luck in selling these.
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Nov 18, 2010 6:29 PM CST up reply actions
Hopefully the games themselves are holiday games
Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day etc.
But, you’ll probably be forced to buy 2 crappy April May and September dates, in order to get 2 June or July dates.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
Looks more like 3 crappy April and September dates, in order to get 1 August or May date.
“huzzah”
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
I can't help but notice...
…they did include a Central Division foe in every package. But in some cases it’s the Astros or the Pirates.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Right, for when the Cubs and Bucs...
…are duking it out for the NL Central title.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Big Z hanging out at Wrigley right now... watching NU practice.
Confirmed from my friend who is there… he’s a sports facility manager for NU.
Can’t wait for Saturday’s game!
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
He's just sitting in the upper deck along the third base line..
admiring the big “Z” they painted on the field in his honor.
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Oh crap
Can’t wait for him to get mad and storm the field. “This is not football! let me show you Football!”
Next thing you know – Z on the 60-day DL with a torn ACL from missing his soccer kick. GOAL!!!!
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Nov 18, 2010 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
Can someone do the math on this?
Bleacher pack is averaging just over $40 per ticket which seems high for 4 non prime games. I don’t have resources to check but someone add up 4 games in a package and see if the face comes to $182 ( FYI any idea if this with or without the tax??)
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 10:44 AM CST reply actions
My bad bleachers average over $45 per ticket if the pack is $182
Sounds like more than face to me for those games.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 10:46 AM CST up reply actions
*All ticket prices are based on a minimum of 2 tickets purchased per game, per pack and are subject to an additional 12% amusement tax.
OK TWO tickets. That makes sense
Still mostly crappy games. You would really have to be an idiot to buy this. You will be able to get any of those easily when tickets go on sale and you can pick the ones YOU want.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 10:53 AM CST up reply actions
I can't imagine that Mon/Tues late April night games vs. Colorado are going to be tough.
Last year, the scalper going rate for similar tickets was two dollars.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I put the link to the Cubs website page for this in the post.
You guys are right… there are really not many decent games in any of those.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Careful what you wish for
I know it looks a little bleak the last few months but Zell wasn’t going to do anything with this team but try to turn it for a profit.
Just win the next game...!
by blackhawk24 on Nov 18, 2010 12:51 PM CST up reply actions
The Ricketts
could sure use McDonough. They haven’t handled anything well from a pr/marketing standpoint since they took over. Actually, that’s generous—everything they’ve done since taking over has been a train wreck from a marketing/pr perspective.
DEJESUS!!!
by tomas21 on Nov 18, 2010 11:14 AM CST reply actions 6 recs
It really is baffling how bad
the Ricketts’ presentation has been since taking over the team.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Nov 18, 2010 11:21 AM CST up reply actions
I have to agree here.
The timing of the announcement the other day couldn’t have been worse.
And this “sale” doesn’t really amount to very much.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Sports Radio Allert
Barry Rozner, who I enjoy and has always been well connected to Cubs goings on, was filling in on WSCR yesterday. He’s had several interviews with Tom Ricketts both on and off the record. The take-away was that what has happened in the first year under Ricketts would NEVER have happened under Andy MacPhail. Say what you want negative about MacPhail (and he did not say that MacPhail was the end all), but MacPhail professionalized this organization after the dark ages of Himes, Cook and Grenesko. Sadly, Ricketts, with sole direction apparently coming from Crane Kenney is making several missteps, missteps that would not happen with a baseball person in charge.
Further, Rozner said that Kenney is out for Kenney. He alluded to the fact that Kenney was not backing up Hendry and possibly hanging Hendry out to dry.
worth a listen
again, not for those who don’t like sports radio, but the relevant segment on WSCR yesterday. Its 11/17 four o’clock hour, around 14:40.
Also of note, is Rozner’s belief that Ricketts was more or less sold a bill of goods when he bought the team. There wasn’t necessarily any fraud involved, but the books likely portrayed a rosier view of reality.
I to believe Kenney is the main force behind the idiot moves
but the Ricketts have listened to him and signed the checks.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Dan...
… thanks for taking a swipe at me re: sports talk radio. In general, I don’t care for it. However, an interview with a person directly involved with a team is different than what we were discussing the other day.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
No offense intended...
… in the interest of full disclosure I wanted to note that Sports radio was involved here. To clarify, Rozner subs as a guest host somewhat regularly now on WSCR.
They don't need McDonough
He was a softie who believed in marketing to the average fan. The Ricketts have the AMAZING
Crane Kenney who knows that raising prices so high even brokers won’t buy them, not wasting time promoting a Convention that only makes money for charity, and trying to get public funds from a bankrupt state & city is a much better way to succeed.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
So is Hendry the problem?
or is Kenney the greater problem?
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Nov 18, 2010 6:37 PM CST up reply actions
Both are.....
but they’re two different problems.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
Can Kenney
and the next guy would put “Fire Hendry” at the top of his to do list. So that solves both those problems.
They took down that concrete. That was nice.
But almost everything else they’ve done has been an indefensible misstep.
I hate to be hyperbolic, but it’s been kind of amazing how consistently they’ve made exactly the wrong choice.
At this point, it’s almost amusing when you see the “charmingly incompetent” stories like “Cubs crack Harry Caray Statue when moving it”, and so on, as opposed to the “vaguely malevolent” stories like “Cubs demand $200M in public funds to ‘ensure their long-term presence at Wrigley’”.
Last year at this time, I was so high on Ricketts that I wrote a post describing how in 20 years, his family will be one of America’s best-known and loved, his son would be a Senator, and so on. Now, I get a vaguely nauseous feeling when i see Tom R wearing a button that says “CUBS WIN FOR JOBS” while asking taxpayers to cough up $200M.
But we got rid of that concrete. Still looking forward to our 1 good story for “Year 2.”
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
How bout Todd Ricketts successfully sells an entire box of hot dogs?
Maybe that would be a feel good story. Todd should give it the old college try.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
All kidding aside, the Ricketts are on the cusp of losing the goodwill of this city.
And it’s awfully tough to rebuild that trust, once it’s lost.
A poor year in 2011 — and that is a VERY likely situation — will push their “approval rating” into some pretty negative territory.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
It is staggering how much goodwill can be lost in so short a time.
I am just waiting till after the dismal ticket sales in Feb and Kenney or Ricketts saying they are disappointed in the lack of fan support. These guys really don’t get it.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions
I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this entire situation.
For instance, I just learned that the Ricketts’ spent $600,000 in ad buys for Tea Party GOP Senate candidate Sharron Angle.
Set aside the politics of the situation for the moment – How many locker rooms could that have purchased?
This family is sinking millions of dollars into political ad buys, and – just weeks later – going hat in hand to the taxpayers looking for a few hundred million?!
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Nov 18, 2010 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
600,000?
goodness that is insane. I don’t care what side left or right. Then a month later asking for 200M, nice Tom.
Now if Mr. Ricketts had donated $600,000 to Illinois politicians
He might have gotten more bang for his bucks
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 6:39 PM CST up reply actions
How do you know he hasn't?
Maybe he expects something in return. It certainly wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities.
I have PMS & a GPS -- which means -- I am a bitch, and I will find you.
by cub in louies nest on Nov 18, 2010 6:44 PM CST up reply actions
I think it is safe to assume
the press would have mentioned it. All donations are public record. Actually the $600,000 donation was the only one for Joe Ricketts “Taxpayers Against Earmarks” . I would expect he would expect something in return which is why it might have been a good idea to donate to Illinois politicians.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 19, 2010 7:18 AM CST up reply actions
He's not getting anything in return from Sharron Angle.
She lost.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
That was my point
Better bang for your buck buying a traditional Illinois politician.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 19, 2010 1:27 PM CST up reply actions
Think that was for the
“no earmarks” thing. It’s the irony I tried to post a week ago about one Rickett being against earmarks (e.g. pet projects) and another Rickett asking the state and city for gov’t monies.
Just win the next game...!
by blackhawk24 on Nov 19, 2010 11:18 AM CST up reply actions
Joe Ricketts' "Taxpayers Against Earmarks" is a PAC with 1 donor. Joe Ricketts. It spent $600K on Angle's Senate bid.
After the Supreme Court decided “Citizens United” last year, corporations are permitted to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, so long as they aren’t coordinated with the official campaigns.
Put simply, Ricketts was only allowed to personally donate $1500 to Sharron Angle. So he formed TAE, funded it with $600K, and used all of that money to air ads in Nevada promoting Angle and attacking Reid.
It’s all legal, and Ricketts has been completely transparent about his political spending.
Of course, on the other hand, it can’t be great business for the Cubs to be so intimately associated with politics in general, and the Tea Party in particular.
It’s an aspect of politics that gets people particularly riled up, and whether they’re for or against it, either way, they’re going to be ticking off a sizeable portion of their fanbase.
And given that the Ricketts are in the process of floating a plan to take hundreds of millions of dollars in public money, it seems massively hypocritical that they’re simultaneously saturating the airwaves with their no-government-spending-on-private-interests rhetoric.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
The Cult of McDonough
He was lucky enough to come into a situation where lots of changes could be made dramatically and on the cheap (even money makers like putting home games on TV, etc.).
He was lucky enough that his team won the Cup (gotta be a little lucky to win anything) and that was because of hockey types building the team.
The Hawks then had to shed salary and dump many popular if not essential players. HGe can get away with this because he won.
If the Cubs had won in 2008, some (but not all) of Ricketts’ plans would be a lot easier to stomach. The Cubs cannot put more games on TV, the only former Cub out of the fold is Sosa, and no one wants to see him any time soon, etc.
Wherever you go, there you are!
by Dan Serafini on Nov 18, 2010 12:32 PM CST up reply actions
It is not what he did for the Hawks
It is what he need in nearly 25 years for the Cubs. The man INVENTED the fan convention and was a truly gifted marketer.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 12:55 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Point taken.
On the other hand, he was not so highly regarded (outside of Cub circles) until he went to the Hawks.
But I agree with Rozner, etc.. that Crane Kenney is a guy who has to go.
Wherever you go, there you are!
by Dan Serafini on Nov 18, 2010 1:17 PM CST up reply actions
Disagree
McDounough was absolutely regarded as a marketing genius while he was with the Cubs. He had a tremendous reputation and when he was elevated to Cubs President, many saw this as well deserved. He may or may not have been overrated, but to say that he was not highly regarded outside of Cubs circles is false.
In fact...
… when McDonough was made the offer by the Blackhawks, he wanted to stay. The Cubs either wouldn’t or couldn’t match the offer — if they had, he would have stayed.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
The Cubs should have asked the Mayor to let the city make up the difference.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 2:29 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
My point was (poorly phrased):
He was not as well known to Chicagoans when he was withthe Cubs as he is now. The work he did at the Hawks is the reason.
I think he gets too much credit for the team winning the Cup. Great marketer – so stipulated.
Wherever you go, there you are!
by Dan Serafini on Nov 18, 2010 3:36 PM CST up reply actions
Are you kidding, not well known here in ChiTown?
He was a huge face of the Cubs even before his “presidency”. He didn’t become famous going to the ’Hawks 3 years ago this month. He already was, in fact that was the ’Hawks draw to the media. They got the famous John McDonough, Marketing Genius / Beanie Baby Wrigley Field Promoter from the Chicago Cubs.
McDonough helped put in place a different culture with the Blackhawks in the front office. The home games on TV, player involvement outside the rink, convention, training camp festival, bringing back Pat Foley, the Ambassadors, including Savvy after he was fired less than year after McDonough arrived, all made the feel-good impacts for the now Defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. All this increased his legacy as a famous business man in ChiTown but he was already very well known and well regarded in those circles while his work address was still 1060 W. Addison St.
But hockey operations was dictated by Rocky’s other moves, not withstanding the “re-assignment” of Bob Pulford and the hiring of Scotty Bowman, which in turn yielded the signing of Marian Hossa. The listening to Marc Bergevin which in turn yielded the signing of now head coach Joel Quenneville as a scout.
Just win the next game...!
by blackhawk24 on Nov 19, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
ding ding ding
one of the best things Rocky Wirtz did was bring him and and tell him to do his thing.
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
2nd only to......??
Just win the next game...!
by blackhawk24 on Nov 19, 2010 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
Shame on the Cubs
IMO they’re marketing this towards non-Cub fan folks trying to buy holiday gifts for their Cubs fan family and friends. Clearly, a good segment of those who would buy this have little idea that an April game against the Diamondbacks is a steaming pile of garbage.
An April game against the D'Backs can be great fun
but you don’t need this stupid package to get tickets
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
Agree 100%
These ticket packs are horrible. If you are going to do weekday games, at least don’t make them April and September weekday games.
Lest anyone be tempted by these crappy packages
I will gladly match any of these with my much better season tickets and I am sure there are many other season ticket holders here who would do the same.
However I can’t imagine anyone on BCB wanting these packages. Per above you will be able to get a much better selection and not be forced to buy games you don’t want if you
just wait for regular ticket sales.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 11:50 AM CST reply actions
+1
I’m sure there will be a great selection of games available long into the night and beyond in February, when single game tickets go on sale.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
"long into the night" ?
more like long into the season. If you don’t find what you want on Cubs site, go to BCB ticket exchange or Craig’s list. They will be FLOODED with good games at face or below.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
comparison
The Cubs plan
The Brewers plan
For those of you who don’t like clicking
Central Rivals Plus 4-Pack
Sun, May 15 1:10 pm Pittsburgh Pirates
Sun, Jul 10 1:10 pm Cincinnati Reds
Tue, Aug 16 7:10 pm Los Angeles Dodgers
Wed, Aug 31 7:10 pm St. Louis Cardinals
East Coast Plus 4-Pack
Wed, Apr 6 7:10 pm Atlanta Braves
Thu, Jun 9 7:10 pm New York Mets
Sun, Jul 31 1:10 pm Houston Astros
Sun, Sep 25 1:10 pm Florida Marlins
Marquee Plus 4-Pack
Sat, Jun 11 6:10 pm St. Louis Cardinals
Wed, Jul 27 7:10 pm Chicago Cubs
Mon, Aug 15 7:10 pm Los Angeles Dodgers
Thu, Sep 8 7:10 pm Philadelphia Phillies
Matinee Plus 4-Pack
Sun, May 22 1:10 pm Colorado Rockies
Wed, Jun 22 1:10 pm Tampa Bay Rays
Thu, Aug 18 1:10 pm Los Angeles Dodgers
Thu, Sep 1 3:10 pm St. Louis Cardinals
Weekend Plus 4-Pack
Tue, Apr 5 7:10 pm Atlanta Braves
Fri, May 27 7:10 pm San Francisco Giants
Sat, Jul 30 6:10 pm Houston Astros
Sun, Aug 14 1:10 pm Pittsburgh Pirates
much better options up north
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
That's becuase they have a nicer stadium.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 12:11 PM CST up reply actions
and better food
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
and the Los Angeles Dodgers in their "Central Rivals" package
dumbasses…
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
Who would buy this?
Seriously, you’re coming off a 5th place finish and the best you can offer is a package full of April games against the Dbacks when it’s 40 degrees? I can see it now…
Little Timmy runs over to his stocking where he finds a Cubs Holiday 4 pack. He stares in disbelief for a second and then says to his parents…
“Tue, Apr 5 1:20 pm Arizona Diamondbacks?
Tue, Apr 26 7:05 pm Colorado Rockies?
Sun, Sep 4 1:20 pm Pittsburgh Pirates?
Tue, Sep 20 7:05 pm Milwaukee Brewers?
Santa must have thought I was pretty naughty this year!"
Little Timmy is a WHITE SOX FAN
Let him freeze his ass off at Wrigley in April.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
Little Timmy is dying unless Scrooge comes through with some help on the health care..
So April games are the best choice here.
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 3:08 PM CST up reply actions
Or failing that atleast some extra ends to fund Cubs Corridor so little Timmy can drink his pain away for a $1 an oz.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
I understand, as a big daddy come and take my spot type of demeanor?
by mooncamping on May 14, 2010 7:24 AM EDT
The Ricketts are about to enter dangerous territory
I am a die-hard fan. My life-long dream was to own Cubs season tickets. As soon as I turned 21 and had the means, I attended 15-20 games a season. Brought multiple out-of-town and in-town guests that without my prodding probably wouldn’t make it to a game. This year, I have zero desire to purchase a single ticket in February. If the weather is nice and I can get cheap tickets I will go to a couple games this summer. The buzz that is necessary to sustain a full season sell-out just isn’t there anymore. The casual fan will find other things to do as well.
Their constant tone-deaf moves aren’t the source of my discontent, but they sure as hell don’t encourage me to want to come back to the park.
I am sure I am not alone in this sentiment.
by JSB on Nov 18, 2010 12:46 PM CST reply actions 4 recs
They may need to take one step back in order to move forward
They can’t sustain the annual “Sign a Free Agent to solve X” like they have in the past 4 years. They have said they want to get younger and that means shifting money from free agent signings to draft pick signings.
Trying to get younger at the same time as having some aging high dolar veteran’s may not be a pretty picture next summer.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Nov 18, 2010 1:23 PM CST up reply actions
Regardless...
… doing that would be more palatable if not for the bad PR moves they have made.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
by Al Yellon on Nov 18, 2010 2:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Yep
I envision plenty of leg room at many games next year.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Nov 18, 2010 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
That seems to be the feeling around this community
What a precipitous fall by the Ricketts. Came in saying everything right, and have done everything wrong.
by shoemile on Nov 18, 2010 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I doubt we are the target audience of these 'holiday' tickets
For years, I got more Cubs crap (sorry but some of it is crap) every year for Xmas because people didt know what else to get me until I told them to stop.
People who dont know what to get Cubs fans may be thrilled to finally have the opportunity to buy tickets to put under the tree.
Wherever you go, there you are!
by Dan Serafini on Nov 18, 2010 4:15 PM CST up reply actions
You are correct. I think this was a case of good idea, bad execution.
Give the fans a good or great deal, but throw ‘em a bone, at least. One good game, good date, one okay, and two of the less desirables. Instead, they’re trying to fill an envelope full of suckage and tell people it’s a deal.
"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin
Well actions do speak louder than words.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The only way I see this working is for fans like me
I live out of town and have Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, and no opportunities for quick time off (the downside of being indispensible.) I see the attraction of having the dates in hand, ready to go with a lot of lead time so the boss can juggle around me.
That said, otherwise, I don’t know how they sell more than, say, 100 of these for each date all year.
[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."
They sell them to rubes who aren't fans, but "know" that Cubs tickets are impossible to get.
Who buy this crappy selection of games for the Cub fan in the family instead of that Playstation 3.
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 3:12 PM CST up reply actions
I still wonder how many they will sell.
First, you won’t buy just one if you do this, because people generally don’t go to games alone. That raises the price right away.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Or folks who aren't wired
and either are uncomfortable dealing with ticket brokers or without time to go comparison shop for the ‘best price’ for tickets.
People’s reasons are varied, and mostly underserving of mockery in this.
[...]when Giants coach Steve Owen, a certified defensive genius, was asked how he planned to stop Nagurski, he said: "With a shotgun, as he’s leaving the dressing room."
by NobodySpecial on Nov 18, 2010 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
The real tragedy is that they are blowing the very best way to sell tickets
I am sure more packages will be offered but I fear they will be only slightly bettter. I have no problem with the Cubs using access to really big games to get people to buy bigger packages , but forcing them to buy almost nothing but crap is not only stupid it is terrible marketing. It would easy to make this an attractive 8 pack by adding the following
1. Choice of Yankee or White Sox Friday game ( Friday’s have thousands more tickets available )
2. Choice of one Sat/Sunday game June-Aug that is not in the highest price range
3. Choice of one day and one night M-T game in June- Aug.
You can make up the pre arranged packages, but this would at least give people a reason to buy. I am sure they will have bigger packages later but I fear it wil be more like the buy 6 crappy games to get one really good one and 3 mediocre ones.
Also throw in $20 of Cubs dollars for each ticket bought.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
They'll probably have larger packs in January.
But again, you’ll have to buy crappy games to get one good one. This appears to be a way to get a few quick bucks in the coffers right now.
With the emphasis on the word “few”.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't object to forcing people to take some lesser/crappy games
to get access to some really good ones, but it is the selection/percentages that count.
Leveraging access to Yankee / White Sox game to get fans to buy lesser games is good marketing, giving them easy access to those games with a small mark up (per premium tickets MC promotion) is a bad idea. However this year those games are so expensive especially for the bleachers which I suspect they are most eager to sell, it may not work at all.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 2:27 PM CST up reply actions
Shocking the entire community again...
…. I agree with Jessica.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
This kind of reminds me of some trade ideas proposed by fans.
Trade 4 crappy players for 1 superstar player. Except the Cubs forgot to include the superstar game.
Hey, it's a new century!
Well that is just silly.
Those guys are gone. It should be Guyer, Berg, Hill & Barney for Lincecum. If the Giants get really tough we can through in Fuld.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 2:49 PM CST up reply actions
at this point...we'd be better off trading those guys for Juan Uribe
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 2:50 PM CST up reply actions
So can we trade Sori for him and make him an FA?
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 6:40 PM CST up reply actions
We'll need Soriano's bat for the playoffs.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 6:40 PM CST up reply actions
How about tickets to two Pirates games, a Reds game, and a Marlins tilt?
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
I understand, as a big daddy come and take my spot type of demeanor?
by mooncamping on May 14, 2010 7:24 AM EDT
For Lincecum? Done.
You surrender to me? I accept.
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
"You're surrendering to me? I accept."
There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?
It was a modern retro proposal.
Note that I didn’t include Pie. That’s because he’s still the can’t-miss prospect of tomorrow.
Where's the Yankees, White Sox, Cardinals, Giants package?
with a ticket to see the Cubs at Fenway thrown in.
For $20 per ticket?
Bueller? Bueller?
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
People here are starting to sound like "other" fans
’Lousy Games" ….“Crappy Games”
I hear this from Padres fans who only want to go when the Giants, Dodgers or Yankees and Red Sox come to San Diego.
Who the F cares who the Cubs are playing? I thought Cubs fans came to games to see the…..Cubs…..
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Nov 18, 2010 4:39 PM CST reply actions
not in 2011.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 4:45 PM CST up reply actions
Seriously look at this roster...
and then tell me they will be better than last year. Then expect that the same amount of people as last year will want to spend a couple hundred bucks to drive to Chicago (even more to fly…TSA…ugh), pay to park their cars, get expensive ballpark food/drinks and watch what this team is going to do on 2011? With the state of the general economy and job market, this is a pipe dream. The Cubs know what is lurking for them in 2011.
Hell, I’m not even buying a MLB.TV subscription this year and I’ve had one ever since it’s been offered. I no longer have the desire to spend what little disposable income I have left on supporting this franchise. I’ll follow along in game threads, and watch them when I can on WGN…but I’m most certainly not going to any games when they come here to San Deigo, and I didn’t go last year. I’m sure my position is starting to become less of the minority with the this fanbase that has seen dollar after dollar spent on watching and supporting this team, only to see some pretty dumb crap thrown back in our faces when all is said and done.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 4:59 PM CST up reply actions
But that's not the issue I'm addressing.
Believe me, I understand fiscal issues. I did not attend any Cubs games due to that. I, a times have some access to free tickets at Petco but did not take advantage.
My point is — since I was a kid, and my peer group — never really cared who the Cubs were playing. We just went to the games. The team usually sucked.
I’ve never heard of the “who are they playing then maybe we’ll go” concept until I moved to SD.
If you, or anybody does not go to ANY sporting event due to finances, tighter budgets, that’s totally understandable.
It’s the “lousy” and “crappy” reason for not going to Cubs games that startles me. That refers to the opponent. If anybody doesn’t want to attend because they expect the club to be awful, I understand that. But to not go “because the Nationals are in town” is just foreign to me, coming from Cubs fans.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Nov 18, 2010 5:14 PM CST up reply actions
OK, I get that...but with the fairly recent success and over-promising/under-delivering that management has done these last several years...
the fanbase attitude has started to change. For better or worse, it seems that just getting to see the Cubs isn’t going to be enough for many fans.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 5:27 PM CST up reply actions
I see your point.
This is why ticket sales are going to be difficult for the Cubs this year. They haven’t marketed themselves well and keep shooting themselves in the foot with bad PR decisions.
It’s completely baffling.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's not baffling..
they simply haven’t adjusted to the realities of the market. They’re still operating under the assumption that their fans are all just happy to have baseball under the sun and cold malts in the summer and the product on the field is a distant 3rd to the “experience” and the “mystique” of “doing a Cubs game” with friends.
Cubs Fans have had started to get their fill of just showing up for some baseball and now the Cubs have to make real decisions about what they’re going to do to keep the apathy they been showing in regards to their product from infecting the fan-base.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 5:53 PM CST up reply actions
I can't disagree with any of that.
What I mean by “baffling” is how they can continue to believe that despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well, if things are allowed to take their natural course...
one of two things will happen.
1) They will eventually wake up and begin to smell what they’ve been shoveling.
2) They will eventually bury themselves in what they’ve been shoveling and have to yet again be sold to another owner who will get yet ANOTHER chance to try and take one of the oldest, most well established sports franchises in the country and run them into the ground.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 18, 2010 6:38 PM CST up reply actions
like
how it’s baffling that you don’t believe joe ricketts owns the cubs when present with video evidence of joe ricketts explaining how and why he bought the cubs?
by circuitclout on Nov 19, 2010 11:22 AM CST up reply actions
thats fine...
… but don’t package this pile of crappy games (and they are crappy games) and make it seem like its a great gift for the Cubs fan in your life. I am happy to go to any game, though for the amount of money that the cost of entry is, I am less willing to spend. I just really find this to be a marketing ploy on the part of the Cubs marketing and ticket people to try do dump tickets that they are going to have a hard time selling.
I'm with
SWL- this will be the first year i dont get mlb.tv the only way I can see the Cubs contend is if they steal some of the 2010 Padres mojo and have one of those fluke seasons where a mediocre team plays over its head. Its just not worth the 90 bucks I spent to watch a .500 team slog along
Back when Steve Swisher was an All-Star..
I could take the El to the park and get an upper grandstand seat for something like $4, ‘plenty of good seats available’. It’s a whole ’nother ball game today.
by The Deputy Mayor of Rush Street on Nov 18, 2010 7:40 PM CST up reply actions
It is not the opponant that makes a game "crappy"
It is forcing someone to go to games when the weather is at it’s worst. A package of say one game a month would be reasonable but these are basically 90% games in April & Sept. If you want people to purchase a PACKAGE, you should make some of the games at times it might be a bit more fun to watch.
Personally I like midweek games in April, but I also like games in June, July & August.
"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"
Jim Hendry
by Doggie Stalker on Nov 18, 2010 6:43 PM CST up reply actions
For me, at least
It’s not about who they are playing, but when they are playing them
Counting the days until 4/1/11...
by mikegncb34 on Nov 18, 2010 9:56 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Seriously....
It’s not just the teams but the dates. If you can’t admit that a weekday day April game against the D-backs isn’t an attractive game, then I don’t know what to day. If it was even a weekend April game, then you might have a point.
When I look at these tickets, they are either (a) April games against undistinguished opponents when it is likely to be cold; or (b) September games against undistinguished opponents when the Cubs are likely to be eliminated from playoff contention.
Then again, you live in San Diego, so I am sure you would be thrilled to go to a game against the D-backs in 35 degree weather.
You know
Even though I bust Al’s chops for it at times his increased access could be put to use. The next time he sits down for a chat or whatever with Ricketts he can say from a long time fans perspective that the natives are getting restless. Maybe hearing that will get through.
Probably a 0.000001 % chance it changes anything but hey even a grumpy skeptic like me wants to believe that the family can turn things around
Whether people here believe it or not...
… I do intend to let Tom Ricketts know that people here are pretty upset these days. Whether he hears it or not is up to him, but rest assured, I’m going to tell him.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
are you going to tell him that
before or after you explain to him that you believe that he is the REAL owner of the cubs no matter what other people, including his daddy, say?
by circuitclout on Nov 19, 2010 11:19 AM CST up reply actions
Look.
Do you guys want to get the point across, or would you rather just sit at your keyboards and slam me?
Yes, it appears I was wrong about Joe Ricketts. Satisfied now?
Nevertheless, I will tell him.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Fair enough
I understand that it’s harder for you to be critical because you know and like Tom Ricketts. However, I do think it is fair for us as a community to criticize you for toeing the company line. Especially when it appears as if you have been given greater access than every other Cubs blogger.
“Without access, favor or discretion” While I am not always a huge fan of Deadspin, I do think that they raised an important point about sports journalism. Access does have it’s costs.
Fair enough.
I’m going to use that access to ask him some pretty pointed questions.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
i'd like to do both, if at all possible.
and it doesn’t appear that you were wrong, you were wrong. but maybe i’m just arguing semantics.
by circuitclout on Nov 19, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
Geeze Al, this is rich
for I guy who takes such umbrage at professional sports figures issuing non-apologies when they make mistakes.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Nov 19, 2010 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
Save your money!
Every single game in those packs can be had at face value at the box office…day of game or on the streets for next to nothing. If a person REALLY wanted to go to those games they should wait it out until the game date approaches, and pick exactly where they want to sit. There is little to no demand for any of those games, and I wouldn’t be surprised if ALL of those games listed fail to sell out at at all!
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