A 'Bucket List' moment: the Cubs offer us season tickets

I got the call last year. Just wait till you get that big box of tickets in the mail. It puts Christmas to shame.

is to get a group involved.

OR, if the team becomes a hot ticket again, as you all know.

I have a Daily Plan, and since 2009 I have had to eat many tickets. Last year was the worst.

I had developed a nice list over the years as my seats have changed during the last year so now I am in the 2nd and 3rd row in Terrace Box Infield, at 1st base.

I was able to convince one of the people that would buy 10-14 games annually, to take half the season this year. My brother and I split the rest, and I think someone else I think will take 10-15 games. I will end up spending $1000-$1200 after all is said and done, and maybe less if I get premium dollare from some Red Sox and Tigers fans.

Even still, this doesn’t make up for the money I lost in the last few suck-a*^ years.

With pro sports, like Theo, you want to buy on the low side when the team is bad – if you can afford it! If not, it is MUCH more cost effective to just buy tickets when you need them. They will always be available. If you have to pay more than face value, think of it as a mere fraction of buying ST, right?

One thing that is really, REALLY, aggrivating: the Cubs should offer Combo Plans to Season Ticket Holders in ALL seats. The fans support the garbage they have been putting on the field, and if they are going to sell all of these mini-packs to the general public, cutting into the STH opportunities to recoup something, they should allow us the courtesy of letting us buy the whole season, or a part, to reward us for our investment. As far as I know, this is unlike many other clubs including those who have been in the playoffs recently.

And to Bluemagic9, thank you for toning your anger down. Your points are well-taken.

As I was offered bleacher season tix last year, put down a deposit and then decided against the purchase after I deemed it a clear loss based on the few number of games I could attend as I live a few hours away and would be dependant on stubhub. So I thought I would be at the end of the list (as that is what the email said) but as this years email says if only bleacher seats are available you dont lose your spot so maybe that explains it. I’m probably going to make the trip the night before for the bulls game and then my appointment at 1pm. I would really like to get them as I love the cubs and could accept some losses as I believe I’d make them up on my bulls tickets (also almost never go and sell them easily) as I eventually there will be a point I wont have the opportunity and they will be good and I like to think they will be able to stay an annual contender with their resources and hopefully now solid management. You should hope I dont get them as I was cursed this year at football and lets just say I have season tickets to the team that gets the #1 pick in the draft regardless of how this weekends games go.

I have been a STH since 2004. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Before 2004, I was part of a 10 person group that split 4 tickets in Sec 142. That was a great section. But, during the playoffs in 2003 (the good part vs the Braves), I remember thinking that I never want to miss a playoff game again. Since I only had a 1/10 share, I decided to get my own the next year. Luckily, I had a buddy to split them with, which helps. They key to making it work is pre-planning and finding people to split them with. Also, I have studied this for a long time – the 200 and 500 levels are the only ones that are “worth it” if you need to resell a bunch of games. And, even the 200 level is tricky. You need to be close to home plate and not too far back under the roof. I learned a long time ago to move to Sec 242 because the brokers (and locals) know that those seats are in the sun all game and people love to buy them. But, the seats in Sec 209 Row 24 – Good luck selling those!
Additionally, the upper deck is a tale of two worlds. Although a true baseball fan can admit that the infield 400 level (Upper Deck Box) is one of the best seats in Wrigley, they are way overpriced and you will never make your money back reselling those seats. The 500 level is a different story, though. The seats cost 1/2 as much as the 200 level and yet they sell for similar prices on Stubhub, especially for the huge games. I added a couple seats up there to my season tickets and I was able to make money on those even last year. They only cost about $1700/seat and you can sell the big games (OD, White Sox, Yankees) for $75-100 seat.
So, sorry for the rambling. I am just trying to give advice to the OP. If you can’t commit to going to at least 20 games and/or don’t have a partner, you need to look at the 200 or 500 level. And, judging from the selection I saw on Thursday of the season ticket relocation week, there aren’t any good 200 level seats left. Only the ones in Row 15 and higher where you see about 25% of the fly balls. If you can get something in the 500’s, go for it.
Like someone said, this is a buy low opportunity. While we all know bluemagic’s opinion on this, he came in at the worst year in the 15 years I have been either a partner in or the single holder of season tickets. I have made money or broke even on my season tickets every single year, including last year (barely). In 2008, I made A LOT of money. During the forgettable other years, I still made money and went to games for free. You just need to plan and sell your unused tickets weeks in advance on Stubhub or Ebay. If you wait until the week of the game and the team sucks, bluemagic is 100% correct, you won’t get $1 for a tickets. But, I sell about 50% of my tickets before the Cubs leave Mesa and the rest before the ivy covers the walls.

No one ever brags about buying IBM or Apple stock at their peak. You need to roll the dice once in a while. If you can break even or even lose a little money for a couple years of rebuilding, you will be rewarded big time when they get good again and tickets are 2x face like they were during 2008. And, I haven’t even mentioned the playoffs. You can pay for your season in the 500 level just off of the NLDS alone. If they make it further…go pick out a new car you like.

Opportunities like this don’t come around all the time. Just my two cents, though.

the “total” price after the 12% amusement tax. Anybody know if this will be my final total, or are there other taxes, convenience fees, etc. that they will tack on?

Purchased 2 bleacher seats for the Combo Plan. For all of you current season ticket holder’s, when do you typically receive your tickets? The representative yesterday said they typically ship in March, but I thought I’d ask you guys when you get yours usually?

Does anyone know if the tickets will show up on the ‘My Tickets’ area of the Cubs website prior to March?

The site has shifted over to 2012 now in its calendar view, but I still don’t see my individual tickets there.

I actually just paid for my tickets today, and also spoke with a Cubs representative just to make sure the payment was received and they told me that the tickets will not show up in the “My Tickets” area of the Cubs website until the actual hard tickets get sent out in March.

After each year, do you have the option to increase your number of STH seats?