It has been much debated here and we will definitively know the answer on October 16th. Cubs just sent out an email stating the timeline for renewals and upgrade, etc. Invoices go out October 16th. I am sure this thread will devolve into an argument, but at least the first in a series of answers will come in 2 weeks.

Dear Season Ticket Holder,

Thank you for your tremendous support as a Chicago Cubs Season Ticket Holder this season.

As this season comes to a close and we prepare for Cubs Baseball in 2013, we'd like to provide some important upcoming dates.

After receiving tremendous positive feedback on our first ever in-person Season Ticket Holder Relocation Event at Wrigley Field, we will host the event again, during the final week of November. The relocation event will allow you to come to Wrigley Field at an assigned time based on your account tenure and personally view seats available for relocation. While our inventory is extremely limited, and you may not find seats available for an upgrade, we want to again provide this benefit to our most loyal customers.

In order to successfully execute this relocation process and identify seats available for relocation, all Season Ticket Holders must indicate their intention to renew for 2013 with a first payment of 10 percent by November 12. Seats that are not renewed with a 10 percent payment by November 12 will be made available for other renewing Season Ticket Holders at the relocation events. Following the relocation events, we will make remaining inventory available to members of our Season Ticket Holder Waiting List. You'll receive detailed information about the relocation event, including your assigned appointment time, with your invoice in mid-October.

The following are important dates to mark on your calendar (subject to change):

October 16 - Season Ticket invoices sent
November 12 - 10% Season Ticket payment due
November 27 - December 1 - Season Ticket Holder Relocation and Upgrade Events at Wrigley Field
January 15 - Season Ticket Holder full payment deadline
January 18-20 - 28th Annual Chicago Cubs Convention at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers
Second week of March - Season Tickets shipped
March 8 - Single Game Tickets for 2013 Season go on sale to the public (Season Ticket Holders will have a pre-sale opportunity)