Cubs season-ticket prices for 2020 are dropping an average of 2.5 percent

After a disappointing 2019 season, the Cubs are giving their season-ticket holders a break on 2020 pricing.

The average decrease across the ballpark is 2.5 percent. The decreases will range, depending on where you’re located, from 1.4 percent to 6.5 percent. Some areas will be flat from last year. Beyond the disappointing 2019 season, the pricing change is also taking into consideration an increase in early-season games next March and April. There will be 18 home games before the end of April, an increase of six over 2019. Here’s hoping for a much warmer and drier spring than we’ve had the last two years!

The breakdown for games in the six pricing tiers for 2020 is as follows (also see the schedule below):

Bronze: 9 (+2 from 2019)
Silver: 25 (+8 from 2019)
Gold: 17 (-6 from 2019)
Platinum: 12 (-1 from 2019)
Marquee: 12 (-5 from 2019)
Diamond: 6 (+2 from 2019)

The reason for the significant increase in “Diamond” games — the highest price tier — is the three-game weekend series against the Red Sox, June 19-21. The Cubs feel that series will be in high demand, thus the higher pricing tier. The other “Diamond” games are Opening Day, Saturday, July 18 (Reds) and Saturday, August 1 (Brewers).

Also, as I have previously posted here, the Cubs will have a 6:40 p.m. start time in 2020 for weeknight home games to be played before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. The team hopes that will make it easier for families to see a full game. I am hoping that this time is successful to the point that in future years, all night games would be started at that time.

One thing that’s changed for the better: The 2019 Season Ticket Holder Family Day is this weekend, November 9 and 10. That’s obviously not optimal even if the weather had been seasonal (mid 50s), which it won’t be. The Cubs say next year’s event will be held June 26 and 27.

There’s a bit more information in this Paul Sullivan article in the Tribune, and now here’s some info from my season-ticket invoice, received Wednesday afternoon.

The bleacher season-ticket price for 2020 is $3,889.68. That’s down about $95 from last year, which would be about a 2.3 percent decrease, just about average. Obviously, I’m going to renew my season tickets. Whether this price decrease is enough for others to renew, I can’t say. I have heard from a number of you that you who were on the waiting list have already been contacted by the Cubs and told that you might have a chance to buy season tickets, which likely means they’re expecting some cancellations.

Here is the 2020 home schedule showing the pricing level for each game. Bronze, silver, gold match the colors. “Platinum” is blue, “Marquee” is pink, “Diamond” is green.

The Cubs’ renewal schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, November 6, 2019: Invoices sent
Wednesday, December 11, 2019: First payment due (excludes Suites)
Wednesday, January 15, 2020: Balances due in full
Week of January 20, 2020: STH Seat Relocation Event
Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, 2020: 2020 Season Ticket Holder Family Day

I’ll be interested in hearing from season-ticket holders regarding whether they’ll be renewing or not, and from wait-list folks about whether they’ll be accepting the Cubs’ offer of buying season tickets if they get another call later in the winter.