Chicago Cubs fans - Rebuilding Year 2023

[docsoliday1]

After 5 years of losing money on my season tickets, my partners and I have decided to not renew. I have been a season ticket holder since 1988, most of my adult life. It was a very hard decision since I actually enjoyed watching our team of no-name scrappy young players this year.

But, between ...

1. Last year's gutting of the team
2. The ridiculous price for tickets, the abysmal market for them on Stubhub where I took a 50% loss on most games
3. The Ricketts prioritizing the profit of the Wrigley Field Complex (multiple high priced "clubs" inside the ballpark, hotel, restaurants, the new 22,350 foot DraftKings Sportsbook) over the team and regular fans
4. The "squeaky wheel gets the perks" methodology of handing out perks like delivering the ball to the mound, getting on the field for a game, having your name on the Marquee, getting free upgrades, scoring small group signing opportunities, etc. If you didn't call and beg for perks you didn't get them no matter how long you've been a STH
5. Things that have been bothering me for a while: the awful netting that reflects the lights at night games (other ballparks have figured that out), the way that the Ricketts ruined the charm of Wrigley with the Budweiser Scoreboard that is always in my face, the way they forced out the other owners of the rooftops, ruined their view and then bought the buildings themselves and finally the last "renovation" of my section ended up with narrower seats so they could add a seat of two per row and make more money

ALL of that and more was simply too much for our group to fork over another $8500 next year. Instead, I'll buy a few games here and there. I only went to 8 games last year. I *may* end up in a smaller group, but this is the end of me being in Section 212, Row 8. I know someone who is in a group of 9 people in Field Box Outfield on the wall near the Bartman seats. That might be interesting and I can make it to 9 games.

Sounds very similar to me and disney. I used to have a love hate relationship...now it's hate hate. AP perks taken away. DVC perks taken away. The abysmal park reservation crap. The money grab genie or lightning lane crap. Just read they missed their earnings target this quarter. I think they had the surge of people so desparate after being cooped up for 2 years, they'd pay anything, but I hope they've finally hit the tipping point.

I still love the cubbies, but I've been in Germany since Feb, so haven't seen anything....satellite has German channels or BBC.

On the bright side, I've been to 7 new countries.

 

[robinb]

Sounds very similar to me and disney. I used to have a love hate relationship...now it's hate hate. AP perks taken away. DVC perks taken away. The abysmal park reservation crap. The money grab genie or lightning lane crap. Just read they missed their earnings target this quarter. I think they had the surge of people so desparate after being cooped up for 2 years, they'd pay anything, but I hope they've finally hit the tipping point.

I still love the cubbies, but I've been in Germany since Feb, so haven't seen anything....satellite has German channels or BBC.

On the bright side, I've been to 7 new countries.

Are you on Facebook? I belong to a secret group that streams most games.

 

[Bethislucy]

I should finally get to go to my first game at Wrigley this May/June. It's a bucket list trip that was supposed to happen in 2020 for my 40th then well we all know what happened. So it's back on for this coming spring. I hate it's ruined for you though it makes me sad when locals take the shaft for big wigs to pocket money. I've been a fan since I was like 7/8 and sine I'm in SC I've not had the option to go. I've seen them in Atlanta, but it's been the dream to go to Wrigley & we used to get to watch them when they were on WGN our cable package had that channel and then well they took that away, so I only get to catch a few games here and there now but I still try to keep up with the scores and everything.

 

[robinb]

I should finally get to go to my first game at Wrigley this May/June. It's a bucket list trip that was supposed to happen in 2020 for my 40th then well we all know what happened. So it's back on for this coming spring. I hate it's ruined for you though it makes me sad when locals take the shaft for big wigs to pocket money. I've been a fan since I was like 7/8 and sine I'm in SC I've not had the option to go. I've seen them in Atlanta, but it's been the dream to go to Wrigley & we used to get to watch them when they were on WGN our cable package had that channel and then well they took that away, so I only get to catch a few games here and there now but I still try to keep up with the scores and everything.

I always score the game because I'm too much of a chatter to follow the game otherwise.

Make sure to use https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/Wrigley+Field/ when selecting your seats. There are many seats with poles that obstruct your view and the Cubs don't always indicate the partially obstructed ones. Wrigley Field is still a shrine. The Ricketts did some renovation work that made it safer (chunks of concrete were falling back in 2004) and nicer. While I miss the stand-alone hot dog stands, the concessions area is nice. Mobile order for faster service. Get a Chicago Dog. My favorite addition is The Park which is an enclosed green space with concessions and seating and a giant Jumbotron showing the game. It's only open to people who have tickets for the game. Families go out there and play catch any time before, during and after the game. I will sometimes go out there with friends ... it's relaxing and pleasant.

 

[docsoliday1]

Are you on Facebook? I belong to a secret group that streams most games.

Nope. Never had facecrook.
Never intend to.
I'm an IT guy with a slant towards security. Their privacy policy is laughable if one could even call it any sort of privacy.

 

[robinb]

Nope. Never had facecrook.
Never intend to.
I'm an IT guy with a slant towards security. Their privacy policy is laughable if one could even call it any sort of privacy.

OT, this will make your hair stand on end about Facebook and most online tax preparation websites:

https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/22...9BO8BLBfvc5-W9CQ_1UYiYkSONlTp7ewGA2gr_OIHBS3U