A lot of people who signed up for the Chicago Cubs season ticket waiting list a long time ago showed up at Wrigley Field on Saturday – for the chance to spend more money than they had on something they really didn’t need.
They had gotten letters and e-mails from the Cubs back in December: “Cubs Season Ticket Waiting List Update: Your wait is over.” And their one thought, upon reading the letter, and the accompanying warning that, if they did not buy season tickets now they would be kicked off the waiting list, was: “Crap. I finally get a chance to buy season tickets and the Cubs stink.”
The letter told them to report at Wrigley Field on Saturday at a particular time, based on their place on the waiting list. When they got there they would find out what seats were available.
For those reporting in the afternoon, the only seats left were, of course, upper deck boxes. The less expensive options, terrace reserved and upper deck reserved, were all gone. Which put many of them in a quandary: Second mortgage or sell the car? (The gosh darned child labor laws had nixed that option.)
As they wandered around the upper deck looking at the available seats – and the prices – they wondered if the Cubs would let them sit in their seats on days when the Cubs weren’t home. That would be helpful because paying rent might be tricky after buying the tickets.
Once they picked out their seats, they headed to the United Club to pay for them. When they go there, they realized Crane Kenney missed a great marketing opportunity. He could have rented out booths to people offering home equity loans or shady adoption agencies looking for babies and small children, no questions asked. Or maybe even a surrogate mother group looking for wombs to rent. Hmmm. Just gotta make sure to schedule the delivery so it doesn't interfere with the playoffs.
Oh well, they thought as they left the park, they got their seats. Now they just have to remember to bring egg salad sandwiches to the game – because there is no way they will be able to afford anything from the vendors.
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Seriously, a lot of new people were able to get season tickets this year – for two reasons. First, the Cubs stunk last year. (See above.) Second, the Ricketts decided to sell more seats as season tickets than they have in the past, especially in the somewhat pricey upper deck boxes. (Also see above.) Their theory was, I am sure, that even if the people don’t show up and the Cubs don’t get the concession income, at least the ticket’s sold. Somebody has to help pay for the last three years of Alfonso Soriano’s contract. Why not new season ticket holders in the upper deck boxes.
In any case, it was really neat to see people picking out seats and then having friends or even strangers take pictures of them sitting in “their seats” at Wrigley Field.
One downside to the extra season tickets that the Cubs sold: It will be harder for the fans trying to get tickets for just a few games. The “inventory” (as they say) of single game tickets will be down. But, it’s a business, and has been since about 1977.
Are you changing the name of your blog now that you have season tickets? If you had bought the bleacher season tickets, you could have kept the name.
Posted by: Jennie | February 02, 2012 at 11:30 AM