The popularity and relevance of the Chicago Cubs, in large part, has been able to transcend wins and losses due to the “Margaritaville” atmosphere it and around their ballpark. At least since the late 1980s when front office man John McDonough brilliantly marketed the ballclub as a summer party destination.
The reputation has stuck through the years, as they are not just baseball, but pro sports’ version of a Jimmy Buffett concert. It’s just as much about the vibes and the party than it is the performers you’re going to see.
And thus the new ticket promotion they just announced is extremely appropriate. At 23-33, and honestly, probably a worse ballclub than that record truly indicates, there really isn’t much reason to head to Wrigley Field this season, unless you’re using baseball to socialize.
Looking ahead to tonight’s match-up, against the San Diego Padres, all the action, which you can get on with the best sign up betting offers have San Diego as very slight road favorites. The Cubbies can be had on the money line for +120, while the Padres are -140 on the road tonight at the Friendly Confines. The bookmakers have set the total at 11.5, and the smart sports bettors might see taking the over, on a very hot and humid night in Lakeview as a smart play right there.
ESPN Matchup Prediction forecasts the Cubs with a 51.9% chance of winning.
While the game itself might not be that all amazing, going to the ballpark is still a chance to make merry, via the help of some social lubricant. Enter the Cubs, and their new promotion which includes one drink complementary with your ticket.
You can get a bourbon drink on “Maker’s Mark Monday,” local craft beer on “Gooseday Tuesday” or a glass of wine on “Terlato Wine Wednesday.”
Just as long as you purchase a ticket to any of the Monday through Wednesday home games from June to August. Of course, then if you want more, it’s most likely $14 Goose Island, $17 wine and $22 whiskey. Have fun with that! But the only reason they’re offering such things is this: not a real hot market for game tickets during the 2022 regular season at Wrigley Field.
You knew this was going to happen Ricketts, once you sold off the entire contingent of star players for pennies on the dollar in return. Plus Mon-Wed nights are notoriously the toughest times to sell tickets to anything.
That’s the only positive about this season- you can easily get tickets below face value, and day off. Thus you can go to a Chicago Cubs game without directly giving your money to Ricketts.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.