Despite Monday’s 3-1 victory over the Florida Marlins, the Cubs were still 25 games under .500.
Yet they remain on a pace to draw nearly 2.2 million fans to Wrigley Field this season, almost as many as they did in 1984 when the Cubs captured a division title.
The Cubs’ single-season attendance record is 2,653,763 in 1993.
“We have changed the way we count attendance. We are now reporting tickets sold. But in the days of the `80s (and early `90s), we were reporting turnstile count. So when you look at the numbers, they are skewed,” said Cubs ticket manager Frank Maloney.
Still, the Cubs’ attraction defies sports logic.
“Our benchmark is to get into the 2.8- to 2.9-million range. But we are going to need a better team to do it,” Maloney said.
“A lot of our September (ticket sales) are going better than you might expect,” he said. “Labor Day is going good. We have the Beanie Baby Day, which will be good, on Sept. 6. The Ryne Sandberg Day is Sept. 20.”
Bad start: The Cubs drew about 2.2 million last year despite three rainouts. They have had two rainouts this season.
Maloney figures the Cubs’ 0-14 start this season may have cost the franchise some 100,000 tickets sold.
In about a month, President Andy MacPhail, vice president of business operations Mark McGuire, marketing director John McDonough and Maloney will discuss marketing strategy for the 1998 season.
“The park is a great attraction and it helps us an awful lot. We all know that,” Maloney said. “And I think our base core of fans is pretty unique. And I say that in a very complimentary way. It just makes you wonder if you had a powerhouse team here, what it would be like.”
No surprise: Slam magazine predicts the Bulls will notch a sixth NBA title next season.
“Even though (Michael) Jordan and (Scottie) Pippen will have to play with a decidedly mediocre supporting cast, they’re still more than good enough to will the franchise to its sixth championship,” writes Michael Bradley. The magazine projects the Los Angeles Lakers as the heir to the Bulls’ throne in 1998-99.
Did you know? Florida Marlins switch-hitting slugger Bobby Bonilla swings a heavy 35-inch, 34-ounce bat when he bats right-handed. But when he bats left-handed, he uses a 32-inch, 31-ounce bat because of a previous injury to his left wrist.
The good word: Bears running backs Raymont Harris and Rashaan Salaam grace the cover of the Aug. 30-Sept. 5 TV Guide, which includes a 36-page NFL preview pullout section. . . . Illinois Wesleyan is ranked 15th nationally in the Sports Illustrated Division III preseason poll. . . . The Wolves last week signed Ravil Gusmanov, who is the first European player on the Wolves roster since its inaugural season in 1994-95. Mike Ditka will break down each weekend’s New Orleans Saints opponent on the show, which is produced by WVUE-TV in New Orleans.
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Send e-mail to Fred Mitchell at Kick3485@aol.com.
