`Play ball!”
Soon, that familiar cry will ring loud and clear in the Chicago area, and regardless of whom you root for, the Cubs and the Sox (and the minor league Kane County Cougars) have plenty of attractions ahead in 1998.
So here’s a guide to what awaits you this season.
– The Cubs. They return to “the Friendly Confines” with a retooled lineup of attractions as well as players.
Joe Kirchen, assistant director of ticket services, says the Cubs have not increased ticket prices despite “probably increasing our payroll by about $15 million to $20 million.”
Tickets will range from $21 for field boxes to $12 for the bleachers. Upper-deck box/terrace seats are $17, and terrace reserve sell for $14. Upper-deck reserve are $9, but just $6 for kids 13 and under.
John McDonough, vice president of marketing, says a new strategy, using brand-name icons, will more than likely match last year’s successful Beanie Baby giveaways.
“We’ve hooked up with Mattel for a Hot Wheels day on July 2, and a Barbie Fashion Avenue, featuring a jacket, cap and pennant, on Aug. 23,” McDonough said. The former is for the first 10,000 kids 13 and under, the latter for the first 10,000 females, regardless of age.
Other promotions include Hasbro Starting Lineup figures of Mark Grace (April 19) and Sammy Sosa (July 23); a Duncan Imperial Yo-Yo Day (May 9); and a 1970s night (June 30).
“We’ll also have the Brewers here this year, the new expansion Arizona Diamondbacks and the White Sox, where ticket demand will probably exceed our all-time record, which was the first night game ever,” McDonough said.
That first night game was 10 years ago and will be celebrated on Aug. 3 with a replica of the original game program given away to the first 10,000 fans. A 10th anniversary pin for the same number of fans will be available Aug. 4.
Concessions manager Todd DeMoss said a few new food items are on the way to Wrigley Field this year too.
“We’re offering a special new hot dog stand featuring foot-long and regular-length kosher hot dogs with all the toppings,” DeMoss said. The cost will be $4.50 and $3.50, respectively.
Also look for a new Friendly Confines Cafe, a new beer garden and restaurant that will be open to the public and not just for private parties.
From the time the park opens until one hour before game time, all food and non-alcoholic beverages will be 25 percent off.
Tickets to all games went on sale Feb. 20 at the Wrigley Field box office and all other locations. Or, call Ticketmaster at 312-831-CUBS (if you live in Illinois) or 800-347-CUBS (if you live out of state). Tickets are also available on the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com.
– The White Sox. The Sox hope Frank Thomas, a.k.a. “The Big Hurt,” and his teammates can put the hurt on opponents, but the Sox won’t be doing the same to their fans, says senior vice president Rob Gallas.
“We’ve kept our prices the same as last year, along with many of the ticket promotions we’ve always offered,” Gallas said.
Lower-deck boxes are $22, and lower-deck reserved are $17. An upper-deck box seat is $15, and the popular bleachers are $14.
You can save money with upper-deck reserve seats, which are just $5 Tuesday through Thursday, and $10 Friday through Monday. For a real bargain, go to Comiskey Park whenever the Sox play on Monday (except Opening Day) for half-price ticket specials, when seats range from just $5 to $11.
Other value days, Gallas said, include Ladies’ Night on Thursdays, when all available seats are $1 for tickets purchased by females at the gate. On Sundays once a month, kids 14 and under can also buy any available seat for $1 at the Sox ticket office for that day’s game.
Still another deal is the Dominick’s Value SoxPack, which includes all of the following items: admission tickets, coupons for hot dogs, chips and scorecards for a family of four, and admission to concourse attractions, which will be updated again this year.
The SoxPack starts at just $54, depending on the choice of seats you want. They’re available only at Dominick’s Ticketmaster outlets.
On weekends, fans can tailgate in two parking lots–A and D-E–which will open a half-hour before the park does. And for all games an Early Bird package will be offered in Lot G, where fans arriving at least an hour before the gates open will pay half-price ($5) for parking.
The baseball clinic Fundamentals will be offered again and staffed by the Sox Training Centers personnel before every game.
“We’ve added a display called Scout’s Alley, where we’ve posted scouting reports on our major league players when they were amateur players to give kids an idea how they rank with the pros,” Gallas said. Look for the Fundamentals at Gate 3.
As far as food is concerned, Gallas says, “We offer at least 200 different items at the park.” Two typical deals: a hot dog, chips and a coke for $3.50; and a burger, fries and a coke for $5.
Sox tickets went on sale March 7, and can be bought at the box office or through Ticketmaster at 312-831-1769.
– Kane County Cougars. The Class A Florida Marlins affiliate offers a family atmosphere and wacky but fun promotions (a hot tub you can frequent, for example) at a neighborhood ballpark that’s easy to get to (it’s at Roosevelt and Kirk roads, just off Interstate Highway 88 at the Farnsworth north exit) and light on your wallet.
Promotions coordinator Jeff Ney said ticket prices remain unchanged from last year. Box seats are $7, and reserved tickets sell for $6. Bleachers are $5, and the $4 general admission features room for up to 6,000 on the lawn. Parking at the stadium is free. Check out the Family Fun Pack, which includes $4 seats and $3 worth of food per person.
The Cougars have 70 home dates this year, and that will include 10 to 12 fireworks nights.
Dollar Days for groups of 20 or more are held throughout the year. The first dates, Ney said, are April 9, 28 and 30.
Tickets are available at the box office, through Ticketmaster (312-559-1212) or by mail (34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva, Ill. 60134).
KICK AROUND THIS IDEA
Baseball won’t be the only game in town this spring, as Major League Soccer comes to Chicago at Soldier Field with the new Chicago Fire.
Account executive Vince Formanek said tickets are available in four price ranges: $10, $15, $20 and $25. Season-ticket packages cost $140, $240, $340 or $440.
Packages are also available for either six ($54, $84, $114) or 11 games ($88, $143, $198). The former, according to Formanek, features what the Fire considers its six biggest games, and the latter allows you to see each of the other 11 teams in the league.
The Flex-plan consists of 20 undated vouchers and sells for $160, $260 or $360. You can take a group of six to a game you choose, and use the remaining 14 tickets any way and any time you choose during the season.
The Fire has 20 home games, including four exhibitions. The first regular-season home game is April 4. Call 888-MLS-FIRE.
