The days of print-at-home Cubs tickets "are over," as the team has introduced a "new mobile-focused ticket practice" for '17, according to Danny Ecker of CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS. Fans will have "two options for getting into games," including using hard copy tickets or MLB's Ballpark mobile app to scan in. Ticket holders will be able to "choose their method, but will no longer be able to print PDF versions and scan bar codes on sheets of paper." Full and partial season-ticket holders this year will "still receive their hard stock tickets in the mail, but will be able to manage their tickets through the Ballpark app." For single-game buyers or those with the Cubs' 14- or eight-game flex plan packages, the hard copy tickets "can either be requested by mail or picked up at the Wrigley Field will call window." Otherwise, purchased tickets would be "delivered through the Ballpark app, which fans must download." Tickets can be "transferred to other people, but they must have an account through the Ballpark app as well in order to access the tickets." The change is an attempt at "fighting counterfeit ticket sales." Since mobile entry users are "logged in through the app, the Cubs know a lot more about the person actually attending the game than they might if the ticket were simply printed off." It also "helps the Cubs gain more control over the secondary market." Cubs Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Colin Faulkner said that "eliminating the print option will help more fans get comfortable with the mobile entry experience" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 1/14).
LIVE ONLINE? Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney said Comcast parent NBCUniversal and MLB "have come together to reach an agreement to allow our games to be streamed" in '17. CRAIN'S' Ecker noted Kenney was "referring to authenticated streaming, the same kind of offering that CSN Chicago offers for Bulls and Blackhawks games to customers that have a cable subscription." MLB already has such a deal with Fox Sports RSNs to "stream games on mobile devices, but Comcast markets like Chicago have been waiting for that deal to be finalized." But Kenney later "back-tracked a bit." He said, "Every time I say it's a done deal, it's not. They seem to have reached an agreement. We're the ones that are pushing hard for them to solve it because our fans want it. ... I would say we're cautiously optimistic" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 1/14).
GOT YOU IN MY SIGHTS: Kenney said that he hopes the renovated Wrigley Field "can host" the All-Star Game in '20, but cautioned there "could be some obstacles." In Chicago, Paul Skrbina noted many venues that play host to the game now are "relatively new parks that were publicly funded" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/15). CSNCHICAGO.com's Patrick Mooney noted there are "reasons to think" an ASG at Wrigley is "becoming less of a hypothetical." The Cubs have been "working with City Hall on their sales pitch to a commissioner's office that no longer believes in simply alternating the marquee event" between the AL and NL each year, hoping to "make it more like the bidding for a Super Bowl." Kenney: "An All-Star Game here would be hugely popular and do great things for our city and great television ratings for the league." Kenney added: "We should get the All-Star Game. In 2020, our building's complete, and what (better) way to celebrate the completion of our building than host the All-Star Game?" (CSNCHICAGO.com, 1/14).
CONNECT THE DOTS: In Chicago, Mark Gonzales wrote it has been "quite a journey for the Cubs, as their ability to connect with fans through social media has heightened their popularity during a year that saw them win the franchise’s first World Series title since 1908." Kenney "cited the sold-out crowd at Cubs Convention as a tribute to the Cubs’ popular players that accompanied their Series title" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/15). Gonzales noted 20 fans will be "selected to participate in the distribution of the World Series rings to be presented to players during a ceremony prior to their game against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on April 12." The promotion, dubbed the Championship Ring Bearer Fan Contest, will "allow 20 fans to present players and coaches with their rings" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/15). The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES' Gordon Wittenmyer noted the team "won't have replica rings made for season-ticket holders, but a replica-trophy giveaway" is part of the '17 promotional schedule (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/15).
