2018 Convention Passes Have Started to Ship

Albert Almora, Jr. is so excited for the 2018 Cubs Convention

Check your mailboxes - Cubs Convention weekend passes have started to ship! 

Hopefully you were one of the lucky ones who was able to secure passes and/or a hotel room package for the event.  If not, you're just like me!  I was shutout for the first time since I started attending in 1995.  So I may or may not see you there...

2018 Convention - Sheraton Sold Out in Matter of Hours

The Cubs made the rooms for the 2018 Cubs Convention at the Sheraton available this morning at 10:00 a.m. and they were sold out within just hours.  If you are planning to attend the Convention, to be held January 12 through 14, you will need to make other arrangements!

Weekend passes will be made available at a later date.  Last year, the passes cost $108, not including convenience and ordering fees.

So How Was Your 2017 Cubs Convention?

The very first Cubs Convention to celebrate a World's Championship is now history.  Tell us how it went!

Who were you able to meet for autographs or photographs?

What is most interesting or funniest thing that happened at one of the presentations?

What did you love about the weekend?

What did you hate about the weekend?

Have your feet and legs recovered yet from standing all weekend!?

Did you spend enough money!?

If you have any photographs from the weekend that you would like to share, please email them to cubsconvention@hotmail.com and let us know how you would like to be credited.

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Seth H. shared these photos of the autograph line for David Ross on Saturday morning.  The signing session was held in the hotel's parking garage, imaginatively dubbed "The Dugout." Word is that anyone not in line by 5:00 a.m. was out of luck for the Ross signing, which began at 9:00 a.m.

David Ross line in front of Seth

David Ross line in back of Seth

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Sackman23 reports that the line to see the trophy was long and it took him about 1:45 to get through it - just to be rushed for a quick photo in the poorly lit "Trophy Room" tent. Seeing the trophy was very cool, even if brief.  What a year for the Cubs and all of us fans! 

 

The trophy in all its glass-encased glory

TV Coverage for the 2017 Cubs Convention

CSN Chicago is set to air the Cubs Convention opening ceremonies live Friday, January 13, 2017 on CSN plus (Comcast 201) starting at 5:30 p.m.  (The Blackhawks will be on the main channel broadcast.)
Then, WGN's Dan Roan is set to host “Cubs Convention 2017” on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (CST), live from the Convention.  

From WGN:

"Featuring coverage of the convention weekend starting with Friday’s opening ceremonies, the special will also include player introductions as well as special interviews with players and coaches on their post-World Series experiences. The broadcast will include highlights from “Friday Night with Ryan Dempster” (the former Cubs pitcher’s annual talk show at the convention) and interviews with Cubs legends. The special will also show some of the seminars featuring Cubs stars, as well as interviews with recently acquired players."

If you miss it, “Cubs Convention 2017” will be replayed on Sunday, January 15, 2017 at noon (CST) on CLTV.

Here is the list of confirmed attendees and panels for the 2017 Cubs Convention

Registration has changed:
On Friday, registration will open at noon and will be located on Level 1 (the lowest level).
On Saturday, registration will open at 8:00 a.m. and will return to the normal spot - to the left of the lobby entrance on the main level.

Saturday panel sessions will include:
Baseball Operations
Cubs Business Operations Update
Joe Maddon and His Coaching Staff
Kids Only Press Conference
Ricketts Family
Cubs Jeopardy
On the Mound (New for 2017 and scheduled to feature Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Mike Montgomery and Wade Davis)
All-Star Infield (New for 2017 and scheduled to feature Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Ben Zobrist)
Cubs Legends (New for 2017 - Ryno?  Billy Williams?  Steve Trout?)

World Series trophy on display:
The World Series Trophy will be on display at the Convention in the "Cubs Trophy Room" and will be available for fan photos.

Current Players:
Albert Almora Jr., OF
Jake Arrieta, RHP
Javier Baez, INF
Kris Bryant, INF
Jeimer Candelario, INF
Willson Contreras, C
Wade Davis, RHP
Brian Duensing, LHP
Carl Edwards Jr., RHP
Justin Grimm, RHP
Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Jason Heyward, OF
Jon Jay, OF
John Lackey, RHP
Jon Lester, LHP
Miguel Montero, C
Mike Montgomery, LHP
Felix Pena, RHP
Anthony Rizzo, INF
Hector Rondon, RHP
Jose Rosario, RHP
Addison Russell, INF
Kyle Schwarber, C/OF
Pedro Strop, RHP
Matt Szczur, OF
Rob Zastryzny, LHP
Ben Zobrist, INF/OF

Cubs Alumni:
John Baker, C
Jim Bullinger, RHP
Jose Cardenal, OF
Jody Davis, C
Ryan Dempster, RHP
Bobby Dernier, OF
Bob Howry, RHP
Randy Hundley, C
Fergie Jenkins, RHP
Jay Johnstone, OF
Pete LaCock, INF/OF  (1st Convention Appearance)
Ted Lilly, LHP
Bill Madlock, INF
Gary Matthews, OF
Sean Marshall, LHP (1st Convention Appearance since he was active Cub)
Brian McRae, OF (1st Convention Appearance since he was active Cub)
Dave Otto, LHP
Mike Remlinger, LHP
David Ross, C (So strange to see him on the Alumni list!)
Glendon Rusch, LHP
Ryne Sandberg, INF
Scott Sanderson, RHP
Dwight Smith, OF
Lee Smith, RHP
Tim Stoddard, RHP
Steve Trout, LHP
Todd Walker, INF
Billy Williams, OF
Kerry Wood, RHP

Coaching Staff:
Joe Maddon, Manager
Mike Borzello, Catching Coach
Chris Bosio, Pitching Coach
Tim Buss, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator
Franklin Font, Staff Assistant
Eric Hinske, Asst. Hitting Coach
Brandon Hyde, First Base Coach
Gary Jones, Third Base Coach
John Mallee, Hitting Coach
Dave Martinez, Bench Coach
Chad Noble, Bullpen Catcher
Lester Strode, Bullpen Coach

Baseball Staff/Broadcasters:
Theo Epstein, President, Baseball Operations
Jed Hoyer, EVP, General Manager
Jason McLeod, SVP, Scouting & Player Development
Randy Bush, Asst. General Manager
Shiraz Rehman, Asst. General Manager
Jaron Madison, Director, Player Development
Matt Dorey, Director, Amateur Scouting
Andrew Belleson, Public Address Announcer
Ron Coomer, Radio Broadcaster
Jim Deshaies, TV Broadcaster
Pat Hughes, Radio Broadcaster
Len Kasper, TV Broadcaster

Team Executives:
Tom Ricketts, Chairman
Laura Ricketts, Board Member
Todd Ricketts, Board Member
Crane Kenney, President, Business Operations

Special Guest:
Clark, Team Mascot

Here is the full schedule from last year for those curious

The full schedule will be published in the Cubs Convention program that you will be given at registration.  If you have never been to a Convention, here is the format you should expect as shown in the 2016 program.

(Note: The circles around some players were made by me and are not part of the program.)

 

Weekend Passes Now Available Through Mastercard

If you have not yet purchased weekend passes for the 2017 Cubs Convention you just might be in luck - if you have a MasterCard!  MasterCard has made available 50 pairs of weekend passes through their Priceless benefits program.

Go to https://www.priceless.com/en-us/unitedstates/2017-Cubs-Convention/offer.html for an opportunity to purchase a pair of passes for $216.  That's face value!  (The passes are only sold in pairs.)

When you complete your order, you will receive a voucher via email that can be exchanged for the passes at the registration desk.

Good luck!

Cubs Convention 10 Days Away and Still No Details from Cubs

Anxious fans would love details regarding the upcoming Cubs Convention, but true to form, the Cubs have not revealed any such information - even as the Convention is scheduled to commence next Friday.  Hopefully, information regarding the schedule and attendees will be published in the next few days.

If you don't have a ticket yet and are still looking to attend, the prices on Stubhub have started to fall somewhat.  Last week, a pair of tickets with the fees included would have cost in excess of $600.  As of today, a pair of tickets could be had for $530.  Still a steep markup over the $108 face value but prices should continue to fall on the secondary market as the Convention approaches.