Chicago Cubs fans, Wrigley Field request list

April 26, 2007 by diana

For some reason, we Cubs fans feel that it is our duty to share our ideas with the Cubs management on how to run their ballclub, ballpark, etc. Even our Governor shares this sense of duty. Go figure.

Anyway, here are my ideas. Feel free to reply with your suggestions too.

I know we don't need to post about a winning season, World Series, etc. because we know that they're working on that. The Cubs will get better this year. This slow start will encourage them not to go back to a losing record. It bums them out too.

My requests:

Every day is fan appreciation day

Why limit this event to one game or a weekend. Offer fan appreciation drawings and events every game. Bring in a different retired player each game for autographs and photos before the game. Those photos will have fans talking about that day for many years.

Have WGN/Comcast sports aim to show every fan in the ballpark during the course of each game.
Baseball has some slow moments, so they should be able to somehow get near everyone in a shot. You know many folks have relatives watching at home.

Now, collect a series of images from those shots and use the Grand Prize game contestant selection technology (WGN should still have that from their Bozo's Circus show) to select winners of that day's prizes. Be sure to have at least enough for one winner from the bleachers, one from the grandstand, one from the upper deck, one from the family section and one from the box seats. Prizes could be donated from advertisers or from the Cubs product line. Winners would be shown on the video screen and fans would be encouraged to help find the winners and let them know. Winners could check to make sure it was really them and find the location to pick up their prize.

I think this would be fantastic PR and make watching the game even more enjoyable...and give fans one more reason to come out to Wrigley Field.

Next idea.. Restroom renovation

I didn't get to Wrigley last year, but in 2006 the ladies room looked the same from 1984.
For the price of tickets, Wrigley Field could offer far better fan hospitality in regards to their restroom facilities. Air conditioning (and a warm area for those cold days), great lighting, toilet seats that aren't black, tv sets so we can follow the game and perhaps some decorations, etc. A fainting couch might be nice for the ladies room. Those used to be quite common in public ladies restrooms in the 70's. This would be handy for those who get overheated, or for moms w/ babies to take a break.

The Cubs could bring in Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, the Great Indoors, etc. and have each company outfit a pair of restrooms. They could use their most popular restroom fixtures and other home products and include buying info / store name on each item so fans that see something they like would know more about it and where to buy it. It could be great advertising for those stores. They could have different sink faucets so that fans could see which ones work the best for their home.

The Cubs could even arrange for Charmin to "Charminize" the rest rooms.

Remember, a big part of proper hospitality for your guests is to provide ideal restroom facilities. And for what Cubs tickets sell for these days, baseball fans should be offered that level of hospitality.

My next request.. Televised games suitable for family viewing...

Please, no commercials promoting male enhancement products or television programs that you wouldn't watch with your kids...or discuss with your pastor. BTW, a study leads us to think that television viewers have better retention of advertisements shown during G rated programs. So if WGN wants to give your advertisers a better value, leave out the ads with sexually charged themes and offer a family friendly television viewing experience.

I'd like to introduce my nieces and nephews to the joys of being a Cubs fan, but I don't want to have them watch a televised game until the commercial breaks are cleaned up.

While I'm on this topic, I'd like to ask that tv listings for that Best &*#%$ Sports show not include the offensive word in their Tivo and cable PVR listings. I see no reason for my Tivo to be forced to cuss like that. I did appreciate former Cubs announcer Chip Caray who refused to use the offensive word when promoting the program during telecasts. I see that Comcast sports is now offering their program, so this will probably become an issue with Cubs fans with families.

Remember, you bring in more fans by being family friendly. That results in more ticket sales, more t-shirt and hat sales, better tv and radio game broadcast ratings, etc.

Next request... better food options at Wrigley.

For starters, how 'bout having Giordanos create a new version of the Ron Santo pizza?

Consider offering more varieties of ethic foods. Wrigley field contains a captive audience, make it a dining experience worthy of a Food Network Channel hour long special.

I see that both Cubs radio announcer Ron Santo and Cubs manager Lou Piniella have diabetes. I'd like to see Wrigley Field offer healthy, diabetic friendly food choices that don't contain nutrasweet, splenda, etc.
Would also like to see fresh fruit with soy slushees that don't contain any additional sweeteners.

Let's keep the fans properly hydrated. Sell the bottles of water for $1/bottle instead of $3. That's still an impressive mark-up and your fans might not experience meltdowns on the way home from the game.

Next request...Games rebroadcast

I appreciate that Comcast re-airs some of their Cubs games late night/early morning and would like to see WGN do the same. The tv listings should clearly note that the game is a re-run though, so our Tivos don't get overloaded. Also, when the live game and re-run air on the same day it is difficult to tell which is the live game...and if the other is a rerun or if it is a day/night doubleheader. Would love more descriptive tv listings, which I think would bring in a greater audience for the advertisers and serve the fans better.

The Atlanta Braves have a half hour show that shares extended highlights from the game. I'd love to see something like this for Cubs telecasts.

I see that the White Sox have a talk show on Comcast Sports. The Cardinals have their own show on Fox Sports Midwest. Where's the matching Cubs program?

Next request...Better TV listings for the Cubs games

One of the great features of having a Tivo or cable PVR/DVR is that you can:

I have season passes for the Cubs pregame show, Leadoff Man, Cubs postgame and the 10th Inning shows. The post game shows I set to record a half hour to an hour longer in case the game runs longer than expected. When the Cubs make better use of their turns at bat, the games should run longer than they are now.

However, I can't create a season pass for the actual Cubs game telecasts because they're listed as simply MLB Baseball. A season pass for that listing would clog up my Tivo/PVR with White Sox games, Cardinal games, Braves baseball, etc.

According to the Wikipedia page for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivo:

Of course, we all know that (as I type this) the Tribune owns the Cubs and WGN, so they should be able to fix the tv listing descriptions for local baseball games.

For example:

MLB BASEBALL Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox LIVE
with announcers Len Kasper and Bob Brenly.

If you really want to have fun with it, include additional info such as the 7th inning conductor, scheduled starting pitchers, etc.

Programs that cover Chicago Cubs baseball should also consider including in the program listing info so that those who run Tivo searches on keywords "Cubs" can actually find the programs that will interest them. This is a great way to add numbers to your viewing audience and receive better ratings and offer better value to your advertisers.

Next request...HD Cubs games telecasts in all of Illinois, not just Chicagoland.

My family purchased a HD television a few years ago, but rarely get to watch our Cubbies in HD because WGN and Comcast sports aren't offered here in HD.

Since sports are a big reason why one would want a HD quality picture, this is really an issue that needs to be solved.

We're not buying ESPN HD right now because if ESPN is airing a Cubs game in HD, it will usually get blacked out.

Next request...text archives of tv broadcasts...

Since the games are already transcribed for closed captioning, all they'd need to do is to save that to a .text file and upload it to the web. It could be hosted by WGN's Baseball blog, the Comcast site, cubs.com or a mix of those sites.

This would be wonderful for those of us who missed a favorite retired player or other guest visiting in the broadcast booth, or who had get well wishes, birthday greetings or other reasons for wanting to read what they missed.

Other programs offer text archives of their broadcasts. For instance, the Larry King show and the Lab with Leo Laporte.

Next request...regarding rain delay theatre...

I'd like to see Chicago Cubs related programming during rain delays. Live interviews with players, highlights from fantastic games from the past, where are they now features, video tours of the ballpark, meet the player's dogs, whatever. Just keep it Cubs related.
Please no "Best &%*@ Sports shows" or non-G rated programs.

Also, be sure to have some text messages at the top of the screen updating viewers on the progress of the rain delay between visits from the announcers. Some of us have been "stranded" by the telecast crew in the past who didn't keep us updated on the rain delay. I imagine the game was called, they went home and didn't tell their dedicated viewers about it.

The top of the video screen is the best place for a text message these days, since Tivos and other PVR's cover the bottom of the screen's real estate.

Next request... Schedule Chicago Cubs events at the two Illinois State Fairs and perhaps the various county fairs too.

Perhaps have retired players host batting cages or autograph/photo meet and greets at a special Chicago Cubs tent at the fair. Downstate Illinois is about 50/50 Cubs or Cardinal fans (okay, with a couple percentage points for White Sox fans). The Cubs need to have an occasional physical presence downstate so that young potential fans can meet members of the new favorite team. The Cardinals' caravan travels to downstate Illinois...the Cubs should schedule some events in the Southern part of their own state.

Illinois State Fair website http://www.illinoisstatefair.info/
DuQuoin State Fair http://www.agr.state.il.us/dq/

Illinois county fairs ttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Illinois+county+fairs&btnG=Search

Next request...More Cubs minor league game coverage
I'd like to see more tv coverage of the Cubs A, AA and Triple A games and players.
Would also like to see websites for all of the Cubs minor league teams.

Next request...interviews with the Cubs trainers, doctors, etc.

I think viewers would be interested in the day to day operation of the Cubs training room.
For instance, what kind of treatments are available for various injuries and conditions?
How do they prevent 25 guys on a team from getting athletes foot?
What is the strongest version of icy hot that they use? Atomic?
What kind of sunscreen do the Cubs use? Considering the day games I would imagine SPF 50.
I think fans would enjoy this kind of info.

Speaking of sunscreen, I hope that sunscreen 50 is sold at a low affordable price in the bleachers. Let's protect the Cubs fans from skin cancer and sunburn the best we can.

And finally... Interview the Cubs players, etc. with their baseball caps off.
Fans want to see what their favorite players look like.

Okay, now it's your turn!

What is on your Chicago Cubs fans, Wrigley Field request list / wishlist ?

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Diana

PS: Ronnie would like a dog friendly day at Wrigley. Perhaps a practice day that fans could bring their canine friends to watch the Cubs work out.

Photos from Ryne Sandberg's Chicago Cubs jersey number retirement ceremony at Wrigley Field

Ronnie the Collie is getting famous!
http://franklin.thefuntimesguide.com/2007/04/dogs_eye_view_of_franklin.php

Cubs fans TV listings
http://cubsnet.com/node/1762

Banning alcohol from MLB Clubhouses, improving play on the field
http://cubsnet.com/node/1795

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