OWNERS PANEL BENCHED
2024 Cubs Convention won’t include business-operations panel, either
The Ricketts family session at the Cubs Convention last year started heating up as soon as the host asked for questions from the audience.
The first fan who stepped up to the mic drew applause as she aired her grievances about the DraftKings Sportsbook being built onto the outside of the ballpark.
“How is it that you came to the decision to allow such an out-ofplace addition be built,” she said, “instead of keeping with the distinct character of Wrigley Field?”
It was a unique opportunity for fans to challenge the owner of their team while Marquee Sports Network cameras were rolling. But citing dwindling interest, the Cubs decided to cut the owners and business-operations panels from the 2024 convention. In their place, chairman Tom Ricketts is scheduled to host a reception where fans can talk with him over a beverage.
The Cubs revealed the convention programming lineup Monday. The Jan. 12-14 event includes the addition of sessions with members from the storied 1984 and 2016 Cubs teams, plus Craig Counsell’s first panel as Cubs manager. The Cubs are also replacing the autograph voucher system in favor of a first-come, firstserved setup.
It’s fair to criticize Ricketts for not opening himself up to scrutiny on a stage in front of thousands of fans, broadcast into the homes of even more. He addresses media members a handful of times every year and interacts with fans during home games. But a Cubs Convention session is a different level of accountability.
It’s also fair to point out that for a family traveling hours for a chance to interact with players and gather autographs, ownership and business-operations panels might not be high on the priority list. According to a Cubs survey that about 700 fans filled out last year, the ownership (30%) and business-operations (29%) sessions were two of the three least popular by participation.
The Road to Wrigley prospect session drew the least interest (25%) and also did not appear on the 2024 convention lineup. The pitching staff session also had a 30% mark, but it will return, paired with a hitters session.
The Cubs also pointed to lack of interest when they cut the owners sessions in 2019 and 2020 — it has been a yearslong trend, they said. But the timing back then, in light of Addison Russell’s domestic violence case, raised suspicion. This time, nothing so serious is looming.