U.S. Cellular Field / New Comiskey Park

[hsnterprize]

This picture of the White Sox on their home opener is courtesy of the Chicago Tribune. A great shot in my opinion. Let's Go Sox!!!!!!!

Sox Opening Day.jpg

[Blue387]

A-Rod's 200th homer
5/12/01: Alex Rodriguez hits his 200th career home run off Jon Garland of the White Sox

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21136727

[hsnterprize]

Very nice picture.

By the way...this picture is from the famous "Blackout Game"...the 2008 1-game playoff for the American League Central Division Championship. The Sox won 3 straight games, including a make-up game vs. Detroit, to make it to this game. I'd say this game was more special than the 2005 World Series clinching game because there was such a buzz in that stadium for this game. Not to mention, the Cubs, who won their division earlier that week, had a rally in downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza featuring Chicago-native Jim Belushi as the M.C. The Sox won this game 1-0 thanks to a towering solo home run by Jim Thome. The Cubs had their party earlier that day...this was the Sox and their fans' turn to celebrate.

[Blue387]

How come the White Sox have trouble filling seats?
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...seat-syndrome/

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Maybe they're afraid that one of Hawk's rants will be broadcast over the PA system.

[1983whitesox]

How come the White Sox have trouble filling seats?
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...seat-syndrome/

I'm willing to bet that one good reason that I have not heard is about where Sox and Cub fans live.

In short,

I firmly believe that at most Cubs games. Most of their fans simply walk or take public transportation (a short distance) to the games.

While most Sox fans that go to games live out in the burbs and just don't want to deal with getting off work early enough to fight traffic.

In order for me to go to a Sox game on a weekday. I have to get off work about 2:30. Drive 40 minutes to my house. Shower and wash off the days grime from drilling wells. Take care of the dogs, get my kid ready and wait for my wife. Then drive from the far west suburbs and battle traffic. Buy then it's already 6:00-6:30 and I've missed Tailgating and BP.

But it's worth it.




Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[Paul W]

How come the White Sox have trouble filling seats?
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...seat-syndrome/

...how about a reeling economy and folks not spending on expensive big league sports tix?

[Blue387]

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at U.S. Cellular Field? Chicago Revealed Host/Producer Katie Kijowski has an all access pass to the ballpark, and discovers a behind the scenes team that is responsible for the scoreboard, fireworks, and digital entertainment. You won't believe all the hard work they do to put together a ball game.

[dadair6]

...how about a reeling economy and folks not spending on expensive big league sports tix?

I disagree with the economy angle. Chicago and Detroit are neck and neck in the standings. Detroit and Michigan ares/were the epicenter of the recession. The state is still at 9% unemployment and he city proper is still in excess of 14%. All the while the Tigers are drawing 37-42k a night. The last two nights Toronto, not a rival or popular team, was in town and the Tigers didn't have JV pitching and managed crowds of 39.5k and 37.2k.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I disagree with the economy angle. Chicago and Detroit are neck and neck in the standings. Detroit and Michigan ares/were the epicenter of the recession. The state is still at 9% unemployment and he city proper is still in excess of 14%. All the while the Tigers are drawing 37-42k a night. The last two nights Toronto, not a rival or popular team, was in town and the Tigers didn't have JV pitching and managed crowds of 39.5k and 37.2k.

Theres no other team 300 miles of Detroit, the Whitesox have 2 teams within 60 miles of them. I'm sure thats gonna help Detroits case.

[mandrake]

Theres no other team 300 miles of Detroit, the Whitesox have 2 teams within 60 miles of them. I'm sure thats gonna help Detroits case.

By the way, did any body out there find my broom. I think the Sox must have used it in that SWEEP...... MERCY !

[Chevy114]

Theres no other team 300 miles of Detroit, the Whitesox have 2 teams within 60 miles of them. I'm sure thats gonna help Detroits case.

NY has similar stats where the yanks draw a lot better than the mets and in Chicago its the cubs outdrawing the sox (linke below). So maybe that's life, when there are 2 teams in a town one is just naturally going to draw better for whatever reason.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

[chicagowhitesox1173]

By the way, did any body out there find my broom. I think the Sox must have used it in that SWEEP...... MERCY !

I'm still shocked the Sox actually swept the Yankees, first time in 20 years Hawk said. Detroit just keeps winning though so it really doesn't help except maybe give the Sox confidence.

[dadair6]

Theres no other team 300 miles of Detroit, the Whitesox have 2 teams within 60 miles of them. I'm sure thats gonna help Detroits case.

That's not technically correct, but I understand your point. I was speaking only to the economy point you brought up. The most devastated region in the country is still playing to 97-100% capacity.

The Chicagoland population is approximately 9.7 million compared to about 5 million for Metro Detroit. Even with the Cubs playing up the road the Sox should be drawing more than 20k per game for a first place team in the middle of August. The popular Yankees just played three in Chicago and the crowds were 27k, 24k and 26k. Either there are other major factors particular to the team or people just don't care about the Sox.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

NY has similar stats where the yanks draw a lot better than the mets and in Chicago its the cubs outdrawing the sox (linke below). So maybe that's life, when there are 2 teams in a town one is just naturally going to draw better for whatever reason.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

Yeah I agree, especially with the Cubs, there gonna usually outdraw the Sox no matter what. I'm somewhat surprised Detroit is averaging so many fans but it's not like the inner city of Detroit is going to the games, it's mostly the outskirts of Detroit going. I think Detroit has loyal and knowledable fans too which is good for the Tigers too.

[Blue387]

Yet another article on White Sox attendance.

White Sox, Though Winning, Can’t Outdraw Cubs in Chicago
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/sp...n-chicago.html

[Paul W]

I disagree with the economy angle...

sox customers saving their $$$'s, since actual turnstyle #'s aren't published all mlb attendance #'s are inflated.
i know many friends in several mlb markets that have scaled back their tix purchases this year.

[Danielh41]

We just took a Chicago vacation, and on Friday the 24th, we went to games at both Wrigley and US Cellular. As a history buff, and especially a baseball history buff, I was more looking forward to going to Wrigley in the afternoon than to the Sox game that night. My wife was surprised at the sparse crowd at the White Sox game when I told her that the Sox were in first place while the Cubs were out of contention. And yet, we were treated to an amazing baseball game. The Sox led 7-2 in the top of the 9th, but the Mariners scored six runs in that inning to take an 8-7 lead. And then, in the bottom of the ninth, the Sox got a walk-off hit when two Mariners outfielders collided.

I also couldn't help but notice the really good video productions that the Sox played on their big screen (better than the Rangers' I'd have to say). The Cubs don't have that option since there is no big screen. I also liked the classic photos of the White Sox through the years that were on display in the upper concourse at US Cellular. And as a history buff, I did take my son over to the parking lot before the game to have a look at the location of the original Comiskey Park. The big negative to our US Cellular experience was that ticket holders for upper deck seats don't have access to the lower level. I always like to explore when I go to a ballpark, and I like to stand next to the field during batting practice and warm-ups. But that wasn't an option.

Wrigley has a charm and a sense of history that is unique among all the ballparks I've ever visited. We could go down close to the field, and the ushers even took pictures of us with our camera, with that original 1937 scoreboard in the background. Once I got to my upper deck seat, I looked out on that field and thought to myself that this is where that double-no-hitter happened in 1917, this is where Babe Ruth had his famous "called shot" in 1932, etc., etc.

I wonder how the Sox ticket sales would be doing if they had done a large-scale renovation to the old Comiskey Park rather than building a whole new stadium.

[hsnterprize]

If the White Sox had the money to renovate Old Comiskey Park, I'm sure they would've done it. But it had been up since 1910, and it was due to be replaced. Not to mention, the Tribune Media Company (owners of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, WGN-TV, and other media outlets across Chicago and the country) owned the Cubs, so pouring money into Wrigley Field wasn't much of a problem.

Glad you had a good time here in Chicago. I watched that Sox/Mariners game where the Mariners scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th only for the Sox to score twice in the bottom of the 9th and win. Hope you come back soon.

[Paul W]

If the White Sox had the money to renovate Old Comiskey Park, I'm sure they would've done it...

eddie & jerry wanted new right from the start, they knew that ocp was not going to generate the revenue they expected/wanted no matter what pr they used. they got what they wanted in less than 10 years. they had leverage (st. pete) and there was ample "available" nearby real estate for a new place, an option that the cubs did not have - so the trib had no choice on the park.
s much as they wanted out, e&j sure did capitalize on the sale ability of the old place too.

[skobabe8]

We just took a Chicago vacation, and on Friday the 24th, we went to games at both Wrigley and US Cellular. As a history buff, and especially a baseball history buff, I was more looking forward to going to Wrigley in the afternoon than to the Sox game that night. My wife was surprised at the sparse crowd at the White Sox game when I told her that the Sox were in first place while the Cubs were out of contention. And yet, we were treated to an amazing baseball game. The Sox led 7-2 in the top of the 9th, but the Mariners scored six runs in that inning to take an 8-7 lead. And then, in the bottom of the ninth, the Sox got a walk-off hit when two Mariners outfielders collided.

I also couldn't help but notice the really good video productions that the Sox played on their big screen (better than the Rangers' I'd have to say). The Cubs don't have that option since there is no big screen. I also liked the classic photos of the White Sox through the years that were on display in the upper concourse at US Cellular. And as a history buff, I did take my son over to the parking lot before the game to have a look at the location of the original Comiskey Park. The big negative to our US Cellular experience was that ticket holders for upper deck seats don't have access to the lower level. I always like to explore when I go to a ballpark, and I like to stand next to the field during batting practice and warm-ups. But that wasn't an option.

Wrigley has a charm and a sense of history that is unique among all the ballparks I've ever visited. We could go down close to the field, and the ushers even took pictures of us with our camera, with that original 1937 scoreboard in the background. Once I got to my upper deck seat, I looked out on that field and thought to myself that this is where that double-no-hitter happened in 1917, this is where Babe Ruth had his famous "called shot" in 1932, etc., etc.

I wonder how the Sox ticket sales would be doing if they had done a large-scale renovation to the old Comiskey Park rather than building a whole new stadium.

Glad you had a good time at both ballparks.

The upper deck rule at USCF is a definite negative about the place that people in Chicago still bitch about but it doesn't seem like Sox brass will change. It's too bad because out of town guests like you don't get to check out the best feature of the park, the main concourse.

I would have loved to see Old Comiskey renovated. The upper deck there was a great place to watch a game, unlike today. But as Paul W explained, there was no way that was going to happen.

[Chevy114]

Are there any windows or openings on the outside of this stadium that let in natural light for the concourses?

[northside irish]

Are there any windows or openings on the outside of this stadium that let in natural light for the concourses?

Not really. On the lower concourse there is light in a few places where they ramps enter but that is not much and definitely not by design. The upper deck has translucent panels over the concessions all the way around the concourse, this lets a good deal of light in.

[Chevy114]

Not really. On the lower concourse there is light in a few places where they ramps enter but that is not much and definitely not by design. The upper deck has translucent panels over the concessions all the way around the concourse, this lets a good deal of light in.

Interesting, wonder if that's just another pre camden kind of issue.

[Paul W]

...I would have loved to see Old Comiskey renovated. The upper deck there was a great place to watch a game, unlike today...

so it was, but the more owners pay players and pass the increased cost to the customers (individual & corporate) exclusivity for higher priced areas is the norm.