Cubs announce new season ticket options, no wait list

CHICAGO -- For the better part of the past two decades, fans hoping to become season ticket holders for the Cubs had to do so via a waiting list. It could sometimes take years for their names to climb to the top.

But for now, that waiting list is gone and new season ticket plans are up for grabs.

“We're really excited,” said Marquee 360 senior vice president Cale Vennum, who oversees Cubs ticketing. “If you want to be a season ticket holder at Wrigley Field, we want you to be part of that family and part of that experience.”

Season tickets for the Cubs' 2024 season went on sale on Monday at cubs.com/seasontickets. In addition to an 81-game plan and a half-season (41 games) option, the Cubs are making a 20-game plan available for the first time. That option has four packages from which fans can choose.

As things currently stand, Vennum said the season ticket renewal rates are in the mid-90% range. He added that all three season ticket plans are moving “really, really quickly,” noting that the 20-game option is down to seats in the field box outfield, upper box infield, upper box midfield and upper box outfield. More sections are still available for the larger plans.

Vennum said the success of the half-season option (added in 2021) helped convince the Cubs to create the 20-game plan.

“We got a really great reception from it,” he said. “I think that really encouraged us to continue forward with creating smaller options for people. A lot of our fans still choose the 81-game plan. It is still the lowest price per game and it does still provide the most postseason benefits. But for some folks, a 41- or a 20-game plan was a great option.

“And so to have a variety of different packages that fit different types of folks that are coming out to games, that was really important to continue to expand the options.”

Season tickets will be capped in the mid-20,000 range, according to Vennum. Single-game tickets will then become available to the public around mid-February (date to be announced) around the time Chicago’s pitchers and catchers are reporting to Spring Training.

The waiting list for season tickets was created around 2003 as demand began to climb quickly. In the last 20 full seasons (excluding 2020’s abbreviated campaign and the ‘21 limited-capacity season), the Cubs have topped three million in attendance 12 times. That has not happened since 2019, but attendance climbed to 2.6 million in ‘22 and then to 2.7 million in ‘23.

Given the trajectory of the Cubs -- hiring manager Craig Counsell and hoping to reach the playoffs in 2024 and beyond -- Vennum said it is probable that a waiting list will be needed again in the future. For now, however, fans have immediate access to seats.

“Our goal here,” Vennum said, “is to try and say, ‘Yes,’ to as many people as possible, get as many people in to be part of the season ticket experience as we could. If we've got sellout crowds at Wrigley Field -- I think everybody loves that atmosphere. That's a good thing for everyone.”