Renovations at U.S. Cellular Field, Part II

[Nellie_Fox]

Continue the discussion here.

[soxfan21]

I agree. With u 100% soxrepublican. Sox fans go to the game to watch the game and to enjoy watching baseball for the most part. We don't go just to get trashed and attempt to pick up chicks. If they just build a restaurant and bar with a sox shop by the park I'm sure that most of us would be cool with that and I'm sure that by building this that it would still bring in some new fans potentially and at least give us somewhere close to go after games that is not filled with cub fans.

[soxrepublican]

Originally Posted by soxfan21

I agree. With u 100% soxrepublican. Sox fans go to the game to watch the game and to enjoy watching baseball for the most part. We don't go just to get trashed and attempt to pick up chicks. If they just build a restaurant and bar with a sox shop by the park I'm sure that most of us would be cool with that and I'm sure that by building this that it would still bring in some new fans potentially and at least give us somewhere close to go after games that is not filled with cub fans.

I agree. The restarant sounds fine. But when we get into all this other bull****, thats gone too far. We dont need a damn giftshop megastore. We got one on each level of the park, that gets the job done. And a mall? No. Bad.

[Red Barchetta]

I like that the SOX and the ISA are both continuing to work on improving the fan experience. It appears they listened to most of the fan complaints when it came to the renovations inside the park and I think they are now trying to make sure the fan experience outside the Cell matches up to those at other ballparks and what fans want.

I think most hard core fans would sit on wood planks and pee in splash troughs in exchange for a playoff team every season, however I think these changes are being made to attract new ans and city visitors than cater to the hard core fan base.

I really like what has happened with the organization under the Williams/Broyer era, so I hope all this continues.

I still think they should build a grand entrance in the LF corner that (a) can be seen from the expressway to help market the team and (b) allow easier access from the public transportation - L Tracks and pending Metra stop....

[soxrepublican]

Originally Posted by Red Barchetta

I like that the SOX and the ISA are both continuing to work on improving the fan experience. It appears they listened to most of the fan complaints when it came to the renovations inside the park and I think they are now trying to make sure the fan experience outside the Cell matches up to those at other ballparks and what fans want.

I think most hard core fans would sit on wood planks and pee in splash troughs in exchange for a playoff team every season, however I think these changes are being made to attract new ans and city visitors than cater to the hard core fan base.

I really like what has happened with the organization under the Williams/Broyer era, so I hope all this continues.

I still think they should build a grand entrance in the LF corner that (a) can be seen from the expressway to help market the team and (b) allow easier access from the public transportation - L Tracks and pending Metra stop....

I agree. Everything they have done so far is great.

[skobabe8]

Originally Posted by soxrepublican

I agree. The restarant sounds fine. But when we get into all this other bull****, thats gone too far. We dont need a damn giftshop megastore. We got one on each level of the park, that gets the job done. And a mall? No. Bad.

I'm not sure who appointed you the official spokesman of the white sox fanbase. Alot of people want a nicer team store, including me. Check this thread alone. Many new stadiums have teamstores that are open on non-game days. St. Louis, San Fran and Milwaukee off the top of my head have some really nice ones. Ours lacks in comparison.

[soxnut67]

Originally Posted by skobabe8

I'm not sure who appointed you the official spokesman of the white sox fanbase. Alot of people want a nicer team store, including me. Check this thread alone. Many new stadiums have teamstores that are open on non-game days. St. Louis, San Fran and Milwaukee off the top of my head have some really nice ones. Ours lacks in comparison.

Exactly.

And in regards to more shoping restaurants outside of the ballpark--it's not just about us. It's about the casual Sox fan, and casual baseball fans as well as tourists who may be curious about the south side. All of it in the end, benefits the Sox.

[JohnnyInnsbrook]

Originally Posted by soxfan21

We don't go just to get trashed and attempt to pick up chicks.

Well i don't go just to pick up chicks... but i did meet my girlfriend there.

[soxrepublican]

Originally Posted by skobabe8

I'm not sure who appointed you the official spokesman of the white sox fanbase. Alot of people want a nicer team store, including me. Check this thread alone. Many new stadiums have teamstores that are open on non-game days. St. Louis, San Fran and Milwaukee off the top of my head have some really nice ones. Ours lacks in comparison.

I can say I do agree with you, we could use some upgraded fan shops, (FYI, our shop is open all season, I think 9-5 every day), But what I dont agree with is some of these people who want a whole plaza with bars, a mall, and all kinds of crazy ****. Another resterant-bar like the bullpen, would be cool, and a better fan shop would be nice, too. ( I encorouge people to by Sox stuff at the park b/c the sox get 100% of profit) And this is MY opinion, its cool if you disagree with me.

[PaleHoseGeorge]

The frontage Sox Park has along the Dan Ryan Expressway is an obvious marketing asset, 24/7/365. It's the one and only means the Sox can directly "connect" with its fanbase in a REAL way (versus merely a virtual way) most of the days between October and April.

The annual 3-day SoxFest is nothing compared to the marketing potential of building Sox Fan allegiances year-round with a restaurant/bar and gift shop along such a visible piece of real estate located along such a major transportation artery for the metropolitan area. Unlike SoxFest, it's working for you everyday, not just for a select few people for a select few days inside a hotel basement. This is a no-brainer...

My only recommendation would be for the Sox to have several of the most-popular Sox Park staples available at their restaurant/bar, including Polish Dogs, funnel cakes, and naturally churros!

[soxrepublican]

Originally Posted by PaleHoseGeorge

My only recommendation would be for the Sox to have several of the most-popular Sox Park staples available at their restaurant/bar, including Polish Dogs, funnel cakes, and naturally churros!

I wonder if the polish was made by Bests Kosher?

[PaleHoseGeorge]

Originally Posted by soxrepublican

I wonder if the polish was made by Bests Kosher?

Bests Kosher were the bomb, but I still have sentimental memories of Scott Peterson, too.


It's the Sox atmosphere that sells the product. Frankly most ballpark food aspires to mediocrity at best. It's great Sox Park offers such a wide selection of food choices but the food service challenges of preparing top-drawer cuisine simply isn't in the cards.

[soxrepublican]

Originally Posted by PaleHoseGeorge

Bests Kosher were the bomb, but I still have sentimental memories of Scott Peterson, too.


It's the Sox atmosphere that sells the product. Frankly most ballpark food aspires to mediocrity at best. It's great Sox Park offers such a wide selection of food choices but the food service challenges of preparing top-drawer cuisine simply isn't in the cards.

I agree. Except for the polish. I am a expert on sasauge, and for polish, that was the best. Most other food, even the Best's kosher dogs, are mediocre at best.

[skobabe8]

Originally Posted by soxrepublican

I can say I do agree with you, we could use some upgraded fan shops, (FYI, our shop is open all season, I think 9-5 every day), But what I dont agree with is some of these people who want a whole plaza with bars, a mall, and all kinds of crazy ****. Another resterant-bar like the bullpen, would be cool, and a better fan shop would be nice, too. ( I encorouge people to by Sox stuff at the park b/c the sox get 100% of profit) And this is MY opinion, its cool if you disagree with me.

You and I know the place is open everyday, but we are in the vast minority. The one time I went there on a non-game day, I had to be privately escorted up the elevator, and the place had to be unlocked for me. Plus, the woman who brought me up there sat and waited for me to buy something because she had to lock it back up when I was done and escort me back down. Not exactly the best set-up for a place of business.

[PaleHoseGeorge]

Originally Posted by skobabe8

You and I know the place is open everyday, but we are in the vast minority. The one time I went there on a non-game day, I had to be privately escorted up the elevator, and the place had to be unlocked for me. Plus, the woman who brought me up there sat and waited for me to buy something because she had to lock it back up when I was done and escort me back down. Not exactly the best set-up for a place of business.

This has happened to me, too, and I'm sure a few hundred other posters here at WSI, too. It's truly a pathetic situation and speaks directly to the innumerable flaws in the original design of New Comiskey caused by HOK's failure to anticipate future marketing needs of the ballclub.

I believe nearly every new ballpark of the 90's easily accommodated a street-level shop, restaurant or bar... with one big exception. Thank God the Sox have been working hard to remedy so many of the goof-ups from 20 years ago...