Final Hours Ticking Down on First-Ever Auction of Chicago Cubs Season Tickets

New CBOE seats next to Cubs dugout generating increasing interest

03/12/2008, CHICAGO -- It's down to the last 24 hours for the Chicago Cubs' first-ever auction of Wrigley Field season tickets at cubs.com. Ever since Ernie Banks joined Cubs officials and leaders from the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) to open the auction on March 3, there has been a growing sense of excitement about who will win some of the best seats in the house.

Article continues below...

The partnership between the Cubs and CBOE includes naming rights to approximately 70 new seats at Wrigley Field as well as presenting sponsorship of front row tickets at the Friendly Confines. The new seats located adjacent to the Cubs dugout on the third base line will be known as the "CBOE Seats" and are available at auction as season tickets in groups of two or four.

The first-ever auction of Wrigley Field season tickets at cubs.com ends tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.

Current bids range from $31,000 to $80,000 and, like most on-line auctions, there is expected to be a flurry of last-minute activity as people vie for the chance to sit next to the Cubs dugout for the 2008 season.

"We expect a lot of bidding in the final hours," said Crane Kenney, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs. "The bidders may include businesses, groups of fans or individuals. This auction provides a new way for fans to purchase great seats and have the right to purchase the same seat to the 2008 post-season."

The season tickets will include all games for the 2008 regular season as well as the right to purchase 2008 post-season tickets if the Cubs make the playoffs.

"The CBOE is excited about the response so far and can't wait to see how the final auction results come out," said William Brodsky, Chairman and CEO of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. "This partnership of two of Chicago's historic franchises has already exceeded our expectations."

The Cubs and CBOE will also partner on a second auction of front row seating behind home plate. Starting March 14 and running throughout the regular season, the Chicago Cubs and CBOE will give fans the chance to sit in premiere Wrigley Field seating on a single-game basis with the "CBOE Front Row Auction." Fans will bid through cubs.com on front row seats located behind home plate and near the visitor's bullpen.

"We expect tremendous interest in the front row auction as well," Kenney said.

Source: MLB