Chicago Cubs announce return of Cubs Convention

Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts’ approval rating within the Chicago Cubs fanbase has steadily been on the decline since the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. Prior to the 2016 season, Ricketts was hitting all the right marks in his quest to bring a World Series title to the Cubs’ organization.

After that quest was completed, Ricketts’ began treating the Cubs’ organization as if it was another line entry on his general ledger as opposed to a Major League Baseball team in a major market.

During this time, Cubs fans have been sure to voice their displeasure to Ricketts. Most notably, Ricketts was overwhelmingly booed during the Cubs’ Convention in January of 2020 when he was discussing the team’s venture into having their own television network, Marquee.

The Cubs have not held another convention since 2020 in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot has changed since then.

Gone from the organization is the manager of the World Series-winning team Joe Maddon. Gone from the organization are the players that Maddon managed in 2016 as Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant are all playing with different teams. Gone from the organization is the architect that put everything together in the president of baseball operations Theo Epstein.

Most importantly, gone from the organization is the expectation of winning.

Ricketts has rarely had to answer for the changes within the Cubs organization as there have been no conventions and he picks and chooses when to speak with the media. Ricketts will not be able to hide for much longer as the Cubs announced on Wednesday that the Cubs’ Convention will be returning this winter.

The return of the Cubs Convention could signal that better times are ahead for the Chicago Cubs organization.

The return of the Cubs Convention should definitely be applauded. The Cubs Convention allows for the team to connect with their fanbase while sharing optimism for the upcoming season.

The return of the Cubs Convention may also signal that the team truly is intent on not only returning to contention in 2023 but spending aggressively in free agency this winter. Report after report has surfaced regarding the Cubs planning to pursue top-tier free agents this winter. The Cubs convention is used as a way to create hype. Introducing a fringe free agent like Jackson Frazier or Yan Gomes would not create that hype. But, an introduction of a free agent such as Carlos Correa would certainly make the return of the Cubs Convention memorable.