2021 Chicago Cubs Convention cancelled due to COVID-19

The Chicago Cubs and the longest-running MLB team offseason convention will come to an end this offseason

As if you needed any other bad news along the lines of baseball, social interaction, and diversion in general from 2020, the Chicago Cubs’ long-running convention has already been officially nixed for this upcoming offseason. Yep, another victim of COVID-19 and the year from Hell.

With severe social restrictions still in place in the city of Chicago (and not looking to be lifted or go anywhere anytime soon), the Cubs have decided to be extremely proactive and cancel the ever-popular event six months in advance.

The convention, scheduled for the Sheraton in January 2021, brought fans, players, media, and organizational brass together in a more intimate and casual atmosphere. It was a place where fans could ask questions about plans, attend live Q&A sessions with players, and hear from some of the big wigs calling the shots for one of the best organizations in all of sport.

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The event has been one of few offseason glimmers of excitement and hopes over the past few offseasons, with the faith of news or moves taking center stage at the event. With little else of note in terms of news and signings the past two offseasons, the event served to reinvigorate fans over the long, cold Chicago winter.

It also served as a way for the team to make important announcements in a dramatic and grandiose fashion–or leave fans in the dark clamoring for the slightest shred of pertinent information.

Without the event, fans won’t be able to speculate on whether the Ricketts are ducking fans or just trying to keep things positive at a generally very positive event. Fans also won’t be able to ask questions about whether the club is going to keep, extend, or trade some of their favorite players. This coming offseason, regardless of what happens during this shortened season, there was bound to be lots of news, speculation, and excitement.

As of right now, Theo Epstein, Jon Lester, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber will all be entering their final contractual seasons next year. And the convention would have been rife with speculation, serious questions, and maybe even a transitional feel for the organization.

Will the Cubs be extending the architect of the 2016 World Series Champs? Will he decide to set the club up with tons of prospects in a rebuild before he leaves, or will he resign some of the best and most productive home-grown players the Cubs have ever seen? One thing is for sure- these questions won’t be answered at the Cubs Convention in 2021.

Let’s hope that most of these questions have been answered by the end of this abbreviated 2020 season- just don’t get your hopes up too much.