Cubs raise prices again while front office spending remains controversial

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the cost of going to Chicago Cubs games will be on the rise in 2026. The Cubs are believed to be increasing ticket prices between 5 percent and 8 percent for next season, and while this was specific to season-ticket holders, chances are there will be a similar increase for individual games next season once tickets become available.

The decision is rooted in simple logic when it comes to how business works: the Cubs are good, fans are attending games at Wrigley Field, and that equals an increase in ticket prices. Certainly, Cubs fans will likely scoff at the tickets being on the rise, but it's hard to argue with the logic the Cubs are using, and it's one that is common practice across Major League Baseball.

Where the Cubs lose the benefit of the doubt is how payroll has been handled this season. It's become increasingly clear that the goal of the 2025 season, from a financial standpoint, was to trim payroll from where it was at the end of the 2024 season. A prime example of that was the Cubs not using the nearly $30MM they saved from the Cody Bellinger trade.

Another ticket hike puts spotlight on Cubs front office spending strategy

Beyond running away and hiding with the money saved by dumping Bellinger, it seems that the Cubs are using the potential work stoppage in 2027 to limit their financial obligations moving forward. At the deadline, one of the reasons why the Cubs weren't able to make a bigger move was that the team wasn't valuing players under contract after the 2026 season. A battle over a potential salary cap is one of the core issues for the next collective bargaining agreement, and it's not expected to be resolved before the end of next season when the current agreement expires.

While it remains unlikely that a salary cap will be implemented with the next salary cap, the Cubs have already taken measures to protect themselves. As of now, the Cubs only have $47.9MM on their books after next season. In other words, the Cubs very much are thinking that how baseball handles payroll could change.

Until there is clarity on the next CBA, the Cubs likely will be shying away from many investments beyond the 2026 season. Setting the stage for fans to be paying more to go to games next season, while the Cubs don't unlock the spending that many felt was going to arrive again once the team was a contender.

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