3 ways Cubs Convention could be improved heading into next year's event

Cubs Convention always brings a renewed sense of excitement for Cubs fans who attend the event on the banks of the Chicago River at the Sheraton. This year, with the announcement of the Shota Imanaga signing and Michael Busch trades taking place in the 24 hours prior, most people I talked to felt a sense of relief that the team had finally done something meaningful after a long winter of waiting.

I spent Friday and Saturday at the event - my first since 2020 - and it largely felt the way it always has for me: exciting. But looking at how the weekend played out (and, again, I didn't stick around for Sunday morning), there are a few ways I think the event could be improved heading into 2025.

3 ways Cubs Convention could be improved: #3 - More on-site food options

It felt like if you wanted to grab food during typical mealtimes, you were signing up to wait a minimum of 20 minutes in line - if not more. On Friday, after checking in and getting registered around lunchtime, my group actually hopped next door to Lizzie McNeils to grab food instead of waiting around.

And it seemed like the lines only got worse from there. As more folks braved the elements and made their way to CubsCon, lines got longer and longer as the weekend stretched on, peaking on Saturday afternoon with the event nearing its climax.

A nice touch could be bringing in your stadium vendors and having hot dogs and other basic ballpark fare available throughout the weekend. Chips, peanuts, Cracker Jacks - it doesn't have to be anything crazy. But this could help shorten the lines, improve the traffic flow in key areas and make us all long a little more for our return to Wrigley in the spring.

3 ways Cubs Convention could be improved: #1 - Finally fix the bingo seating so nobody gets trampled when the doors open

Cubs Bingo is the unquestioned pinnacle of the weekend. Anyone who's ever gone knows that - and those who have climbed to the top of the proverbial mountain and actually won understands there are few higher highs to feel.

But it has to be changed. This year, folks were lining up outside the main ballroom more than 2 1/2 hours before the doors opened for the event. You could actually hear the buzz of this crowd outside while the panel with some of the members of the 1984 team took place. Then, after 2+ hours of waiting, it was a typical mad dash, despite security members trying to let folks enter in waves rather than all at once.

There has to be some sort of system - where it's tied to your registration for the event - where the Cubs can take their pool of people, figure out just how many sign up for bingo, divvy them up across a certain number of tables based on group sizes, etc. and give everyone assigned tables.

No more 2 1/2 hour wait. No more anxiety and stress waiting in a crowded lobby and missing out on that time when you could be doing other things. Calmly enter the room, find your table and take a seat. I'm not saying it would be an insignificant effort - but the payoff and improvement in the fan experience would be immeasurable.