FILL THE CELL

by James Mitchell

  The city of Chicago is the third largest market in the entire Unite States behind only New York and Los Angeles. 

  Nearly three million people reside in and around the city and its surrounding suburbs. It’s one of the greatest sports towns in the world. It’s also a city divided in the world of baseball between the 'North Siders' and the 'South Siders.' They are two organizations in the same city with two remarkably different followings, and two ballparks with extremely different atmospheres.

  The 'lovable losers' on the north side have consistently finished in the top 10 in MLB attendance every year for the past decade averaging around 3 million fans a year.  In Large part, not just for the product on the field, but for Wrigley Field itself and the surrounding neighborhood bars and restaurants. 

  While, the White Sox and U.S. Cellular field don’t quite have the same luxury.  'The Cell' (artist formally known as Comiskey Park) has come a long way with its recent remodeling, it’s a terrific place to watch a ballgame, but it’s not exactly in the part of town you want to hang out in after dark. 

  Improvements continue to be made in and around the stadium; the new Bacardi at the park bar located right across the street is a great addition that has been long overdue. Transportation to and from the ballpark has also improved, but the fact remains if you don’t put a quality product out on the field you’re not going to fill the ballpark. 

  The White Sox have finished in the top 10 in attendance just once in the last decade. It took a World Series championship in 2005 to get that consistent draw, which didn’t even happen until the following season in 2006 when they finished 9th drawing nearly three million people. 

  The Euphoria faded, and the next 5 years they have been closer to the bottom each year. 

  In case you fans haven't noticed, it's June 1st and the Sox are first place in the AL Central. 

  Sadly, they are currently ranked 27th out of 30th in attendance. 

  Jerry Reinsdorf, the Chicago White Sox and the city of Chicago continue to do everything in their power in getting fans out to the ballpark. 

  If you as a sox fan, want this organization to continue carrying a 100 million dollar payroll and contend for a division title every year then it’s time to 'FILL THE CELL.' 

  If you don’t and the team continues to draw 20,000 a game, they will be forced to continue shedding payroll until we are on the same payroll level as the Tampa Bay Rays. 

  Do you know what the Tampa Bay population is? It’s 350,000 PEOPLE!!!!! They have an excuse, we don’t……'FILL THE CELL!!!'