The Cubs released the schedule and a list of attendees for the 30th Annual Cubs Convention, which begins next Friday (Jan. 16-18) at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.
This year’s convention is the first for Joe Maddon as the Cubs’ skipper. Jon Lester and Miguel Montero are also scheduled to attend.
Current players such as Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Jake Arrieta, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler, Jason Hammel, Kyle Hendricks, Arismendy Alcantara, Welington Castillo and Edwin Jackson along with minor leaguers Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber are expected at the weekend event.
The Cubs announced Friday weekend passes for the 30th Annual Cubs Convention and hotel packages at the event’s location, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, are sold out. A limited number of room packages with weekend passes remain available at the W Chicago Lakeshore Hotel.
The 2015 Cubs Convention will feature more than 80 guests comprising of the current Cubs roster and coaching staff, alumni, Minor Leaguers, broadcasters and team executives who will interact with fans Jan. 16-18.
Cubs Convention’s Opening Ceremony begins Friday, Jan. 16, at 6:00pm, featuring player introductions on an elevated runway that will provide special VIP access to children 16-and-under. Following the Opening Ceremony, guests will find some of their favorite Cubs and young prospects signing autographs for an exciting Surprise Signing Game. The event’s first day concludes with a special Friday Night with Ryan Dempster show presented by Budweiser, featuring interviews with Cubs players and coaches, comedy vignettes and interactive games.
Saturday’s program continues with fan favorites such as the return of Cubs Family Feud presented by MasterCard, plus Cubs Jeopardy, which features unique trivia and the addition of fan guests on each team. Saturday also will feature a highly anticipated Joe Maddon and His Coaching Staff session presented by Wintrust Community Banks, Meet the New Cubs, an extended For Kids Only Press Conference and a Cubs Business Operations update on the 1060 Project restoration. The evening will conclude with long-time Convention favorite Cubs Bingo, featuring more tables than ever before, presented by Budweiser and led by Wayne Messmer.
Additional weekend sessions include: The Ricketts Family Forum, A Recent Look Back: 2007-08 Cubs, 30 Years of Cubs Convention Memories, The Future is Bright, Here to Stay, Meet Cubs Baseball Management, Down on the Farm and #CubsSocial.
30th Cubs Convention Schedule
Friday, Jan. 16
- 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Opening Ceremonies
- 7:30pm – 10:00pm – Friday Night with Ryan Dempster
Saturday, Jan. 17
- 9:00am – 10:00am – Ricketts Family Forum
- 9:30am – 10:30am – Cubs Jeopardy
- 10:30am – 11:30am – A Recent Look Back – The Cubs of 2007-08
- 11:00am – 12:00pm – Meet Cubs Baseball Management
- 12:00pm – 1:00pm – Meet the New Cubs
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm – Joe Maddon and His Coaching Staff
- 1:30pm – 3:00pm – For Kids Only Press Conference
- 2:00pm – 3:00pm – Cubs Business Operations Update
- 3:30pm – 4:30pm – New Kids on the Block
- 4:00pm – 5:00pm – Cubs Family Feud
- 5:00pm – 6:00pm – What Lies Ahead
- 5:15pm – 6:00pm – #CubsSocial
- 8:00pm – 10:00pm – Cubs Bingo
Sunday, Jan. 18
- 9:00am – 10:00am – 30 Years of Cubs Convention Memories
- 10:30am – 11:30am – Down on the Farm
Scheduled List of Attendees for the 30th Annual Cubs Convention
Major League Players
- Arismendy Alcantara, INF/OF
- Jake Arrieta, RHP
- Javier Baez, INF
- Dallas Beeler, RHP
- Welington Castillo, C
- Starlin Castro, INF
- Chris Coghlan, OF
- Justin Grimm, RHP
- Jason Hammel, RHP
- Kyle Hendricks, RHP
- Edwin Jackson, RHP
- Eric Jokisch, LHP
- Tommy La Stella, INF
- Jon Lester, LHP
- Rafael Lopez, C
- Miguel Montero, C
- Jason Motte, RHP
- Mike Olt, INF
- Blake Parker, RHP
- Neil Ramirez, RHP
- Anthony Rizzo, INF
- Hector Rondon, RHP
- Zac Rosscup, LHP
- Brian Schlitter, RHP
- Jorge Soler, OF
- Dan Straily, RHP
- Pedro Strop, RHP
- Ryan Sweeney, OF
- Matt Szczur, OF
- Jacob Turner, RHP
- Luis Valbuena, INF
- Tsuyoshi Wada, LHP
- Travis Wood, LHP
Minor League Players
- Albert Almora, OF
- Kris Bryant, INF
- C.J. Edwards, RHP
- Pierce Johnson, RHP
- Addison Russell, INF
- Kyle Schwarber, C/OF
Coaching Staff
- Joe Maddon, Manager
- Henry Blanco, Quality Assurance Coach
- Mike Borzello, Catching Coach
- Chris Bosio, Pitching Coach
- Eric Hinske, Asst. Hitting Coach
- Brandon Hyde, First Base Coach
- Gary Jones, Third Base Coach
- John Mallee, Hitting Coach
- Dave Martinez, Bench Coach
- Lester Strode, Bullpen Coach
Team Executives
- Tom Ricketts, Chairman
- Laura Ricketts, Board Member
- Todd Ricketts, Board Member
- Theo Epstein, President, Baseball Operations
- Crane Kenney, President, Business Operations
Baseball Staff/Broadcasters
- Jed Hoyer, Executive VP/General Manager
- Jason McLeod, Senior VP, Scouting & Player Development
- Randy Bush, Assistant GM
- Shiraz Rehman, Assistant GM
- Pat Hughes, Radio Broadcaster
- Ron Coomer, Radio Broadcaster, INF (2001)
- Len Kasper, TV Broadcaster
- Jim Deshaies, TV Broadcaster
Cubs Alumni
- George Altman, INF/OF
- Glenn Beckert, INF
- Ryan Dempster, RHP
- Bob Dernier, OF
- Mark DeRosa, INF/OF
- Leon Durham, INF/OF
- Bob Howry, RHP
- Randy Hundley, C
- Fergie Jenkins, RHP
- Jay Johnstone, OF
- Jacque Jones, OF
- Les Lancaster, RHP
- Jon Lieber, RHP
- Ted Lilly, LHP
- Bill Madlock, INF
- Gary Matthews, OF
- Dave Otto, LHP, Broadcaster
- Milt Pappas, RHP
- Glendon Rusch, LHP
- Lee Smith, RHP
- Tim Stoddard, RHP
- Rick Sutcliffe, RHP
- Steve Trout, LHP
- Billy Williams, OF
- Kerry Wood, RHP
And a majority of the Cubs minor league affiliates are scheduled to have team representatives in attendance … Iowa Cubs, Tennessee Smokies, Myrtle Beach Pelicans and South Bend Cubs.