Could just be: Cause a Cubs team is in danger of not drawing fans? A non-winning Cubs team definitely is. The recent string of sell-outs is no guarantee, and it has not been a very longterm trend. As recently as 1999/2000/2001 it was extremely easy to get tickets. In late 98 it started to get tough, but it wasn't like it's been recently. The "unprecedented" level of success coupled with the fans dying need to be there to see it happen led to tickets sales going through the roof, regular shmoes making real money selling their tickets on the open market and it all fed off of itself. But people took a bath this year. Tickets were going for well below face on stubhub, and there were loads of empty seats. The tickets were sold by the team (for the most part, there were tickets available for every late game directly from the cubs), but without bodies in the seats beer/food/merchandise sales did not happen. This started to happen in 2005/2006 after Wood/Prior fell apart, Sosa left and the team played like crap. They had to resort to a franchise busting contract for a huge name in Soriano to renew interest and guarantee sales. But if the Cubs remain stuck in mediocrity or fall back to the crap they were, ticket sales will decline, and the ratings will not be there. They need to be competitive to keep the money stream flowing.