Soxfest back for 2025

[WhiteSox2023]

  On 1/28/2025 at 1:38 AM, Balta1701 said:

Never said it wasn't.

Just want people to add links when they excerpt blocks of text. Not only is it one of those old standing internet rules, but come on how do I know where it came from? I can't even try to read the rest of the article without a link.

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Agreed, I was just surprised it was true.

[Sambuca]

  On 1/26/2025 at 10:11 PM, Chicago White Sox said:

@Sambuca - How was SoxFest for you and your boy?

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First off, good call on the baseballs. They were 100% confiscating baseballs at security, so you saved me $20 and some major frustration. I still do not understand this policy (which was not communicated), as they were not even selling baseballs at the merch table. 

A few things turned out very well. As soon as you mentioned no baseballs allowed at entry, I started scouring through my baseball cards (an old hobby I have recently picked up again), and I was able to find a Colson and Bryan Ramos. Since time was limited, I ended my search there and packed both cards in cases. After arriving, we looked around for a bit and found the "meet and greet" room. The workers told us they did not know who would be signing next, but they would be receiving the wristbands and info soon. Once the "package" was delivered to the workers, we approached them and one of the two "meet and greets" just so happened to be Colson and Bryan Ramos together, along with Cubbie Mike Tauchman. It was fate and we secured our wristbands for that line. 

Colson was extremely outgoing and friendly with me and my son. He took the time to engage and joke around with both us, asking my shell-shocked son what sports he played, which I had to answer for him, and also giving me advice on which pens/sharpie worked best on baseball cards. It was by far the highlight of my son's night, and who am I kidding, mine too. Ramos appeared to be slightly less shell-shocked than my son, but understandably fairly overwhelmed by the event. He still managed to be friendly and welcoming to my son, despite slightly crushing the baseball card he attempted to sign lol. Tauchman kept his shirt on, thank God, and was also kind with my son. He was able to get separate pictures with all of three of the players. 

After that, we were able to get in the other line with Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas since everyone with their wristband had already signed and there was still time left in the hour. For those two players, we did not have anything to sign other than the little Sox Fest poster they gave us at entry, already containing the Tauchman auto. While planning to get the posters signed, we struck up a conversation with two young gentlemen in the line behind us who had a whole book full of White Sox baseball cards. After a few minutes, they very generously offered my son a baseball card for each player. He very appreciatively accepted and we were able to get those two cards signed as well. 

During our downtime for the meet and greets, we attempted to check out the only other activities, which was whatever was happening in the main theater and the merch table (also in the main theater). Every time we checked, there was absolutely nowhere to sit as every seat in the theater was occupied, and even the standing room area was crowded and we were always in the way.

We did check out the merch table and made a few trips to make purchases. They were selling "mystery" bags for $80, which included a "mystery" signed baseball, a "mystery" bobblehead, a White Sox Bluetooth speaker and a few other smaller things. The bag was a very nice White Sox cooler bag, which will come in handy for road trips. We went for it, and the Bobblehead was Luis Robert, but unfortunately, the mystery auto was the Cub Mike Tauchman, which was greatly disappointing so I decided to roll the dice again and get another cooler bag in the process. This time it was Yaz Bobblehead and Paul DeJong auto baseball. I was done "gambling" at that point and convinced him that Paul DeJong was an awesome autograph to have. We also purchased a Mark Buehrle slip and slide Bobblehead.

Overall, I might have been able to experience more if I was attending with other adults, but that many people crammed in a space with nowhere to go is overwhelming for a child. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. Since there was nowhere to sit in the theater, we were not able to experience any of the programming happening on stage. When he got a little hungry, we bought a few hot dogs (pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn were the food options), but we ate them sitting on the floor in the hallway because there were no areas to sit and retreat. No tables/chairs outside of the occupied seats in the theater, unless I was missing something. This was also difficult for me as I was carrying around two cooler bags, a bag I brought in, and two Sox Fest posters. With nowhere to sit, it was difficult holding onto everything while trying to eat a hot dog, sitting on the floor in a theater hallway. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. It was also extremely unorganized where none of the workers seemed to know what was happening, and no schedule of events was provided. 

I hope they do not attempt this format again. I find it odd that prospects/younger players were the focus of the event, but not younger fans. I miss the previous formats with an open floor, a schedule of multiple activities to choose from at any given time, and an area with tables to sit down and gather yourselves. This event was a cluster, and felt more like an adult night out that requires alcohol to quell the chaos.  

Oh, and we got to ride on a school bus.  

Edited January 28 by Sambuca

[WestEddy]

  On 1/28/2025 at 6:43 PM, Sambuca said:

First off, good call on the baseballs. They were 100% confiscating baseballs at security, so you saved me $20 and some major frustration. I still do not understand this policy (which was not communicated), as they were not even selling baseballs at the merch table. 

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Considering the reception Reinsdorf got, they probably didn't want projectiles in people's hands. 

[WhiteSox2023]

  On 1/29/2025 at 12:03 AM, WestEddy said:

Considering the reception Reinsdorf got, they probably didn't want projectiles in people's hands. 

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No worries — any projectiles or weapons would have mysteriously disappeared before the event ended anyways.

Edited January 29 by WhiteSox2023

[southsider2k5]

  On 1/28/2025 at 6:43 PM, Sambuca said:

First off, good call on the baseballs. They were 100% confiscating baseballs at security, so you saved me $20 and some major frustration. I still do not understand this policy (which was not communicated), as they were not even selling baseballs at the merch table. 

A few things turned out very well. As soon as you mentioned no baseballs allowed at entry, I started scouring through my baseball cards (an old hobby I have recently picked up again), and I was able to find a Colson and Bryan Ramos. Since time was limited, I ended my search there and packed both cards in cases. After arriving, we looked around for a bit and found the "meet and greet" room. The workers told us they did not know who would be signing next, but they would be receiving the wristbands and info soon. Once the "package" was delivered to the workers, we approached them and one of the two "meet and greets" just so happened to be Colson and Bryan Ramos together, along with Cubbie Mike Tauchman. It was fate and we secured our wristbands for that line. 

Colson was extremely outgoing and friendly with me and my son. He took the time to engage and joke around with both us, asking my shell-shocked son what sports he played, which I had to answer for him, and also giving me advice on which pens/sharpie worked best on baseball cards. It was by far the highlight of my son's night, and who am I kidding, mine too. Ramos appeared to be slightly less shell-shocked than my son, but understandably fairly overwhelmed by the event. He still managed to be friendly and welcoming to my son, despite slightly crushing the baseball card he attempted to sign lol. Tauchman kept his shirt on, thank God, and was also kind with my son. He was able to get separate pictures with all of three of the players. 

After that, we were able to get in the other line with Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas since everyone with their wristband had already signed and there was still time left in the hour. For those two players, we did not have anything to sign other than the little Sox Fest poster they gave us at entry, already containing the Tauchman auto. While planning to get the posters signed, we struck up a conversation with two young gentlemen in the line behind us who had a whole book full of White Sox baseball cards. After a few minutes, they very generously offered my son a baseball card for each player. He very appreciatively accepted and we were able to get those two cards signed as well. 

During our downtime for the meet and greets, we attempted to check out the only other activities, which was whatever was happening in the main theater and the merch table (also in the main theater). Every time we checked, there was absolutely nowhere to sit as every seat in the theater was occupied, and even the standing room area was crowded and we were always in the way.

We did check out the merch table and made a few trips to make purchases. They were selling "mystery" bags for $80, which included a "mystery" signed baseball, a "mystery" bobblehead, a White Sox Bluetooth speaker and a few other smaller things. The bag was a very nice White Sox cooler bag, which will come in handy for road trips. We went for it, and the Bobblehead was Luis Robert, but unfortunately, the mystery auto was the Cub Mike Tauchman, which was greatly disappointing so I decided to roll the dice again and get another cooler bag in the process. This time it was Yaz Bobblehead and Paul DeJong auto baseball. I was done "gambling" at that point and convinced him that Paul DeJong was an awesome autograph to have. We also purchased a Mark Buehrle slip and slide Bobblehead.

Overall, I might have been able to experience more if I was attending with other adults, but that many people crammed in a space with nowhere to go is overwhelming for a child. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. Since there was nowhere to sit in the theater, we were not able to experience any of the programming happening on stage. When he got a little hungry, we bought a few hot dogs (pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn were the food options), but we ate them sitting on the floor in the hallway because there were no areas to sit and retreat. No tables/chairs outside of the occupied seats in the theater, unless I was missing something. This was also difficult for me as I was carrying around two cooler bags, a bag I brought in, and two Sox Fest posters. With nowhere to sit, it was difficult holding onto everything while trying to eat a hot dog, sitting on the floor in a theater hallway. You were not kidding when you said it was not kid friendly. It was also extremely unorganized where none of the workers seemed to know what was happening, and no schedule of events was provided. 

I hope they do not attempt this format again. I find it odd that prospects/younger players were the focus of the event, but not younger fans. I miss the previous formats with an open floor, a schedule of multiple activities to choose from at any given time, and an area with tables to sit down and gather yourselves. This event was a cluster, and felt more like an adult night out that requires alcohol to quell the chaos.  

Oh, and we got to ride on a school bus.  

Expand  

The great thing about the historic Soxfest was they always ran two amazing parallel paths for entertainment, giving a great experience to both adults and to the kids.  I know they are trying to rebuild with the full knowledge that fan engagement is at a multi generational low, but geesh you would think someone would think to do better than this.