Soxfest

[Orlando]

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to this board. I wanted to say that I love this community and the great insight I have gained from reading some posts. Forgive me if this is not the place to post this but I have some questions regarding SoxFest. I could not find specific answers to these questions on the White Sox official site, so I was wondering if some SoxFest veterans would help me out?

 

1. Should I come prepared with things to get signed or will they have photos,etc I can purchase there?

 

2. Are photos with players only allowed during photo sessions? Or can I snap a quick selfie during an autograph session or if I see a player in the hallway.

 

3. For a player like Chris Sale, what is the actual likelihood of scoring his autograph? Are his lines way too packed to feel secure about scoring one?

 

Please help me out!

[southsider2k5]

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to this board. I wanted to say that I love this community and the great insight I have gained from reading some posts. Forgive me if this is not the place to post this but I have some questions regarding SoxFest. I could not find specific answers to these questions on the White Sox official site, so I was wondering if some SoxFest veterans would help me out?

 

1. Should I come prepared with things to get signed or will they have photos,etc I can purchase there?

 

2. Are photos with players only allowed during photo sessions? Or can I snap a quick selfie during an autograph session or if I see a player in the hallway.

 

3. For a player like Chris Sale, what is the actual likelihood of scoring his autograph? Are his lines way too packed to feel secure about scoring one?

 

Please help me out!

 

1- The answer is both. There are booths of people selling things, though they are not located in the autograph lines so you would have to purchase ahead of time. Also be prepared for festival type pricing. Be prepared to get hit in the wallet.

 

2- They really don't allow time for pictures with players. They are up there signing a ton of autographs, and the security people really try to keep the lines moving along. You can get pictures of the player while they are signing, but they won't pause to pose with each person they sign for.

 

3- If you want a star player, get there very early. Like hours early. They limit the number of autographs for each player, and lines will form hours ahead of time for top dogs. I would also give up any ideas of moving from line to line getting a ton of autographs of players signing in different lines at the same time. The staff there do count the number of people in line, and will cut off the lines once they get to a certain point (whatever the limits are) so you will know WAY ahead of time if you make the cutoff or not.

[Orlando]

1- The answer is both. There are booths of people selling things, though they are not located in the autograph lines so you would have to purchase ahead of time. Also be prepared for festival type pricing. Be prepared to get hit in the wallet.

 

2- They really don't allow time for pictures with players. They are up there signing a ton of autographs, and the security people really try to keep the lines moving along. You can get pictures of the player while they are signing, but they won't pause to pose with each person they sign for.

 

3- If you want a star player, get there very early. Like hours early. They limit the number of autographs for each player, and lines will form hours ahead of time for top dogs. I would also give up any ideas of moving from line to line getting a ton of autographs of players signing in different lines at the same time. The staff there do count the number of people in line, and will cut off the lines once they get to a certain point (whatever the limits are) so you will know WAY ahead of time if you make the cutoff or not.

 

Thank you! This was very helpful!

 

[Iwritecode]

I haven't been since 2006 so it may have changed but I've gotten photographs with a few players while they were signing. They had signs up saying you weren't supposed to but they generally looked the other way if the player was ok with it. Frank Thomas was especially accommodating. My friend, my wife and I all got separate pics with him.

[Dick Allen]

Here's the schedule, looks like they are having photo sessions this year:

 

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/commun...e.jsp#wristband

[SoxSteve]

Here's the schedule, looks like they are having photo sessions this year:

 

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/commun...e.jsp#wristband

How does the town hall work? I will be there with a list of tough questions for them if i can in. Has anyone ever been at the town hall segment? Thanx

[EvilMonkey]

When I last went (it was a while ago), for most of the lines they had more than one player. So you waited in line for an hour, but you got 3 people's autographs. But the lines were long, didn't even try for Frank, and the Minnie Minoso line was HUGE.

[southsider2k5]

How does the town hall work? I will be there with a list of tough questions for them if i can in. Has anyone ever been at the town hall segment? Thanx

 

If you want to ask question you get into a big long line of people standing at a microphone.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

1- The answer is both. There are booths of people selling things, though they are not located in the autograph lines so you would have to purchase ahead of time. Also be prepared for festival type pricing. Be prepared to get hit in the wallet.

 

2- They really don't allow time for pictures with players. They are up there signing a ton of autographs, and the security people really try to keep the lines moving along. You can get pictures of the player while they are signing, but they won't pause to pose with each person they sign for.

 

3- If you want a star player, get there very early. Like hours early. They limit the number of autographs for each player, and lines will form hours ahead of time for top dogs. I would also give up any ideas of moving from line to line getting a ton of autographs of players signing in different lines at the same time. The staff there do count the number of people in line, and will cut off the lines once they get to a certain point (whatever the limits are) so you will know WAY ahead of time if you make the cutoff or not.

 

This is really all you need to know.

 

I would add that you should come prepared with some items just in case. Last year the Sox had small stands set up in-between the autograph lines that will have photos of the player signing at that stage with balls, mini bats, etc. - however you will usually get slightly better prices buying from the vendors in the shop area. If you are only there for autographs, have a game plan. Going after Sale or Abreu is a bit of a task. - be prepared to wait a VERY long time because people will literally line up hours before the player is due to sign. *Most* people there are pretty cool, but you will into the occasional asshole looking to cut in line. Also, it's always one item per person but you can have players sign different items if you wish (they don't need to sign the same ball for example). Soxfest is a good time all-around and some of the seminars are really cool.