{"id":531683,"date":"2026-01-21T23:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T23:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/531683\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T23:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T23:08:14","slug":"cubs-convention-celebrates-150-years-and-the-magic-of-2016-candid-candace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/531683\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Convention celebrates 150 years and the magic of 2016 | Candid Candace"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chicago Cubs host Cubs Convention 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Ballroom Jan. 16 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox\/Chicago Cubs)<\/p>\n

The Chicago Cubs Convention recently wrapped up a milestone-filled winter weekend, bringing fans and the team together at the Sheraton Grand Chicago for a celebration unlike any other. Held January 16\u201318, the 2026 Cubs Convention marked two historic anniversaries: the club\u2019s 150th year as a National League franchise and the 10-year anniversary of the Cubs\u2019 unforgettable 2016 World Series championship.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Chicago Cubs host Cubs Convention 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 16 (Photo by Daniel Bartel\/Chicago Cubs)<\/p>\n

From the moment the weekend began, it was clear this convention was designed to honor the past while energizing the future. Fans were treated to expanded and immersive programming that highlighted a century and a half of Cubs history. A new Theater Room debuted, showcasing compelling footage of iconic players and defining moments, while a special 150th anniversary archive exhibit offered rare memorabilia drawn from the Cubs and Wrigley Field Archives. Limited-edition merchandise, including jerseys featuring a commemorative 150th anniversary uniform patch, proved especially popular with collectors and longtime fans.<\/p>\n

The convention also launched fan voting for the Cubs 150th Anniversary Team, presented by motorola razr. The initiative invited fans to help select the legendary players who shaped the franchise\u2019s legacy, reinforcing the deep connection between the Cubs and their loyal fan base. Season Ticket Holders were given an exclusive first look at the club\u2019s new partnership with Southwest Airlines\u00ae through the debut of the Southwest Club in the hotel\u2019s main lobby.<\/p>\n

Read more on Chicago Star:<\/p>\n

Programming throughout the weekend was packed with marquee moments. Friday night\u2019s Opening Ceremony set the tone, introducing current players, coaches, and alumni while unveiling the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The evening continued with fan-favorite late-night entertainment, including Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster and the always-raucous Harry Carayoke, both presented by Budweiser.<\/p>\n

Saturday delivered some of the most anticipated sessions of the weekend. A 2016 World Series Team Reunion reunited members of the championship roster, drawing emotional reactions from fans who relived the magic of that historic season. The day also included a heartfelt Remembering Ryno panel honoring the late Ryne Sandberg, alongside the beloved Kids Only Press Conference presented by Advocate Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n

Returning favorites such as the Baseball Operations Update with Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins, A Sit Down with Craig Counsell, and a live taping of The Compound podcast with Ian Happ kept fans engaged throughout the day. Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts capped the afternoon by mingling with fans at a reception, before Cubs Bingo and another round of Harry Carayoke closed out the night.<\/p>\n

The weekend concluded Sunday with a strong focus on youth and community. A sold-out youth baseball and softball clinic gave young athletes hands-on instruction from players, alumni, and Cubs Nike RBI coaches. The Cubs also honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.<\/a> with a thoughtful panel discussion reflecting on his enduring impact.<\/p>\n

Throughout the convention, longtime staples, including autograph sessions, Cubs Charities meet-and-greets, and the Cubs Authentics auction, kept the energy high. With hotel packages and weekend passes completely sold out, the 2026 Cubs Convention underscored just how powerful the bond remains between the team and its fans. A portion of the proceeds benefited Cubs Charities, continuing the organization\u2019s commitment to supporting Chicago\u2019s youth and families.<\/p>\n

As the final panels wrapped and fans headed home, one thing was clear: the Cubs didn\u2019t just celebrate their history, they brought it vividly to life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Chicago Cubs host Cubs Convention 2026 at the Sheraton Grand Ballroom Jan. 16 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531684,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2399],"tags":[28759,5,70452,138,6279,24,57222,70451,4245,161,70447,70448,70453,57175,66218,70450,23551,45709,1765,70449,4,70454,738],"class_list":{"0":"post-531683","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago-cubs","8":"tag-2016-world-series","9":"tag-baseball","10":"tag-baseball-convention","11":"tag-chicago","12":"tag-chicago-baseball","13":"tag-chicago-cubs","14":"tag-chicago-cubs-history","15":"tag-chicago-sports-events","16":"tag-chicagocubs","17":"tag-cubs","18":"tag-cubs-150th-anniversary","19":"tag-cubs-alumni","20":"tag-cubs-charities","21":"tag-cubs-convention","22":"tag-cubs-convention-2026","23":"tag-cubs-fan-events","24":"tag-cubs-fans","25":"tag-cubs-hall-of-fame","26":"tag-cubs-players","27":"tag-cubs-reunion","28":"tag-mlb","29":"tag-sheraton-grand-chicago","30":"tag-wrigley-field"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}