Getting to the bottom of Sox fans’ complaints

Last Saturday morning I was at my usual breakfast haunt, a local diner, when a group of folks came in.

One of the guys recognized me and remarked that the Chicago White Sox were off to a good start. I agreed, and we talked a little baseball — both Sox and Chicago Cubs.

Then one of the guys said that he went to the Sox opener and it was a nightmare for him. He started telling me how his car was rerouted to McCormick Place, where he had to park, and then he was driven by bus to the ballpark.

Look, I know the White Sox brass doesn’t like columns like this one, and for that I’m sorry, but if you don’t want bad press then address the problems and provide solutions.

I went to one game last year with some of our sponsors. Once we got inside the park it was great — the food, service and atmosphere were all fine. That said, getting to the park and getting out always seems to make the experience less than desirable.

I will only speak for the one game I went to last year — we parked in a lot with no lines or markings, which made finding your car after the game in a sea of people pretty difficult at night. We weren’t alone, as swarms of people were just milling about searching aimlessly.

I know the Sox are fine if they draw 1.8 million or 1.9 million, but that’s another column for another day. I also know fans can exaggerate too, so I want to find out first hand with your help.

I want to attend a game during the next home stand with three Daily Herald readers. Email me at mike@northtonorth.com, just give me your name, age, contact info and you can give me one sentence or even one word why you want to go to the game with me. I’ll pick three e-mailers and they will attend a game with me. Then I will chronicle from beginning to end the entire experience.

If it’s a great experience, I will write about it. If it’s nice, I’ll write about it. And if it’s bad, I will write about it.

The next home stand runs April 19-28, so it will be one of those games. I think it’s a fair way to give an accurate account of what the average fan experiences when he goes to the ballpark, so make your thoughts count.

Email me at mike@northtonorth.com and you might go get the chance. Maybe we can help make Sox fans happier and attending games more fun.

Program note:Watch me on #147;Mancow#148; on WPWR Ch. 50 at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Friday, and Monday.Ÿ Mike North#146;s column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com. 28011870John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comThe crowd reacts as Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale leaves in the eighth inning with a 1-0 lead against the Kansas City Royals in the 2013 season opener at US Cellular Field in Chicago.