SoxFest Live 2025 delivers a dinger ... along with a few swings and misses
Newly-imagined fan fest was a winner, but needs to address a few growing pains
In the middle of a bitter cold Illinois winter, the vibe felt warm and sunny inside SoxFest Live 2025. Despite a record-breaking 121-loss season, the South Side faithful showed up to kick off a new year of White Sox baseball.
My lovely colleague Kristian Airdo did an excellent job with the rundown of all the breaking news that occurred on Friday at the venue. From a Mark Buehrle statue to the unveiling of the fresh new season promos, there were plenty of things to be excited about. I personally can’t wait to see the 2005 World Series documentary this summer.
They're all connected forever.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 25, 2025
'05 Forever, presented by @Rate_Mortgages, drops this summer. pic.twitter.com/IjAQl0pWW0
I had the good fortune to attend the event as a participant with my husband, Shaun, and son, Sage. So, for folks wondering what the fan experience was like, I’ll walk through the event to give you a taste of the new format. First up, let’s have a look at the event passes.
Two ticketing options were available to purchase: a $56 general admission pass or the $225 MVP experience. There was also an After Party add-on opportunity, purchased with either pass for an extra $100.
According to the White Sox website, the GA included:
- Access to SoxFest Live Level 1 theatre and main stage floor
- Mixed GA with seating and standing options for event programming
- White Sox displays and interactive player experiences
- Dynamic photo opportunities with easy access to SoxFest Live installations and setups
- Immersive and high-energy atmosphere at the heart of SoxFest Live’s historic theatre experience
And the MVP included:
- Early entry to SoxFest Live at Ramova
- Access to White Sox Black Carpet welcoming event VIPs, players, and other distinguished attendees
- Premium Level 2 lounge area with elevated main stage sight line and unobstructed program viewing
- MVP Experience-exclusive photo opportunities
- Private meet and greet session with White Sox VIP attendees
- Complimentary light appetizers
- Four (4) lower-level tickets to a select 2025 White Sox home game (restrictions apply)
My family purchased the MVP experience for both days with the After Party add-on for Friday evening. It had been so long between SoxFests, and it was Sage’s first time attending. We figured we would go big or go home (it was also a significant part of our Christmas gifts, so we could justify it).
The most significant advantage of the MVP experience was that we had an exclusive meet-and-greet opportunity each night. It was Harold Baines, Mark Buehrle, and Colson Montgomery on Friday. Then, on Saturday, to be honest, I don’t even know who the featured players were. We ran into a few hiccups, but more on that later. Unfortunately, you were out of luck if you were a GA pass holder and wanted to meet who I would consider the marquee players.
Other than that, honestly, the GA pass would have been sufficient. Sure, we got some free food (sliders, chicken kabobs, meatballs, cookies, mushrooms, shrimp), which was enough for Shaun and Sage — but I only ate a cookie and a few mushrooms because I’m a vegetarian. Bummer.
With the GA pass, you could attend two different meet-and-greet sessions, and each one usually had two or three players. The lines weren’t long, and moved quickly. Even being MVP pass holders, we chose to go to a few of the GA options instead.
The After Party add-on was an absolute blast and worth every penny. From 9-10 p.m., the theater’s upper level transformed into a vibrant, bar-like scene. With a DJ providing the soundtrack and complimentary appetizers circulating, we mingled with the players like old friends. Prospects, current stars, broadcaster John Schriffen, manager Will Venable, and even World Series champions Freddy García and José Contreras were all incredibly accessible, taking photos, signing autographs, and genuinely connecting with fans. The atmosphere was lively and a great opportunity to interact with everyone in a more relaxed setting.
The new skipper spent a good 15 minutes chatting with my family. Personable and genuine, he particularly impressed me with how he connected with Sage. He asked about school, work, and his interests, engaging him with an easy charm that makes you instantly root for him and the whole team. I’m definitely on board.
Next, I’ll take you through the format. The MVP pass advertised early access to the Black Carpet, promising a special glimpse of the players and staff arriving 30 minutes before the event. Instead, we were ushered into a freezing, unheated entryway outside the theater. This cramped holding area offered little comfort, as we waited nearly half an hour for the program to begin.
The limited space meant many attendees couldn’t see anything, unlike my family, who found a corner spot. The stark contrast between my expectations and the reality of the cold, crowded wait was a bit disappointing. This part could have easily taken place instead near the stage and theater area, where fans would have more room to spread out and not lose a few toes in the process.
Nevertheless, once the program started, the experience became significantly better. The event had a high-energy feel, with the main stage providing a clear view of the proceedings. A band played for the first hour on both nights, with The DIFF (with Len Kasper) on Friday and the Gina Glocksen Band on Saturday. DJ music played throughout the venue as well during the evening.
I enjoyed the music and the atmosphere they created, but the sound level was overwhelming. It was impossible to have a conversation without yelling, even with the person right beside you. Trying to talk to other fans or the players was equally futile. Shaun’s Apple Watch was constantly buzzing with noise alerts, a clear sign of the excessive volume. The ringing in my ears persisted long after we left the venue.
A fun addition to the event was comedian Kevin Bozeman, who performed both nights. He brought fans up on stage to interact with the players. Sage and I were lucky to be chosen as participants, and we got cool swag, too!
A fan favorite back in the old SoxFest days was the seminars. Over the two nights, attendees could choose from three different ones at this SoxFest: a celebration of the 2005 World Series Champions (Friday only), a “State of the Sox” address, and a look at “Sox on Deck” (Saturday only). While Friday’s “State of the Sox” featured both Chris Getz and Will Venable, Saturday’s session was noticeably missing Getz (his absence unexplained) and got a bit rambunctious. A brief appearance by Jerry Reinsdorf in the balcony prompted chants of “Sell the team,” which were quickly suppressed by ushers.
SoxFest’s former format also allowed fans to directly question team personnel during seminars, often leading to lively, even contentious, exchanges. While sometimes heated, this direct interaction gave fans a crucial sense of being heard. The new format, however, only allowed for pre-submitted questions for the “State of the Sox”— a process I couldn’t even locate —allowing Kasper and Schriffen to lob softball questions to the front office.
That was until Saturday, when Schriffen deviated from the planned format and attempted to engage directly with the audience. This quickly backfired. One audience member launched into an unheard rant, but without a microphone, his words were lost to the rest of the crowd. Compounding the issue, John failed to summarize the outburst, leaving the audience confused and increasingly restless. The frustration was palpable.
Have no fear, though; Papa Steve Stone intervened, delivering a lecture on patience. However, this incident highlighted a fundamental flaw in the event’s design. Intended to foster intimacy, the setup — panelists on an elevated stage separated from the audience in the pit without a true voice — created a frustrating barrier to genuine interaction. This disconnect proved to be a big swing and a miss.
Communication also needs some improvement. Fans know this has been an ongoing issue for several years, and the recent event highlighted this deficiency. For instance, Andrew Vaughn’s absence was only discovered by inquiring with a security guard. This situation could have been easily avoided with proactive communication. A simple email or announcement to participants explaining his inability to attend due to weather would have been sufficient. Implementing a more robust communication system, such as a readily accessible QR code that provides real-time updates on participant attendance, locations, and schedules, would significantly enhance the event experience.
Additionally, the contrast in communication and organization between Friday and Saturday was stark. While Friday’s signage effectively guided attendees and allowed them to plan their evening, Saturday’s experience was a disorganized mess. Due to several player changes, the existing signs became inaccurate, and instead of updating them or providing alternatives, no signage at all was available. This resulted in fans wandering the venue, attempting to locate who would be where and when. While unforeseen changes are understandable, the lack of a contingency plan was problematic. This issue could have been easily resolved by an array of simple solutions, such as using whiteboards for updated information or again implementing a dynamic QR code system.
In my opinion, Friday night offered significantly more value for fans. The World Series panel, Mark Buehrle meet-and-greet, free beer, statue unveiling, promotional card packs, and clear signage all contributed to a much more engaging and enjoyable experience. Given the success of the After Party at this year’s reimagined event, it would be our priority if the team used a similar format next year. We’d likely only attend for one day, and our decision about upgrading to the MVP pass would depend on the expected player lineup.
Overall, it was great to see SoxFest return, giving fans a chance to connect with players, both past and present. If you’re someone who loves getting autographs and taking photos with players, this experience made it really easy to do so, and the Sox crushed an old-fashioned rooftop homer with this aspect of the event.
However, I hope they’ll incorporate fan feedback to make future events even better. If you attended the event, please let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Until next year, everyone!
Oh, but before I completely sign off, I need to give some major props to my photographer and husband, Shaun. Even though he’s a Cubs fan, he was a great sport this weekend, and he continues to support my passion for everything White Sox. Love you!