Your questions about SoxFest Live, answered
Scott Merkin
@scottmerkinThis story was excerpted from Scott Merkin¡¯s White Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO ¨C The new incarnation of SoxFest, known as SoxFest Live, begins Friday night at the Ramova Theatre, bringing back the South Siders¡¯ winter get-together for the first time since 2020.
Some of you have questions about the festivities. You¡¯ve asked me and put them forth on social media. So, here¡¯s information to help resolve those inquiries.
Is this format different from past SoxFests?
It is a different look, according to the White Sox.
A performance by The Diff, a band featuring White Sox radio play-by-play voice Len Kasper, follows the opening black carpet ceremony Friday. There also will be a question-and-answer session with general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable on Friday, entitled ¡°State of the White Sox,¡± and a similar panel Saturday, although each night is viewed as a different entity.
Comedian Kevin Bozeman will be involved in a program called Comedy Curve Balls where a few players will participate, and fans will be brought on stage. The purpose of holding this event at a more intimate venue such as the Ramova is to allow a direct kind of connection with the fans.
¡°It¡¯s going to be really different than how our conversations used to go on stage at previous SoxFests,¡± White Sox senior director of public relations Sheena Quinn said. ¡°We can bring fans up on stage, we can have them playing some fun games. We can have them interact with players on the floor in more casual ways.¡±
How will the 2005 World Series champions be recognized?
Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras and Freddy Garcia will be in attendance, with Buehrle only there Friday, for panels on the momentous title from 20 years ago. But why not more players at SoxFest Live from the underrated dominance of ¡¯05?
This event marks the start of a season-long celebration for the 125th anniversary of the franchise along with honoring the World Series title.
¡°Celebrating Mark Buehrle is a big portion of the 2005 team, that¡¯s a big thing. That shouldn¡¯t be shortchanged at all. But there are other plans in the works for the rest of the season,¡± Quinn said. ¡°It¡¯s not just one opportunity to celebrate a magical season like 2005.
¡°We¡¯ll be able to share a lot of news throughout the weekend about the season-long promotions. I¡¯m excited that people are going to be there to see the players, the leadership, but also to be the first people to share some of the exciting news of plans we have for 2025.¡±
Will Luis Robert Jr. or Andrew Benintendi be at SoxFest Live?
These veteran leaders have drawn the most interest, appearance-wise, but they will not be in attendance. Players from the ¡¯24 squad such as Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Drew Thorpe, Korey Lee, Bryan Ramos, Miguel Vargas and Andrew Vaughn will be in Chicago.
¡°Everybody has offseason plans,¡± Quinn said. ¡°We are excited about the number of guys who are coming, and our players are so excited.¡±
But there will be plenty of prospects at the Ramova?
That fact is true. Local products such as left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz (No. 1 White Sox prospect, No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline) and outfielder George Wolkow (No. 9 White Sox prospect) are part of the group, as are new acquisitions like catcher Kyle Teel (White Sox No. 2, No. 25 overall), outfielder Braden Montgomery (White Sox No. 5, No. 54 overall) and infielder Chase Meidroth (No. 13).
Don¡¯t forget shortstop Colson Montgomery (White Sox No. 4, No. 37 overall), left-hander Hagen Smith (White Sox No. 3, No. 30 overall) and catcher Edgar Quero (White Sox No. 6, No. 59 overall).
¡°We¡¯ve had all these additions throughout the offseason, all coming together,¡± Quinn said. ¡°It will be a nice launch for the year.¡±
Is parking limited?
There is plenty of parking, for free, at the Rate. There will be a shuttle to the Ramova, leaving every 15 minutes, which the White Sox have tested and only takes a few minutes.
What about autographs?
Past autograph sessions will be repurposed as meet and greets.
¡°You are meeting them, snap a photo, have them sign something really quickly,¡± Quinn said. ¡°Those are going on during the panels. They have a little loft area there that¡¯s going to be our primary meet and greet space and then have some additional meet and greet space on the floor as well. They will happen throughout the evening. It¡¯s a different version of the normal SoxFest program.¡±