Cubs, Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) Offer First-Ever Auction Of Cubs Season Tickets - CBOE Sponsorship Includes Naming Rights To New Seats At Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs today unveiled plans for a first-ever auction of season tickets to Cubs home games in conjunction with a new partnership between the Cubs and Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). The partnership also includes naming rights to the new seats at Wrigley Field as well as presenting sponsorship of front row tickets at the Friendly Confines.

"We are very excited to make our new premium seats available in an auction format and as season tickets," said Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney. "The partnership with the Chicago Board Options Exchange was a natural. The auction unites the world's largest options exchange with Cubs baseball in a historic partnership between two Chicago institutions."

The season ticket auction will kick off Monday, March 3, with the ringing of the opening bell at CBOE by "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks. The approximately 70 new seats located adjacent to the Cubs dugout on the third base line will be known as the "CBOE Seats" and will be available at auction as season tickets in groups of two or four. The season tickets will include all games for the 2008 regular season as well as any applicable post-season ticket privileges. The auction will run from March 3 through March 13 on www.cubs.com. Winners will have the rights to the seats for the 2008 regular season and playoffs. A new auction will be held prior to each season.

"CBOE is delighted to partner with the Cubs in presenting this unique opportunity to fans of Chicago baseball," said William J. Brodsky, CBOE Chairman and CEO. "As home to the world's largest options exchange, CBOE is a natural partner for this unique online seat auction. We are proud that the new premium seats will be known as the "CBOE seats" and we are thrilled that Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, will ring the opening bell at CBOE to herald in this unique and exciting Chicago partnership."

The Cubs and CBOE will also partner on a second auction including front row seating behind home plate. Starting March 14 and running throughout the regular season, the Chicago Cubs and CBOE will give fans the chance to sit in premiere Wrigley Field seating on a single-game basis with the "CBOE Front Row Auction." Fans will bid through www.cubs.com on front row seats located behind home plate and near the visitor's bullpen.

A press conference will be held at CBOE immediately following the ringing of the opening bell on March 3.

Complete rules and timeline for the "CBOE Seats - season ticket auction" and the "CBOE Seats - Front Row Auction" will be posted www.cubs.com prior to March 3.