Our beloved Cubs (0-2) will host their Wrigley Field home opener Friday, April 4, at 1:20 p.m. CT against the San Diego Padres after officially kicking off the 2025 regular season in Tokyo, Japan. Before returning to Wrigley, the Cubs will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks March 27-30 and the Athletics March 31-April 2.
For the home opener, fans can expect traditional pregame festivities including an on-field flag presentation by Cubs Season Ticket Holders as well as a USAF C-130 Hercules flyover by the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard.
Chicago native and musical artist Alleece Baker will return to Wrigley Field to sing God Bless America and John Vincent will sing the national anthem. Cubs Hall of Famers will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and sing the seventh-inning stretch.
What fans will also get is the Cubs’ new advertising campaign, “Be Here For It.” The first spot opens in a nondescript office. A heavyset Cubs fan, dressed in standard work attire, is hunched over his desk with one eye on his phone, watching the game. As the Cubs score, he jumps up, full of joy, and rips his shirt open like he’s in the bleachers. The last line hits with a wink: “What’s bleacher appropriate isn’t always work appropriate. Be here for it.”
Some things are just better at Wrigley Field.
BE HERE FOR IT. pic.twitter.com/RXCo7KhlWd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) February 14, 2025
The moment is humorous, but also deeply familiar to fans who’ve watched games from desks, airports, or waiting rooms—places where true celebration has to be stifled. The ad reminds us that nothing compares to being in the stands at Wrigley Field, where unfiltered joy is not just accepted—it’s expected.
The second spot features a bored young woman scrolling her phone on the couch while the Cubs game plays on the TV in the background. Suddenly, she grabs a ring light and starts crafting the perfect selfie—complete with a Cubs cap and cheering face—to make it look like she’s at the game. The camera pulls back to reveal the ruse. The final line lands: “You can’t say ‘I was here’ if you weren’t. Be here for it.”
This ad taps into a new reality: social media’s tendency to blur the line between experience and appearance. It cleverly calls out the idea that some moments—like a Cubs game—can’t be faked. You have to be there to feel it, to live it, to be part of something real.
Over the years, the slogans have ranged from rousing rally cries to slightly confusing wordplay. Last year’s “You Have to C It” was a fun visual pun, though fan reactions were mixed. The intent was clear—sell the experience, not just the game—but the execution didn’t quite connect for everyone.
A Flexible, Resonant Tagline
What makes “Be Here For It” stand out is its wide appeal and emotional flexibility. It functions as both a marketing tagline and a meaningful call to action. It encourages fans not just to buy tickets, but to be present in the moment, with the team, through the ups and downs of a long season.
The campaign can be interpreted in multiple ways:
- Literally: Be at the game. In the stands. In the city. At Wrigley.
- Emotionally: Be engaged. Be invested. Be all in.
- Socially: Be part of the community. Be seen. Be part of the memory.
It’s a fitting follow-up to past Cubs campaigns like “Fly the W,” “Let’s Go,” and “Next Starts Here,” which emphasized action, tradition
In an era when baseball teams are competing not just for wins but for attention, “Be Here For It” positions the Cubs as a team that gets what matters most: presence. Whether you’re a die-hard season ticket holder, a lifelong fan watching from the office, or a new follower posting your first Cubs selfie, the message is clear—this season, don’t just follow the team. Be here for it.
For more information, ticket packages, and game schedules, visit Cubs.com.
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