Posted by chicagomedia.org on April 06, 2009 at 12:24:04:
White Sox Cancel Monday's Season Opener
Posted: Monday, 06 April 2009 5:40AM
CHICAGO (CBS/STNG) -- The Chicago White Sox announced Sunday evening it has canceled Monday's season opener against the Kansas City Royals because of inclement weather.
The White Sox postponed Monday's 1:05 p.m. game because of forecasted snow, cold and high winds, according to a release from the team. The game is rescheduled for 1:05 p.m. Tuesday. All opening day festivities will still take place Tuesday, the release said.
One can see why the event was cancelled. It's really coming down at U.S. Cellular Field Sunday night. And the gloomy, cold weather is dampening the spirits of a lot of White Sox fans around the park.
Even at dusk, you could see the heavy white flakes descending on the park. Monday's home opener against the Kansas City Royals postponed, even as crews continued to power wash the parking lot.
Snowflakes coated the First Base bar, too, just down the street on 32nd and Normal.
The Sox bar had the writing on the wall, welcoming fans to start their opening day here.
Just part of a lot of preparation, all put on hold.
"Carried about 72 cases of beer up the stairs and put them in the cooler. Just getting ready for the Sox fans, cleaning, painting -- just making them happy," said Renee Renaud of the First Base bar. "I'm disappointed. I mean I'm looking forward to a Monday game. It's my anniversary. Now we'll have to postpone it."
She expects little traffic in the bar Monday because of the postponement, but that means more seats for those fans who do stop by and special prices.
This is the first season opening postponement since 1982. But the good news is if you had tickets for Monday's game, you can still use them Tuesday, or you might be able to exchange them for upcoming home games of a similar or lesser-valued ticket from April 8-10 or April 27-29, according to a news release.
This isn't the first time a baseball game in Chicago has been snowed out. Back in 2003, the Cubs had to postpone their home opener when a late snow storm hit. It was manager Dusty Baker's first game with the team. Just like the Sox this year, they played the game the next day.
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures of 39 degrees Monday with a 20 percent chance of snow. Winds are expected to gust up to 35 miles per hour.
Temperatures are expected to climb to 43 degrees Tuesday. No snow is expected, but winds could still gust up to 30 mph, the weather service said.
Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WSCR Radio will broadcast the game, the release said.
(WBBM-AM)