Advertisement

Marquee Sports Network will introduce Chicago Cubs fans to the future by picking up 14 Triple-A Iowa games

phil rosenthal, chicago tribune
·2 min read

Marquee Sports Network looks to introduce Chicago Cubs fans to the future, announcing Wednesday it will air 14 games of the franchise’s Triple-A Iowa Cubs this season.

First on tap is a May 6 night game against the visiting Indianapolis Indians, a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, two days after Iowa’s season opener in the Triple-A East’s Midwest Division.

When the Chicago White Sox were in rebuilding mode, NBC Sports Chicago picked up a schedule of Triple-A Charlotte Knights games in 2017 and 2018, as well as some Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem Dash games in 2018.

This not only helped fill out the channel’s schedule, but also was a way for the Sox to showcase future major-leaguers such as Lucas Giolito, Eloy Jiménez, Michael Kopech, Luis Robert and Yoán Moncada while the big-league team struggled.

The Iowa Cubs have been a Cubs affiliate since 1981 and earlier this year extended their agreement with the MLB club through 2030. As the Iowa Oaks, they previously were affiliated with the White Sox (1973-74, 1976-80), Houston Astros (1975) and Oakland Athletics (1969-72).

Marquee is a joint venture of the Cubs and Sinclair Broadcast Group that launched last year. It’s the exclusive TV home of all Cubs games the franchise controls.

Within the Cubs’ MLB-designated TV market, Marquee is available through more than 50 cable providers, DirecTV and the AT&T TV and fuboTV streaming services. The only Cubs games on free over-the-air TV are the ones picked up by Fox, as permitted by its national MLB deal.

Marquee’s schedule of Iowa Cubs telecasts is as follows, with all games at Principal Park in Des Moines. MLB affiliations are in parentheses, and all times are Central.

  • May 6 vs. Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates), 7 p.m.

  • May 7 vs. Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates), 7 p.m.

  • May 19 vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), noon

  • May 23 vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), 1 p.m.

  • June 10 vs. Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians), 7 p.m.

  • June 11 vs. Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians), 7 p.m.

  • June 23 vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), 6:30 p.m.

  • July 9 vs. St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins), 7 p.m.

  • July 29 vs. Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds), 7 p.m.

  • Aug. 6 vs. Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates), 7 p.m.

  • Aug. 7 vs. Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates), 7 p.m.

  • Aug. 26 vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals), 7 p.m.

  • Sept. 8 vs. Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers), noon

  • Sept. 9 vs. Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers), 7 p.m.