It’s no secret that Cubs fans are everywhere, not just in the Chicago city limits, not even just in Illinois. This became especially clear to CubWorld.com through engagement with their growing social media community. In fact, it’s the fans outside Chicago who seem to be some of the most active participants on CubWorld’s Facebook page!

With this in mind, CubWorld wanted to find a way to let Chicago Cubs fans’ voices be “heard”—from wherever they may reside. So EIM worked with CubWorld to launch CubWorld Nation.

Fans simply provide their name, zip code, and email address, and voila: the map is marked with an appropriately blue-hued baseball cap, denoting that passionate Cubbie blue is bled in that part of our nation. Excuse me, our CubWorld Nation.

The exact count of fans represented by each hat can be viewed by clicking on the respective hat. And through the power of a Google API, this map comes with tons of flexibility and room for growth. So CubWorld Nation is a tool we expect to see more from — stay tuned for fan photo-sharing, CWNation contests and giveaways, and more.

If you root for those lovable Northsiders, be sure to stake your claim on the CubWorld Nation map. Or just go hat-clicking to see how many Cubs fans live near you!

There’s no telling what could happen inside Wrigley Field anymore. Brawls? Drama? Defeat? Gasp…Victory? Yes, those lovable losers are at their MOST lovable this year, but the good news is, no matter what’s going on inside the ballpark, you now can always, at any time, see what’s going on outside the park.

Our friends at CubWorld.com have recently added a cool, new, live-streaming Wrigley Field web cam to their site. Perched at CubWorld.com’s brick & mortar location, Sports World, across the street from and with a full view of the front entrance of the ballpark, the camera gives you a live feed of all the action! Visit it the day of a game to check traffic, weather, crowd level, or just to get a taste of the action when you can’t make the game. Oh, the stories it would tell if this camera could only talk….

While you’re on the site, you can of course mosey on over to their great selection of Cubs jerseys, hats, shirts, and other Cubs merchandise (including a Zambrano “Blow Up” sale…seriously). And if you do venture out to support the Cubs (c’mon, they need you more than ever!), be sure to pop into Sports World for some goodies, then wave at the camera on your way out!

I’ll admit, we have our fair share of Cubs fans here at the office. Even as I type this on the Cubs Home Opener, there are Cubs t-shirts proudly being worn today. Some discretely under blazers and others loud and proud. There’s already been some Sox vs. Cubs ‘sniping’ this morning (all in good fun of course, but it’s still early in the season).

To say this season is pivotal for the Cubs would be an understatement. There are new owners involved, the Ricketts family, so Sam Zell can no longer be blamed for Cubs misfortune. Tom Ricketts, the chosen media face for the family, has been all over Chicago speaking to business groups about the fresh air being brought to the Cubs organization. And when I say fresh air, I mean it literally. One stadium update you will notice this season is fewer concrete walls closing off outside views, allowing a lovely skyline to emerge and of course, more fresh air into the park. A telling omen for this season? Maybe we should check out the promised bathroom updates instead for better insight.

Next off, there is the new marketing campaign wrapped up with the slogan, “It’s a Way of life.” For diehard Cubs fans, I don’t think there could be a better slogan. Being a loyal Cubs fan IS a way of life, and that loyalty prevails whether the team is winning or losing. People move to the “Wrigleyville” neighborhood for the sole purpose of being close to the stadium.  Our creative director here refuses to dress his little daughter in a pink Cubs outfit for games, and insists on her wearing Cubby blue (she looks cute regardless). Talk to any true blue Cubs fan, and they won’t even consider following another baseball team, no matter what the stats say. It’s Cubs or nothin’.
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