The "virtual waiting room" window (as did the "virtual line" for the "virtual waiting room" before it), features a bit of code with a button whose text counts down from "0 minutes 30 seconds" to "0 minutes 0 seconds" and then refreshes the screen. At 10:00am, the screen changed from saying "Tickets will go on sale at 10:00am" to "Tickets for 2007 home games are on sale now.", which let me know that I had moved from the "line" to the "waiting room". Also at 10:00 an additional bit of text appeared at the bottom of the screen (most of which is taken up by "rules" for the single-ticket sale and explaining how we have to be real patient) which says "Tickets are no longer available at this time for the following games:", with (currently) another line, in red, saying "none" ... I assume that this will change as the morning progresses.
Why, you ask, am I in the Cubs' "virtual waiting room"? Well, you see ... on Sunday, August 5 (a game against the Mets), the first 5,000 girls, age 14 and younger, will get "Limited-edition American Girl® doll-sized Chicago Cubs apparel" ... and being as I have two "girls, age 14 and younger", each of whom is the proud mama of an American Girl® doll, it just seemed like an effort that I, as a doting Father, should at least make to get tickets.
Needless to say, I am hoping that some Upper Deck Reserved (cheap) seats might be available, since neither of The Girls has any interest in baseball, and I sure don't want to make this way more expensive than just buying an A.G. outfit (yeah, this is more "special", etc.), which would cost around $25. Unfortunately this is a "Prime Date" for the Cubs tickets (which now have 3 sets of prices, "Value", "Regular" and "Prime"), meaning that the tickets are like 25% more than usual, and putting the cheapest ticket at $19/$20 (U.D.R. Outfield/Infield). I'm going to be faced with a decision if they only have pricier seats, as I'd really rather not be spending over a hundred bucks, and the next cheapest seats are $30 a pop!
I just wish I knew what the procedure is once one gets to the front of the line in the "virtual waiting room" ... with the screen refreshing every 30sec, it does give one a sense of urgency, and a hesitancy to either walk away from the computer, or get too involved in something else on the computer! I would hate to have waited this long only to find that (in a potty break, for instance) my "window of advancement" had expired while not looking at the "virtual waiting room" screen! (sigh) They've been selling tickets for nearly an hour now ... it would be nice to have some idea of just how far back in line I am!
Update: 11:22am
The first "sold out" date appeared on-screen: May 19th vs. the White Sox.
At least I now know there is something happening beyond the repeating 30-sec countdown!
Update: 12:15pm
More "sold out" dates, 5/18 and 5/20 vs. the Sox, plus 4/9 vs. the Astros and 8/18 vs. the Cardinals.
Hopefully all those folks in line in front of me are looking for the "hot" games and there'll be some cheap seats left for the "doll game"!
Update: 12:50pm
More "sold out" dates (yeah, like you care), 4/21 vs. the Cardinals, 7/14 vs. the Astros, (worryingly close to my target date) 8/4 vs. the Mets, and 8/19 vs. the Cardinals.
C'mon ... I've been holding here for 3 hours ... how many people got in during the few seconds before I did???
Update: 1:30pm
It's been FOUR HOURS. Come on! I got "in line" at about 9:30:02, how many people managed to get in before me in those few seconds???? No more "sold out" updates as yet.
Update: 2:20pm
Man, this is getting old. Some more sold out dates, though: 6/2 vs. Atlanta, and 8/17 vs. the Cardinals.
Update: 4:10pm
A few more dates sold out ... 6/16 vs. San Diego and 6/30 vs. Milwaukee ... I know you're on pins and needles over this.
Oh, and, I don't think I saw this bit before: "All patrons are selected from the Virtual Waiting Room on a random basis ...", which means that somebody could just have gotten in and be picked right away, while somebody could have been sitting in there for SIX FUCKING HOURS (ahem) and not been called. Damn. I think I'd have been happier had they assigned us a number, and dropped a cookie on our browser.
Update: 5:15pm
Godamnmotherfuckingpieceofshit! I finally get into the window where I can buy tickets, but OF COURSE, the ONE game that I'm wanting tickets for just sold out. Like Caligula says in the movie named after him ... "If only all of Rome had just one neck!"