White Sox fans brave cold, snow on Opening Day
CHICAGO (WLS) -- White Sox fans braved rain, snow, sleet and wind to watch the home opener against the Cleveland Indians on Friday afternoon.
Fans attending the sold-out game poured into The Cell ready to start a baseball season they feel will be full of wins and big expectations.
"I live in Valencia, California. Just north of Los Angeles," said Mike Jaffe, a Sox fan.
ABC7's Diane Pathieu: "Why on earth are you here?"
Jaffe: "It's White Sox Opening Day!"
Sox fan Tom Flores didn't let the weather stop him from grilling up burgers for his crew - a 10-year tradition for him.
"This is awesome, everybody comes here, cooks, haves a few beers and goes in," Flores said.
The season got off to a smokin' start - literally - when a fire broke out at U.S. Cellular Field Friday morning. No one was injured.
WHAT'S NEW AT THE CELL?
The new White Sox TV play-by-play announcer, Jason Benetti, is making his debut. It's a job he's been dreaming about since he was a kid.
"When you have a history with the team and you grew up watching that team and you understand the people watching, you have a different connection to the team," Benetti said.
And, U.S. Cellular Field is debuting new food for fans!
"We have a tater tacho, fun play on regular nacho with crisp tater tots and cheese and jalapenos," said Rebecca Spalding, ballpark operations manager.
If the tots aren't your thing, try the new Chicken parm sandwich, bacon cheddar pretzel dog or the Cheesy beef sandwich with pico de gallo on top. And after eating, feast your eyes on the brand new video board. It's one of the biggest in baseball at 8,000 square feet.
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The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Chance the Rapper, who grew up on Chicago's South Side.
John Rzeznik, lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, will sing the national anthem.
A presentation of the flag by the Navy Recruiting District Chicago and the Naval Service Training Command Great Lakes also will be held. U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets and F/A-18C Hornets from Virginia Beach, Va., will do a flyover.
On Saturday, the Sox will play Cleveland again at 1:10 p.m. Football player Darius Fleming, a Chicago native who played for Notre Dame and the New England Patriots, will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Joshua Davis, a finalist for "The Voice," will perform.
