Cubs Fans May Miss Out on Spring Training Action as Marquee Scales Back Coverage
The Cubs have made plenty of noise this offseason - and for good reason. Between the headline-grabbing signing of Alex Bregman and the trade that brought in Edward Cabrera, Chicago is signaling that it’s ready to contend again.
The front office has opened the checkbook, and the North Side faithful are buzzing. But while the roster is beefing up, fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the new-look Cubs during spring training might be in for a letdown.
In a bit of news that flew under the radar during the Cubs Convention, team president Crane Kenney revealed that only a small number of the team’s spring training games will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network this year. The Cubs are scheduled to play 32 games during the Cactus League slate, but according to Kenney, the number of games airing on Marquee will likely be in the single digits.
That’s a steep drop from recent years. Back in 2024, Marquee aired 28 spring training games.
That number fell to 17 in 2025. And now, fans may only get a handful of broadcasts in 2026 - a trend that’s hard to ignore.
Behind the Scenes, Marquee Feels the Squeeze
While the Cubs are spending like a team with October aspirations, Marquee Sports Network is quietly tightening its belt. Most of the on-air personalities are expected to return for the upcoming season, but there have been layoffs behind the scenes and a noticeable slowdown on the digital side of things.
A quick look at Marquee’s Cubs section online tells the story. The most recent update is the announcement of Bregman’s signing - a major move, no doubt - but the network hasn’t posted digital coverage of his introductory press conference or the weekend’s Cubs Convention, even though both were covered on air. For a network that was created to be the 24/7 home for Cubs content, the silence is telling.
The Roster’s Rising, but the Broadcast Footprint Shrinks
The contrast between the Cubs’ aggressive offseason and Marquee’s scaled-back coverage is striking. On the field, this team is all-in.
The Bregman deal alone is expected to push them into luxury tax territory, and there’s a strong sense that more moves could be on the horizon. This isn’t a team pinching pennies.
But when it comes to spring training coverage - a time when fans are eager to see new faces, evaluate prospects, and get a taste of what’s to come - the reduced broadcast schedule feels like a missed opportunity. Especially for a fanbase that’s been energized by the front office’s recent moves.
What This Means for Cubs Fans
Kenney has said that the presentation of regular-season games won’t be affected, and that’s certainly good news. But the pullback on spring training coverage raises questions about Marquee’s long-term direction.
The network was launched to give the Cubs full control over their media presence - to tell their story, on their terms, year-round. But with fewer games, less digital content, and internal cutbacks, that mission feels like it’s being quietly redefined.
For now, Cubs fans can take comfort in the fact that the product on the field looks promising. The team is spending, the roster is improving, and expectations are rising. But as spring training approaches, those same fans might need to work a little harder to follow the action - at least until Opening Day rolls around.
In a season that’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory, let’s hope the team’s media coverage can keep pace with its ambition.