Cubs Launch TikTok Rom-Com Series
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers began their four-game series at Wrigley Field on Monday, but the major news extended beyond the baseball diamond. The Cubs announced a new TikTok series called “Nine Innings to Love.” This series targets Gen Z and millennials, offering a romantic storyline set in Wrigley’s bleachers.
A Cubs official explained that the series combines baseball with BookTok fandom, inspired by classic romantic comedies. This new venture involves 17 episodes, depicting two young Cubs fans finding love during a game.
Notably, while the series draws parallels with team Chairman Tom Ricketts’ real-life meeting with his wife Cece in the bleachers, a Cubs source confirmed any similarities are unintentional. The storyline of “Nine Innings to Love” is purely fictional.
The trailer for the series debuted just as the Cubs and Brewers faced off, a moment that might have overshadowed the game if Milwaukee hadn’t been leading the division by eight games. Scheduled for release on September 4, the series will coincide with critical games between the Cubs and Brewers.
This TikTok series might evoke memories of rom-coms like “Fever Pitch,” which featured a baseball fan in a full-length film. However, unlike that film, which included appearances by actual players, the Cubs’ series does not feature any current players.
The innovation by the Cubs follows a trend where sports teams create romantic narratives to engage fans. The Chicago Bears are also participating, with their TV movie “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story” set for the Hallmark Channel. Other teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have similarly ventured into romantic storylines.
Drawing on the fondness for team-based content, fans may appreciate a rom-com series set at Wrigley Field. The sight of fans making beer cup snakes highlights the typical bleacher experience, adding a lighthearted aspect to the Cubs’ TikTok project.
While the Cubs are optimistic about their upcoming series, personal projects like the anticipated TikTok rom-com “You had me at Woo” also aim to capture the bleacher spirit. This story involves a hedge fund manager from Glenview and a public relations intern from Lincoln Park entangled in a viral video challenge.
As the Cubs bring this series to life, it may offer a welcome distraction for fans looking beyond recent pitching struggles.