Hottest Trade on the C.B.O.E.? Not Index Options.

The economy has its ebbs and flows, but there is one constant: Win or lose, the Chicago Cubs make money.

This year marks the centennial of the Cubs last World Series victory, so suffice to say, the team doesn't share the storied history of the Yankees, the 21st-century winning ways of the Red Sox, or even the 2005 monkey-off-our-broad-shoulders title of cross-town rivals the White Sox.

What the Cubs do have, though, is Wrigley Field. Where the seemingly endless summer party inside the friendly confines brings waves of fans to drink cold Bud Lite under a hot Chicago sun waiting to sing-along to Take Me Out to the Ballgame with the ghost of the late announcer Harry Caray.

Die-hard Cub fans may get annoyed at the losing, but the Wrigley experience is why the Cubs are able to auction 70 new seats adjacent to the dugout in a partnership with the Chicago Board Options Exchange (C.B.O.E.).

"I love the Cubs, but the truth is that most people go to games to play hooky," says Eric Schnabel, a vice president at the advertising agency Leo Burnett. "It's all about getting a Ferris Bueller day off."

"Mr. Cub," the legendary infielder Ernie Banks, rang the opening bell at C.B.O.E. on March 3 to kick off the auction, which runs until March 13 at www.cubs.com.

"These seats are the greatest locale in the house," says Mike Lufrano, the Cubs' vice president for community affairs. "In some seats, you'll be closer to the third baseman than the shortstop is."

In the eBay era, it makes sense to try and undercut the brokers by putting the tickets on the online open market. Lufrano said he expects that a lot of companies will be bidding on the season tickets, as well as a number of single-game seats right behind home plate.

The auction also provides a new money stream for a 94-year-old stadium that cannot, thankfully, wedge in a T.G.I. Friday's, as Miller Park in Milwaukee has done.

"Newer stadiums can offer amenities that we don't have," says Lufrano. "And the extra revenue will help us reach our goal of a World Championship."

If 2008 is the year when long-suffering Cub fans can finally stop waiting 'til next year, then the front row seats for watching the exorcism of a century's worth of futility will be invaluable.

"Extra revenue? Give me a break. Revenue is not the Cubs problem," says Schnabel, the advertising executive. "But I do like having a shot at another set of tickets."

Do you believe this is the year, Cub fans? If you have the faith, break out the credit cards and get in on the auction. On a cool October night, the luckiest of you will be able to look into the dugout, offer pitching tips to the bullpen — and, perhaps, even nab a World Series foul ball.

Just make sure the ball is wayyyyyy out of play.

by Patrick J. Sauer

Photograph of fans at Wrigley Field by the Associated Press.