When the Chicago White Sox introduced a new stadium on 35th Street in 1991, owner Jerry Reinsdorf was amazed by its beauty and believed it would be one of the best stadiums in Major League Baseball for many years.
Since then, the current home stadium of the White Sox has been a consistent source of criticism and tension, despite significant improvements.
Recently, it was revealed that the White Sox were discussing the possibility of building a new baseball-only stadium about 3 miles northeast at Roosevelt Road and Clark Street in the South Loop as part of a large development at a property called “The 78.”
Ald. Pat Dowell confirmed that the developer of The 78 is interested in talking about a possible White Sox relocation to that site.
Dowell stated that she will meet with the developers of The 78 to explore the potential of building a stadium for the Chicago White Sox.
Ald. Nicole Lee also plans to meet with the developer and the White Sox regarding the proposal.
Lee expressed her commitment to keeping the White Sox on the South Side, where they have been for over a century.
Despite uncertainties about the feasibility and funding of the plan, the news of a potential move prompted hopes for a modern ballpark closer to downtown that could revitalize the team and its fan base.
According to Allen Sanderson, a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago, the current ballpark's location is not appealing, and the overall experience of getting there is not enjoyable.
Related Midwest declined to comment on the discussions. The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority has not been involved in the talks, according to the organization’s CEO, Frank Bilecki.
Bilecki stated that he is not part of the discussion and knows very little about it, as he is the landlord and the White Sox are the tenant exploring their options.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that “serious” negotiations have taken place between the Sox and Related Midwest regarding the potential move to The 78.
The Sox and Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a joint statement on Thursday that did not discuss the possibility of building a new stadium on the site.
The mayor and the Chicago White Sox chairman had a meeting to talk about the long-standing partnership between the team and the city and the team's plans to stay competitive in Chicago indefinitely. The city is committed to continuing the conversation in the future.
Sanderson, a fan of the Sox who frequently goes to games and has been critical of using public money for stadiums, mentioned that a new ballpark might not increase attendance much.
The main problem could be the team not performing well in baseball, along with the senior ownership not being popular with the public, according to Sanderson.
A new White Sox stadium could become a focal point for the South Loop community, similar to how Google will be a focal point in the north when it occupies the James R. Thompson Center, as per Robert Sevim, the president of Savills, a commercial real estate firm based in Chicago. James R. Thompson Center, said Robert Sevim, a Chicago-based president of Savills, a commercial real estate firm.
This would be a big change if it happens. It would be possible to build a whole community around the ballpark. Wrigley Field has a whole community around it, making it special, and in some ways, a White Sox park might even do better because it's a fresh start.
Sevim worked as a consultant on The 78 project a few years ago but was not involved in any potential deal with the White Sox.
A major league ballpark would probably also kick off further development on-site, possibly including housing, offices, restaurants, and shops, all accessible to downtown residents and workers, according to Sevim.
It's not clear what impact the team leaving would have on the Bridgeport area where it has been located for over a century.
Bill Jackson, executive director at the University of Illinois’ Discovery Partners Institute, said that a new home for the White Sox will not disrupt the institute's plans to build a $250 million headquarters at the 78.
DPI still plans to break ground this year on the eight-story, glass-and-steel dome, and finish it by December 2026.
Jackson also believes that having a ballpark on-site will attract more scientists and startup firms to DPI’s future lab, research, and office spaces, having been shown sketches of the proposed stadium this week.
He also expects that the new infrastructure required for the ballpark, including extra parking and transportation improvements, will be beneficial to DPI as it expands.
A Sox stadium at The 78 location would be a very positive development for the team and the city. However, this doesn't mean it will happen, according to Marc Ganis, president and consultant at SportsCorp Ltd., who is not involved in the proposal.
There are many obstacles, said Ganis, with the first being money. Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is not known to spend a lot, and Johnson has other important priorities like schools, pensions, public safety, and now, the migrant crisis.
This location could be great for the Sox for many generations, but many things that make sense in this area do not actually happen, according to Ganis.
The question of how a new ballpark would be funded is significant. Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Sox lease runs until 2029, was financed by money raised through an increase in Chicago hotel room taxes in a last-minute deal in Springfield in 1988. The city and state also each contribute $5 million per year.
The ISFA still needs to pay around $50 million for the construction of the stadium, which was opened near 35th Street and Shields Avenue in 1991.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has indicated he’s generally not in favor of state funds going to private, professional sports teams. He expressed this sentiment last year regarding rumors about the Sox potentially moving and in the Chicago Bears’ search for a new stadium in the city or suburbs.
Regarding the reports of the latest talks about a possible new stadium for the Sox, Pritzker suggested he’d be willing to hear any proposals.
“Nobody’s made an ask yet, so with that being said, I think you know my views about privately owned teams and whether the public should be paying for private facilities that will be used by private businesses,” the governor said during an unrelated event at an elementary school outside of Springfield. “However, there are things that government does to support business all across the state, investing in infrastructure, making sure that we’re supporting the success of business in Illinois.
“So, as with all of the other (things), whether it’s sports teams or other private businesses, we’ll be looking at whatever they may be suggesting or asking.”
Where the Sox will be playing in the future has been a topic of conversation for several months.
In August, Crain’s Chicago Business reported the team was considering a move when its lease at Guaranteed Rate Field expires.
At that time, the Sox said in a statement: “We have not had any conversations about our lease situation, but with six years remaining, it is naturally nearing a time where discussions should begin to take place. The conversations would be with the city, ISFA and the state and most likely would be about vision, opportunities and the future.”
The Sox confirmed a meeting between Reinsdorf and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell took place during the MLB winter meetings in December. But they did not disclose the topics discussed.
Nashville has long been mentioned in speculation as a city to consider if MLB decides to expand.
A Sox move could add a wrinkle to the Bears’ efforts to build a new enclosed stadium. The Bears spent $197 million to buy the former Arlington Park racetrack almost a year ago but have made little progress since then to get tax subsidies or resolve a dispute over property taxes with local school districts.
The Bears have also had discussions with Johnson about staying in the city and with officials about potential sites in Naperville, Waukegan and elsewhere.
Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes said he couldn’t speculate about how the Sox talks might affect the Bears’ options, saying he was still trying to arrange face-to-face meetings between the team and the schools.
“I don’t anticipate that this would negatively impact the momentum we’ve been trying to gain,” he said. “We’re very hopeful things are moving in the right direction, and we’re continuing to work on it.”
A Sox relocation to The 78 might be modeled on the Atlanta Braves’ Truist Park, which opened in 2017 as an anchor to The Battery, a surrounding area of restaurants, housing and entertainment.
Such a mixed-use development is what the Bears have suggested for Arlington Heights. But at 62 acres, the Chicago site is much smaller than the 326 acres at the former Arlington horse track.
Chicago Tribune’s Jeremy Gorner, reporting from Rochester, Ill., and Jake Sheridan contributed.
()
