ThirdGen

April 1, 2022 – In a sort of salary dump self-inflicted by G.M. Rick Hahn’s decision to pick up failed reliever Craig Kimbrel’s hefty, 16-million-dollar option, the White Sox acquired outfielder A.J. Pollock from the Dodgers in a one for one trade. Kimbrel stabilized the downward slide of his career to a degree in Los Angeles, pitching to a 3.75 ERA and 22 saves. Meanwhile Pollock hated playing for the White Sox so much, and wanted so desperately to return to the West Coast where he’d played his entire career, he was willing to pay a million dollars to escape (he declined 13 million from the White Sox for 2023, took a five million dollar buy out then signed in Seattle for seven million). In his one year in Chicago he hit .245 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI’s. As I recall, 1975 was the year the Sox stopped launching fireworks after home runs as they couldn't afford them.They played explosion noises over the PA instead. hey only hit 42 HR's at home.

Based on the fact that the Bears stadium bonds haven't been paid down with that money since 2002, I think it is safe to say the state has already been misdirecting that money elsewhere already.

Here is my understanding of the situation: The Bears and Illinois had an agreement for the renovation/rebuild of Soldier Field. The Bears paid their portion on the agreement. Illinois issued bonds to cover their portion. Hotel tax revenue was to be used to pay down the bonds. Those bonds were backloaded. What the state has been doing with the hotel tax revenue, rather than paying down the bonds is the issue. I am not a fan of government funding of stadiums. However, I don't believe the Bears should be responsible for the state's lousy handling of the financing either. The state would need to pay or refinance those bonds regardless of where the Bears play in the future. Moving doesn't change this at all, so why should the Bears be responsible?

I don't doubt for a minute the JR is a very good human being. I also believe he was a good owner up until the last two decades. Those of us who are old enough to remember when the Sox had to play fireworks noise over the PA after a home run, because they couldn't afford fireworks, or when every single free agent was guaranteed to leave, or when we hired a player manager to save a salary, or the constant threats of moving to Milwaukee, Seattle, or wherever, should recognize that JR took a franchise constantly on the brink of bankruptcy and solidified it financially. He was also aggressive about signing top free agents (Fisk, Bannister as examples) and seemed committed to at least attempting to win. The Sox were, at one time consistently competitive. Not sure what caused the change in the last couple of decades. Complacency with a WS trophy? Financial issues? Complacency with old age?

The last few years MLB has been having all thirty teams start on the same day, regardless of weather or dome, unless international play is happening early. Although this year they have one game the night before, which I assume is for national TV.

So, according to this article the ISFA has only paid down $16 million in principal, less in interest than what was accruing, despite collecting over $1 billion in hotel tax revenue. I am the last person to suggest the government pay for stadiums, but the responsibility for the debt belongs to the state, not the Bears, due to their garbage financing scheme.

I was under the belief that Cellular One paid for the renovations in exchange for naming rights?

Yes, if nothing is paid off. Over $1 billion in taxes from the hotel tax that was supposed to pay off these bonds has been collected since 1990. Where did all that money go?

Before the Bears commit to paying off over $500 million in debt, they should ask how the debt grew from the original $432 million owed when the stadium opened 25 years ago. The Bears and the NFL contributed $200 million toward the original cost. It's the same BS the state claims on Rate Field. Somehow the debt on the stadium is currently higher than the place cost to build 35 years ago. Seems clear the debt is being refinanced time and time again to support other expenses, and the Bears and Sox are being blamed.

In recent years is there a single business in Illinois that built its own infrastructure? Expressway ramps, local streets, etc are the domain of the state. If the Bears pay for a expressway on off ramp, would they be allowed to charge tolls? I don't like govt paying for stadiums but the roads to get there, that's the govt job.

I guess I'm just not a skyscraper guy. If the backdrop was mountains, an ocean, or some other natural beauty I would probably get it. Tough to find in Chicago, other than the lakefront.

Nice stadium, absolutely. Tall buildings in the background, who cares?

Even if they had pointed the ballpark toward the north you wouldn't see much of the skyline from the lower deck. Take a peek sometime off the ramps behind third base at the 100 level, you can't see much of anything downtown. Now the upper deck is different, but you would probably be able to see the Milwaukee skyline from there as well. Do people really buy baseball tickets to look at buildings? Why not sit on a park bench at Grant Park, completely free.

What stood out to me when I visited Petco a couple of years ago, aside from how nice the stadium, is how incredible friendly and efficient the employees were. Without being asked they suggested a kids area my kids might enjoy, and gave me a great overview of food and drink options. No long concession lines despite a full house, friendly employees everywhere. Exact opposite of the current Sox experience.

While it is a small media market they have the advantage of having been the only major league team in that market. They did add a MLS team a couple of months ago, yet to see how they draw long term.