77 Hitmen

IMO, the whole class warfare thing when it comes to Cubs fans vs. Sox fans is either very dated or has always been a highly overrated stereotype. I know plenty of blue collar people who like the Bad Guys and likewise lots of college-educated white collar people who are huge Sox fans. In fact, I want to say there was a survey done years ago that showed the average income level between Cubs and Sox fans was pretty even. As far as the concern about fans being priced out, that's definitely a legitimate one. Prices would definitely go up at a new ballpark and they could price out some fans. But seeing as Jerry pushed the cheap seats all the way up to the 500 level at the current stadium to make way for 3 levels of luxury, it's not as if New Comiskey was a ballpark for the common folk. It was built with corporate clients in mind.

I voted yes to the first question. I know the renderings are just AI and Ishbia's team said as much and said they don't represent an actual stadium design as they haven't hired an architect yet. Nonetheless, this is exciting because it's the first time that Ishbia has officially come out and said he's looking to build a stadium on that site and that it would be privately-financed. My guess at this point is that the biggest hurdle to this happening is if Ald. Lee and Bridgeport residents successfully NIMBY the Amtrak move to death. For question 2, I voted open air stadium. If they came up with a design for a retractable roof that fit on the South Loop property and felt like a true open air stadium when retracted, I'd be all for that. But if the choice were open air stadium vs. a retractable roof place that felt like a warehouse and would only fit if they stayed at 35th St. then I vote open air stadium. It looks like 85% of respondents said they're excited about this and 78% said they preferred open air. That's a pretty strong consensus - especially for question 1. I guess cranking up the outrage on this still only counts as one vote.

That station is for the Metra Electric line too. I had actually wondered if they’d consider adding a Metra Rock Island line stop at the 78 if the entire rail yard /78 area gets built up. But the LaSalle St terminal for the RI is something like a 15 minute walk. One thing they could (should) do if the Sox move to a ballpark there is offer shuttle service to all the downtown Metra terminals for people who don’t want to or can’t make the walk. It would be a short shuttle ride to get to all Metra (& South Shore) lines.

The first 27 minutes of this Sox Machine podcast discusses the new ballpark renderings. Josh does a pretty good job of laying out all the steps involved in this and the good (world-class ballpark) and bad (leaving Bridgeport behind) of this potential move. Interestingly, he doesn't think this will take 8-10 years to get built as has been reported. He thinks this could be ready as early as 2031 and that the Sox definitely want this done by 2033 for the 100th anniversary All-Star Game.

I don't see a problem. 😁

Paul Sullivan has an article on today's ballpark news. Given how much he's lambasted the Sox over the last 3 decades for their ballpark and attendance, I'm surprise he wasn't gushing over this news. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/05/justin-ishbia-chicago-white-sox-ballpark/ He brings up a couple of interesting items. Be prepared to groan at the 2nd item below. "The renderings don’t show any parking, but a spokesman for Ishbia noted it’s too early in the process and “all those issues and details will be ironed out if (the Sox) decide this is where we want to go.” "Some close to Reinsdorf have indicated he wants to be the Sox’s owner in 2033, when MLB is expected to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the All-Star Game at Sox stadium, wherever that may be" "Ishbia’s spokesperson said the architect has not been chosen and the renderings are a representation of a modern-day ballpark. It could look completely different if it gets built."

It was an even worse percentage before the 2000s renovations. There are 8 fewer rows in the upper deck and they added some extra seats in the 100 level when they did that overhaul. The problem is, you really can't renovate your way out of having 40% of your seats in the 500 level at this point. Maybe you could add some seats in a RF "home run porch" like had been rumored during the last renovation, but even then those would be outfield seats. It wouldn't move the needle that much on % of seats that are a tough sell.

Rumor has it that 14th St is only about 2 miles north of 35th St and is still south of Madison St.

There used to be an enclosed walkway connecting Ogilvie (known back then as the Northwestern Station) to what is now the Green Line! Speaking of shuttles, I'd imagine they could operate shuttles from the ballpark to all the downtown Metra terminals. Those would be a fairly short bus ride. Union Station and LaSalle stations are walking distance, but not everyone wants to or is able to make the 20-minute walk. Chicago Sun-Times'Northwest Passage' connecting Ogilvie and Clinton CTA st...The two-block covered walkway between the stations was closed in 1989. The shutdown was supposed to last three or four years, but the walkway ended up becoming extinct.

How can they know this based on these renderings? Do you have a link to the site that made this claim because I have my doubts that they have the measurements for this proposed stadium based on the renderings that have been released. IMO, the issues with the current upper deck are: 1) after the 100 level and a very small club level, your next choice is all the way up to the 500 level. I've been to several post-Camden ballparks and most have many seats available in the 200 and 300 levels before you really get up to the 400 and 500 seats. So, while there are still crappy seats, they are in a smaller percentage. At Rate Field, something like 40% of all available seats are in the 500 level! 2) As someone else mentioned, the entrance to the 500 seats are way at the bottom. If you're in row 21, you have to slog up 21 rows of steep steps to get to your seat. Some fans used to have to climb up 29 rows!

through that toxic sewage dump? /s

Here are some noteworthy items from the Crain's article. Some were already mentioned above. The full project site covers more than 80 acres. Ishbia paid $20M earlier this year in separate transactions for sites at the NE corner of 18th and Canal. Ishbia has told people he would privately finance a new stadium. Tentative plans include a new Metra station Ishbia met with the Mayor yesterday to discuss his plan. Note that Ishbia is careful to be aware that he does not yet own the Sox: "If feasible, this plan could be presented to Chicago White Sox leadership for consideration as one of the team’s ballpark options when its current lease in the state-owned ballpark ends."

The McDonald's Park development includes a 1200-space parking garage and (for now) a surface lot just south of the stadium. I see no reason why that parking wouldn't be available for a Sox stadium since they can easily make sure the scheduling is such that there isn't a Fire and Sox game at the same time. The renderings released today didn't provide details of what all those structures would be aside from one building that says Northwestern Medicine on it, but there should be plenty of room to include more parking structures as part of such a massive development. And then there's this item from the Crain's article: "Ishbia has also recently acquired properties adjacent to the railyard sites. Public records show ventures he leads paid $20 million in separate transactions earlier this year for development sites at the northeast corner of Canal and 18th Streets, which are not shown in images of The Railyards." Could this be available for a surface lot that could accommodate tailgating? That's just pure speculation on my part. Here's the land on a map:

You can see the raise pedestrian plaza on the rendering that facing north too. It looks like the plaza is above the Metra tracks and level with those 4 ped bridges that cross over to the west end of the development. This would allow fans to enter the park right at the 100 level. Also note the rendering has a pedestrian bridge across the River to the 78 just south of the Sox stadium.

from the Crain's article: "It’s unclear if the project would call for public financial support for infrastructure, though tentative plans include a new Metra station, according to an Ishbia spokeswoman." I'll also note that, while the BNSF is the main Metra line running through those tracks, the Metra SWS (to Orland Park/New Lenox/Frankfort) and Heritage Corridor (to Joliet) lines also use those tracks heading into Union Station's south platforms.