77 Hitmen

Timely comment just before the Crain's article about the 78 TIF suggesting the developer's plan still envisions two stadiums at the site. If the Amtrak land falls through, the 78 could very well still be the backup plan. The map in the Crain's article shows nothing but surface lots south of the Fire stadium on the 78. That sounds like a placeholder until the Sox stadium question gets settled as there's no way they're going to keep all that prime land as surface lots permanently - even if the Sox end up staying at Rate Field. No doubt the $425M expenditure is much more sellable if you add 81 dates that could bring 25-30k people per game to the site.

Mayor Johnson proposes a $425M TIF subsidy for the 78. Chicago Sun-TimesMayor Johnson proposes $425M TIF subsidy for The 78Chicago Fire FC owner Joe Mansueto has been widely praised for bankrolling his own $750 million soccer stadium on the South Loop parcel known as The 78. But taxpayers would be subsidizing that develop"The roster of TIF-eligible infrastructure projects includes construction of a 1,200-space underground parking garage that would be used for soccer games, concerts and other stadium-related events, and as a platform for an open-air plaza and future high-rise development on the site. The breakdown includes $199 million for public structures, plazas and open space; $104 million for road infrastructure along LaSalle, 13th, 14th and 15th Streets; $11 million for Clark Street improvements; $30 million for river wall improvements along the south branch of the Chicago River; $8 million for Roosevelt Road and $34 million for Metra improvements."

This is the new economic reality in pro sports and something that all professional male sports teams in Chicago except for the Sox are in various stages of getting done. Cubs (done), Bulls/Blackhawks (underway), Fire (underway) and yes eventually the Bears somewhere. Ishbia is still in his 40s and he and his brother are immensely wealthy. He isn't buying the Sox only to keep them at a stadium surrounded by parking lots for the next 30 years. I just hope he hires the best and brightest architects and engineers (people who will closely study what has worked and what hasn't at other MLB parks) to make sure they get the design of any new ballpark right this time.

Most likely, yes. I'm not ready to say it's definitely going to happen. Obviously Ishbia is lining things up to make this happen, but there's still some hurdles to overcome. The Amtrak yard purchase needs to be finalized and Amtrak needs to move their maintenance yard before it can happen. Amtrak has said they've wanted to move their maintenance yard, but that plan sounds complicated and could still fall through. There's also the question of financing of a new ballpark, but everyone involved surely knows at this point that a publicly financed stadium is a non-starter. Given the Ishbias wealth and moves to secure RRIF loans for this project, it's becoming clear that their intent is for a privately-financed ballpark as opposed to waiting for a handout to ISFA (which ain't gonna happen).

Ouch. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/17/comedian-tom-dreesen-dies/

It must be some other "JR" because it's not Jerry Reinsdorf. Fortunately, I don't think anyone on Soxtalk is stupid enough to fall for this pathetic attempt at gaslighting. https://www.nbcchicago.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/jerry-reinsdorf-gives-staggering-white-sox-stadium-project-price-estimate-in-crains-interview/3362622/ Reinsdorf also argued that the White Sox “cannot succeed” in their current location, saying the team can’t generate revenue to pay salaries of top-tier players, citing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract as an example. https://www.forbes.com/sites/philrogers/2024/02/22/jerry-reinsdorf-says-new-stadium-is-a-must-to-keep-white-sox-in-chicago/ He said other members of the team’s ownership group would be motivated to sell it to a relocation group following his death if it remains based at Guaranteed Rate Field. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5293681/2024/02/22/chicago-white-sox-stadium-jerry-reinsdorf/ Field of SchemesWhite Sox owner says he now wants $2B in subsidies, or el...Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf clearly wants to keep his stadium demands in the news as much as possible: After "a source involved in the meetings" talked up why the project needs $1.7 billioJerry Reinsdorf returns to threats that worked the first...When magicians show you how a trick works, it’s usually because the trick isn’t one of their own, or it’s because they don’t intend to use it again, and it’s an opportunity to explain their craft. Jer

I can't say I disagree with IL lawmakers here. Note how Jerry Reinsdorf went to Springfield himself to try to get a deal for a new Sox stadium. As much of a bullshit request that was (taxpayer money for a new stadium), give Jerry credit for meeting lawmakers in person to make his stadium push. Where's George McCaskey in all this mess? It's his frickin team! It sounds like neither McCaskey nor Warren were in Springfield during the spring session. Springfield to Bears: Tell us what stadium deal you wantIllinois lawmakers, it seems, are done with guessing games. Kam Buckner: “Right now, Springfield has spent a lot of time trying to guess what the Bears want. The next step isn’t for legislators to guess better. The next step is for the Bears to become active participants in designing the solution they’re asking us to pass, and we are ready and willing to do that immediately.”

And then A’s went on to get swept by the Reds in the World Series. 😁

I'm not even going to open this link - I don't want to give Moronotti any clicks if I can help it.

What I remember being one of the more galling things about 1990 was that the White Sox were in Boston when the Red Sox clinched the AL East even though they ended up winning only 88 games that season vs. 94 for the Sox. The A's regular season record (103 wins) was too much for the Sox to overtake in the standings, but the Sox were 8-5 vs. Oakland that season. If there were an AL Central and Wild Card spot back then, it's not a given that the Sox wouldn't be able to get past the A's.

I’ll also say 1990. Another breakout season after several horrible seasons and with JR threatening to move the team a few years earlier both times (though it was more of a veiled threat this time). It’s a damn shame that 90 team was before the wild card era. They had the 2nd best record in the AL with 94 wins and missed the playoffs. IMO, they could have gone very deep into the playoffs if they got in.

The Hammond Wolf Lake Lost Marsh site might not have as much room for the Bears as previously reported. It might not be big enough for a "stadium district". https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2026/06/12/bears-stadium-watch-11/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVD1LiRdUDg

I'd love to see that. I'd imagine there could be quite a few Sox fan favorites who get "repatriated" upon ownership change: Fisk, Thomas, Black Jack, AJ are the ones I can think off the top of my head.

I wonder what Cubs fans think of him. He's obviously a huge Cubs booster, but he's still annoying nonetheless.

Definitely.....and good for him. No doubt he was paid very well by WGN and I'm sure it was worth it to them because of the viewers he brought to their newscasts. I'm glad he's enjoying his retirement.

No way. There's a tornado warning on the south side of Chicago right now. They've been saying all day this storm could produce tornados. They'd have been crazy to try to get the game in.

He's awesome. Everyone says he's just a nice in person as he appears to be on the air. For many years, he hosted a Weather Day at Sox Park. https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/white-sox-to-host-annual-weather-day-presented-by-wgn-tv/c-45138454

Future radar shows that the part just west of Chicago is sliding NW, but we still get walloped by this storm eventually.

A Sox fan taking a train to the ballpark? I've read on Soxtalk that this is unheard of!

I believe Homer's boss is a C. Montgomery just like one of the guys in the lineup tonight (but Charles instead of Colson).

first pennant for the south siders since 1959!

Eh, I still want Ishbia to take over in time before we start trading these guys in a few years because we just don't do $100M contracts.

That opening day loss with 20 Ks seems like it was in another season right now.

Pardon me if I don't take things Don Cooper said about team culture as gospel. NBC SportsOzzie Guillen angry at White Sox pitching coach Don CooperDon Cooper managed the White Sox's final game following Ozzie Guillen's departure and signed a multi-year contract extension to remain Chicago's pitching coach, but apparently Guillen and Cooper aren'Cooper needs to look in the mirror. He didn’t back-stab me. I know who he is. He back-stabbed his fellow coaches, the guys he worked with for years. You got family? That’s fine. Everyone does. We all knew Coop was Kenny’s b****. Look, Coop is not a good coach; he’s a great coach. But Coop is Coop. He doesn’t worry about anyone; he worries about himself. I stuck up for my coaches like a m*****f*****.

1990 White Sox after losing 92 games and finishing in last place the year before.