Dick Allen

JR said $4 billion, but what's a couple more billion. Reinsdorf, who met with lawmakers during a visit to Springfield this week, says that the total cost of the first phase of the ballpark project in the South Loop could hit $4 billion, and that the Sox would seek public funding to complete the project, according to the interview.

It's funny , GRF is a 2.5 miles away and that is like 1000 miles. These other areas aren't exactly across the street and on game days, Clark St. is going to be a mess.

Not many tourists stay in the Loop or Pilsen. Ever been in the Loop on a weekend? It's a ghost town.

Don't blame her.

Listen to Stoney, they are stacked.

The new guy sounds pretty good. To me he sounds like Stefan Holt on channel 5,

Funny thing is if the capacity is 35k, one of the things JR bitched about was not drawing 3 million, You can't draw 3 million with a 35k capacity. In fact if you sold out every game, you wouldn't draw what the White Sox drew in 2006 which is what he was primarily bitching about.

LMAO the 78 has been vacant for around 50 years. People have wanted to build on it, but it costs money, and the people who loan others money didn't think it was such a great idea. I hope they build the thing, I really do. I just don't think JR and Related should get billions more than the TIFs in place.

C'mon man. JR claims he wants to start this year and open in 2028. Must be someting in his current lease for that last season or 2 he doesn't like.

Closer to hotter areas. Right by an expressway, right by a Metra stop.....transit upgrades are part of their plan including taking a riverboat to and from the Loop.

Its just the first inning of the first spring training game, but I'm getting flashbacks.

Better defense will appeal to pitchers. Scoring 2 runs a game probably won't.

So far, no. Nothing has been built either here, or any sane person would tell you, a better location, and easier access to the expressway, Lincoln Yards.

Also keep in mind if this place is as hot as people claim, 5 million a year, that's going to require some police. City is way short right now. Who pays?

That's BS. No team has ever been given by any state or city, JR's ask. Not even half. Related is scrambling. Office buildings are out, so the people that would have worked in them won't be interested in Apartments right there. Again, they claim that if the state builds what they want built, others will follow, AND use their own money. Do they have commitments? It's just more BS. It's time to tell Jerry, he has the park he designed. He has been offered development in the parking lots for OVER 20 years. He said no. I told this board about this way back when. He thought building bars and restaurants in the parking lots would hurt the beer and food sales in the ballpark, while also hurting his parking money. Now, it is exactly what he needs to compete with the Royals. I think it could be done very nicely and a lot cheaper than the 4 billion ask. Maybe not at the 78, and I liked the renderings. I would love to go to games there. It's closer to me. But not at that cost. If you don't like the current park, the same guy is making the calls on this one. Keep that in mind.

Right, but the taxes collected at Millenium Park and Navy Pier can be used for other things than paying down Jerry's park and hotel. The taxes in the 78 under Jerry's proposal cannot. I've put my fiscal foot down on lots of things. You think the 78 is blight, what do you think the area around GRF will look like 15 years from now with all the weeds popping up from the parking lots.

The renderings of the park went over really well. That, except where they couldn't spell Chicago, couldn't have gone better for Related and JR. Then the billion dollar asked got leaked, and that didn't go over well. Then JR went to Springfield and said well actually it's 4 billion to complete phase one where, apparently he wants the state to not only build him a ballpark, but a hotel and some restaurants and bars. That , I guess it is hoped, will get others to actually pay their own costs and finish the project. Yet there is no proof of that.

I don't think either should get billions, but if giving billionaires money must happen, and you want to piss off fewer voters, the Bears would be the obvious choice.

A lot more people would be upset in Chicago if the Bears moved to Nashville than the White Sox. Let Jerry have his son sell the White Sox to someone out of town for spite when he's dead. This clown actually said he can't compete in a division with Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, and Kansas City because his almost free rent ballpark with upkeep paid for doesn't provide him with enough revenue. And he can't sell the team because he made too much, he'll get hit with too big of a tax bill. I used to actually like the guy, and have stuck up for him plenty. He. Is. An. Asshole.

You're nuts if you think this is going to be a big draw from out of towners, at least to that level. Besides what does the state and city gain if people go there instead of Millenium Park and Navy Pier other than losing out on the taxes they accumulate so Jerry's park can be paid off?

Its out of the question. People won't be hitting those bars non game day.

suppoosedly a hotel and bars and restarurants is the plan with the initial build, the one were JR is looking for about $4 billlion. I guess if its free, the White Sox would be running those. They made it out to be the ballpark was the catalyst to everything else. Is that just speculation or do they actually have commitments?

Related apparently doesn’t know much about baseball, and developers are bullshiters. They apparently claim the new park will draw 5 million fans annually.

Not if you live in Illinois.

When you are talking economic impact that justifies a billion dollarsubsidy, it must be considered. Keep in mind, if the area ever got built up, the sales tax from there wouldn’t go to the state, it would go to pay down the ballpark.