19 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

It seems very clear to me now, that this is intentional and Jerry’s way of creating some leverage for Chicago to help finance a new park.  What a fucking scumbag.

I thought same, all staged

 Strategically alienating Jason to prod his leaving, yearly cancelling sox fest, hiring Tony as manager, fielding an abhorrent team etc. etc. are all part of Jerry’s plan to deflate the fan base which deflates attendance and deflates overall fan interest which will be Jerry’s reason for moving…….”Chicago doesn’t support us so we have to leave” etc. etc. 

I was told that no Sox fan would want the team to move. 

3 minutes ago, Lightly Folded said:

 Strategically alienating Jason to prod his leaving, yearly cancelling sox fest, hiring Tony as manager, fielding an abhorrent team etc. etc. are all part of Jerry’s plan to deflate the fan base which deflates attendance and deflates overall fan interest which will be Jerry’s reason for moving…….”Chicago doesn’t support us so we have to leave” etc. etc. 

But for many years in his stadium deal, I don't know if this still the case, the state of Illinois actually PAID the Sox if the attendance fell below a certain level.

Why the state would agree to this is beyond comprehension and it basically pays ownership not to try to win. 

So why would you leave an area with this type of deal, you think you'd get that in Nashville?

 

Been a fan since '90, never lived closer to Chicago than 3 hours. I am not a fan because of the location so it doesn't matter much to me. I do however feel for all of you that are local and are rightfully pissed about this. 

4 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I was told that no Sox fan would want the team to move. 

They wouldn’t.  You’re not a real fan if you want them to move.

9 minutes ago, fathom said:

How dare the fan base revolt against his BFF Tony

That and maybe he didn’t like the “sell the team” billboards and signs in the park.

2 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I was told that no Sox fan would want the team to move. 

Real Sox fans don’t want them to move. Anyone who claims they are a Sox fan but don’t care if the leave Illinois should cease following them completely and move on. 

6 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I was told that no Sox fan would want the team to move. 

?

Really feels like the Athletics 2.0. Alienate the fanbase as much as possible.

- don’t sign superstar (manny/harper), but spend money on garbage to show they “tried”

-hire TLR and promote based on nepotism

-minor league coaches scandal

-don’t develop minor leagues

-stay in traditional thinking, don’t hire analytics

-cancel fan events because f*** them

-trade away fan favorites

-hire kiss ass bad coaching

-gun scandal

-blame fans, threaten move

-reinsdorf quotes on how to get second place

-“let” benetti go

-tell fans they are stupid and we will compete with a 100+ loss team

-blame fans more, threaten move

im sure I’m missing some, but they are alienating fans on purpose

 

5 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

But for many years in his stadium deal, I don't know if this still the case, the state of Illinois actually PAID the Sox if the attendance fell below a certain level.

Why the state would agree to this is beyond comprehension and it basically pays ownership not to try to win. 

So why would you leave an area with this type of deal, you think you'd get that in Nashville?

 

Because that super sweetheart deal expires in 2029, and politicians would have to actively take steps to renew it just to keep it as is. I sure wouldn't if I were an Illinois state politician - that stadium better be funding itself completely and paying money back to the government if I'm in that role. 

7 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

But for many years in his stadium deal, I don't know if this still the case, the state of Illinois actually PAID the Sox if the attendance fell below a certain level.

Why the state would agree to this is beyond comprehension and it basically pays ownership not to try to win. 

So why would you leave an area with this type of deal, you think you'd get that in Nashville?

 

I don’t think they paid the Sox, they simply reduced the rent that would be owed.

6 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t think they paid the Sox, they simply reduced the rent that would be owed.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2023/09/14/chicago-white-sox-ticket-sales-no-fee-payments-isfa.aspx

If memory serves the deal might have been even sweeter in the first few years - I think JR constructed a deal with extra incentives in those years to cover himself if there was a big, long-lasting, and damaging strike, but I dont' have time to go through the full agreement text.

I'd like to see baseball expand with two more teams. Nashville would be a good location. 

If the Sox do move out, can an expansion team replace them here, and do the Cubs have vetoing power? I forget if I'm mixing up sports here. 

17 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

But for many years in his stadium deal, I don't know if this still the case, the state of Illinois actually PAID the Sox if the attendance fell below a certain level.

Why the state would agree to this is beyond comprehension and it basically pays ownership not to try to win. 

So why would you leave an area with this type of deal, you think you'd get that in Nashville?

 

Low attendance at White Sox games has resulted in the team “paying no ticket fees for over a decade to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority,” the state agency that owns taxpayer-funded Guaranteed Rate Field, according to Sophie Rodgers of CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The management agreement between ISFA and the White Sox “requires the team to pay a base rent per season, plus net ticket fees if paid attendance exceeds 1.93 million tickets," with that "excluding 'comp' tickets." The team “hasn’t paid ticket fees since 2010,” when it drew nearly 2.2 million fans. Last year, the franchise brought in their highest attendance since then, 1.92 million fans -- “just missing the threshold needed to pay ISFA.” While ISFA does "not heavily rely on revenue from ticket fees to meet its bond obligations,” the “glaring issue is the White Sox’s ability to bring in fans” (CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 9/13). 

i still don't believe the league would let him move. 

1 minute ago, Lightly Folded said:

Low attendance at White Sox games has resulted in the team “paying no ticket fees for over a decade to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority,” the state agency that owns taxpayer-funded Guaranteed Rate Field, according to Sophie Rodgers of CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS. The management agreement between ISFA and the White Sox “requires the team to pay a base rent per season, plus net ticket fees if paid attendance exceeds 1.93 million tickets," with that "excluding 'comp' tickets." The team “hasn’t paid ticket fees since 2010,” when it drew nearly 2.2 million fans. Last year, the franchise brought in their highest attendance since then, 1.92 million fans -- “just missing the threshold needed to pay ISFA.” While ISFA does "not heavily rely on revenue from ticket fees to meet its bond obligations,” the “glaring issue is the White Sox’s ability to bring in fans” (CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS, 9/13). 

9-14-23 Crains

Just now, Dick Allen said:

i still don't believe the league would let him move. 

Neither do I…especially not when they are looking to add two teams.  Chicago is a potential goldmine with any competent owner.  Just need George Lucas and his wife to free us from this reign of terror.

29 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I was told that no Sox fan would want the team to move. 

We don't want the team to move. 

3 hours ago, fathom said:

He’s doing everything possible to alienate the fan base.  

This part. 

The old man needs to go.  I truly despise him. 

Could you imagine if JR actually moved to Tampa back in the day? With how they draw even when they win,, and JR's refusal to gamble away any profit, and the division they play in, it may have been the worst ownership from a competitve angle of all time. 

3 hours ago, T R U said:

I have no idea who my new favorite team would be if this happened

I already have one foot out the door after the failed rebuild, they’re dead to me if they move. I’ll still watch tons of baseball, I just won’t have a local team anymore. It’s really hard to form new attachments after 30+ years of investment in this shitty franchise. 

3 minutes ago, Rocky said:

The old man needs to go.  I truly despise him. 

I was fine with him a lot longer than most everyone else, but it's beyond time. And if he's doing these stunts now.....just sell the team and count your money.