Arlington Heights making stadium pitch to White Sox?

[greg775]

On 4/9/2025 at 9:36 AM, tray said:

ISFA will do whatever it takes (again) to keep the Sox on 35th. If there was an alternate location me and some Southsiders would be OK with the Credit Union 1 site in Tinley. 

The citizens aren't going to pay squat in taxes for the Sox or Bears. From what I read Chicago and Illinois taxes are so out of control. Nobody's gonna vote to help out billionaire owners. If they wanna stay in Chicago they need to pay up. They won't, so AH is gonna get both teams with sweetheart deals IMO.

[greg775]

16 hours ago, Dick Allen said:

If the requirement is that someone has to build the Sox a new park, there is no way Arlington Heights is going to build them a new park.

Nor will the city of Chicago voters build 'em a new park. So will they be forced to move? Actually the Cell is a fine ballpark, though dull. And it's relatively new in terms of ballparks. Keep that one if no taxpayer is gonna pay.

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, greg775 said:

Nor will the city of Chicago voters build 'em a new park. So will they be forced to move? Actually the Cell is a fine ballpark, though dull. And it's relatively new in terms of ballparks. Keep that one if no taxpayer is gonna pay.

Greg it's one of the oldest parks in mlb now.

35 years is a lifetime with how things are changing.

Fenway Wrigley Dodger Stadium the only ones older, maybe Anaheim.

So fifth oldest.

[The Mighty Mite]

5 hours ago, greg775 said:

The citizens aren't going to pay squat in taxes for the Sox or Bears. From what I read Chicago and Illinois taxes are so out of control. Nobody's gonna vote to help out billionaire owners. If they wanna stay in Chicago they need to pay up. They won't, so AH is gonna get both teams with sweetheart deals IMO.

So where does the money come from for stadiums in AH?

 

[caulfield12]

13 minutes ago, The Mighty Mite said:

So where does the money come from for stadiums in AH?

 

Back to legislative action in Springfield.

Good luck with that.

 

"The team said it will not request state funding for the stadium itself but has lobbied for legislative support to secure infrastructure certainty around the broader mixed-use district."

Edited May 18 by caulfield12

[mac9001]

The city (AH or Chicago) would be on the hook for infrastructure development regardless of what's being developed. There's going to be TIF created to pay off bonds that will be secured to finance the infrastructure development. That's inevitable regardless of what's going to get built in the AH site or the 78. That's probably a none issue, the only thing holding the public financing back is the Bears haven't committed to development. If the Sox buy the 78 land and commit to the development the city will also finance nessesary infrastructure developments. Money talks, if the Bears or Sox commit billion(s) you won't find a lot of hesitation from any city leaders to hand out expensive infrastructure contracts to unions. This is the type of s%*# politicians love pushing.

Edited May 18 by mac9001

[caulfield12]

9 minutes ago, mac9001 said:

The city (AH or Chicago) would be on the hook for infrastructure development regardless of what's being developed. There's going to be TIF created to pay off bonds that will be secured to finance the infrastructure development. That's inevitable regardless of what's going to get built in the AH site or the 78. That's probably a none issue, the only thing holding the public financing back is the Bears haven't committed to development. If the Sox buy the 78 land and commit to the development the city will also finance nessesary infrastructure developments. Money talks, if the Bears or Sox commit billion(s) you won't find a lot of hesitation from any city leaders to hand out expensive infrastructure contracts to unions. This is the type of s%*# politicians love pushing.

Reinsdorf hasn't committed to even $300-500 million...so far, not even one penny.

And that's Tampa Bay's estimates for ownership's share.

Chicago will require at least double that to get anything off the ground politically.

[The Mighty Mite]

8 hours ago, greg775 said:

Nor will the city of Chicago voters build 'em a new park. So will they be forced to move? Actually the Cell is a fine ballpark, though dull. And it's relatively new in terms of ballparks. Keep that one if no taxpayer is gonna pay.

So what has to be done to make a baseball park not dull?

Is Wrigley Field a great park, no, back in the day it was just another ballpark. Same with Fenway, what both ball parks have going for them is that they are old and in neighborhoods with lots of restaurants and bars, those things have never done a thing for me. What makes Dodger Stadium so good? The stadium itself, absolutely nothing. It is in a great setting with the hills in the background but as a ballpark and watching a game it is no better than Rate Field, and guess what, it’s surrounded by parking lots with no restaurants or bars anywhere close to it. Royals Stadium gets pretty good reviews but again it’s no better than Rate Field, again another park surrounded by parking lots and no restaurants or bars nearby.

I will say this about our ballpark, when first built it was an ugly monstrosity but much to my chagrin I have to give kudos to JR and company for turning the park into a very nice place to watch a game.

Bottom line, if a ballpark is considered dull, that problem could be rectified very easily with a winning team.

Edited May 18 by The Mighty Mite

[WBWSF]

1) This talk of a new Bears stadium is all over the Chicago media. Nothing is being said about a new White Sox stadium. JR has said nothing. I know enough about JR to know he has some kind of game plan in regards  to a new stadium. From what I can see he's waiting for the Bears  to officially announce what they are going to do with their new stadium. Perhaps then he will come to some kind of an agreement with the City in regards to a new stadium in the South Loop. If the Bears go to the suburbs I would like to think the City wouldn't want to lose both the Bears and the White Sox.  2) I realize it isn't going to happen but wouldn't you love to see the team have a Soxfest like they had before and have a seminar with JR taking questions from the fans. It would be close to a riot.

[WBWSF]

1 hour ago, The Mighty Mite said:

So what has to be done to make a baseball park not dull?

Is Wrigley Field a great park, no, back in the day it was just another ballpark. Same with Fenway, what both ball parks have going for them is that they are old and in neighborhoods with lots of restaurants and bars, those things have never done a thing for me. What makes Dodger Stadium so good? The stadium itself, absolutely nothing. It is in a great setting with the hills in the background but as a ballpark and watching a game it is no better than Rate Field, and guess what, it’s surrounded by parking lots with no restaurants or bars anywhere close to it. Royals Stadium gets pretty good reviews but again it’s no better than Rate Field, again another park surrounded by parking lots and no restaurants or bars nearby.

I will say this about our ballpark, when first built it was an ugly monstrosity but much to my chagrin I have to give kudos to JR and company for turning the park into a very nice place to watch a game.

Bottom line, if a ballpark is considered dull, that problem could be rectified very easily with a winning team.

The White Sox stadium is 2 different parks. There is nothing bad about the lower deck.(It's great) There is nothing good about the upper deck. Most of  it is horrible.

[The Mighty Mite]

2 hours ago, WBWSF said:

The White Sox stadium is 2 different parks. There is nothing bad about the lower deck.(It's great) There is nothing good about the upper deck. Most of  it is horrible.

The upper deck is a lot better since they lopped off 8 rows,  it’s still steep but I have noticed a lot of the new parks with upper decks just as steep.

Edited May 18 by The Mighty Mite

[Lip Man 1]

3 hours ago, The Mighty Mite said:

So what has to be done to make a baseball park not dull?

Is Wrigley Field a great park, no, back in the day it was just another ballpark. Same with Fenway, what both ball parks have going for them is that they are old and in neighborhoods with lots of restaurants and bars, those things have never done a thing for me. What makes Dodger Stadium so good? The stadium itself, absolutely nothing. It is in a great setting with the hills in the background but as a ballpark and watching a game it is no better than Rate Field, and guess what, it’s surrounded by parking lots with no restaurants or bars anywhere close to it. Royals Stadium gets pretty good reviews but again it’s no better than Rate Field, again another park surrounded by parking lots and no restaurants or bars nearby.

I will say this about our ballpark, when first built it was an ugly monstrosity but much to my chagrin I have to give kudos to JR and company for turning the park into a very nice place to watch a game.

Bottom line, if a ballpark is considered dull, that problem could be rectified very easily with a winning team.

Actually you have to give credit to U.S. Cellular Company, they gave JR the money. he didn't invest one dime out of his own pocket. 

January 31, 2003 - U.S. Cellular Company and the White Sox signed an agreement selling the naming rights to Comiskey Park. The deal was worth 68 million dollars and the contract was for 23 years. The money received by the club contained the stipulation that it could only be used on renovations and upgrades for the stadium, not say, for signing free agents. Because of said renovations U.S. Cellular Field became one of the finest looking stadiums in baseball. The Guaranteed Rate company would then secure naming rights in November 2016.

[77 Hitmen]

15 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Greg it's one of the oldest parks in mlb now.

35 years is a lifetime with how things are changing.

Fenway Wrigley Dodger Stadium the only ones older, maybe Anaheim.

So fifth oldest.

Yes, Angel Stadium opened in 1966.  Kaufmann Stadium and Rogers Centre are older too.  But, regardless, your point is still a valid one.   Unfortunately, New Comiskey became outdated one year after it opened when Camden Yards opened the floodgates to new ballparks with character.  

9 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Reinsdorf hasn't committed to even $300-500 million...so far, not even one penny.

And that's Tampa Bay's estimates for ownership's share.

Chicago will require at least double that to get anything off the ground politically.

Last I heard, Uncle Jerry hinted that he could commit ~$200M.  And yes, that's far short of what would be needed and what the ownerships of Tampa Bay ($700M) and Kansas City (~$1B) have said they'd commit in private funding for a new stadium.  

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yes, Angel Stadium opened in 1966.  Kaufmann Stadium and Rogers Centre are older too.  But, regardless, your point is still a valid one.   Unfortunately, New Comiskey became outdated one year after it opened when Camden Yards opened the floodgates to new ballparks with character.  

Last I heard, Uncle Jerry hinted that he could commit ~$200M.  And yes, that's far short of what would be needed and what the ownerships of Tampa Bay ($700M) and Kansas City (~$1B) have said they'd commit in private funding for a new stadium.  

Ofc TB already backtracked off that commitment/schedule and they might still end up in Orlando.

New Comiskey is basically a copy of KC minus the fountains.  Same upper decks.

Edited May 18 by caulfield12

[mac9001]

Reinsdorf is a principle investor in the $7B development around the UC. I don't think he'll struggle to come up with money for the 78 if the project makes financial sense. There's obviously something on that site that complicates things otherwise the Sox or Bears would have been fully committed. If you're the White Sox and you're trying to extort the city of Chicago to the maximum extent possible you would wait for the Bears to officially be gone to leverage as much city funded support as is possible. I'm willing to get once the Bears break ground in AH you'll see some movement from the Sox on a new stadium.

[Dick Allen]

15 hours ago, mac9001 said:

Reinsdorf is a principle investor in the $7B development around the UC. I don't think he'll struggle to come up with money for the 78 if the project makes financial sense. There's obviously something on that site that complicates things otherwise the Sox or Bears would have been fully committed. If you're the White Sox and you're trying to extort the city of Chicago to the maximum extent possible you would wait for the Bears to officially be gone to leverage as much city funded support as is possible. I'm willing to get once the Bears break ground in AH you'll see some movement from the Sox on a new stadium.

The city can’t pay their bills as it is. If you think they will give anything to the White Sox, you haven’t payed attention. The Sox only hope is that the state give them money. That’s a firm no, especially now with no idea what their pools of federal government funds will be for with states that didn’t vote for the current administration. JR is either going to have to build it himself or make a deal with Ishbia to build it for him. 

Edited May 19 by Dick Allen

[kgrittenburg]

On 4/2/2025 at 2:20 PM, GreatScott82 said:

I’m not so sure about that. The suburbs are much different than the Northside/Southside city dynamic. It’s very blended between Sox and Cubs fans.
If you build the next stadium in the Chicagoland area, Sox fans will show up from all over. What’s a better suburban alternative? Schaumburg? Naperville?
 

When and if Ishibia takes over, I’m sure he will want to build a Soxtown around his new stadium. I’m not so sure he can do that if he shares an Arlington heights site with the Bears?

Ishbia is not going to come in and fork out millions right away

[BrittBurnsFan]

9 minutes ago, kgrittenburg said:

Ishbia is not going to come in and fork out millions right away

Respectfully...why not?  It isn't like he will be new to the situation.  He knows more than we do what is going on.  I would be shocked if he doesn't have a plan in mind already for what he wants to do and what it will cost.  And millions would likely be on the smaller end of the expenditures...

[Princess Dye]

18 minutes ago, BrittBurnsFan said:

Respectfully...why not?  It isn't like he will be new to the situation.  He knows more than we do what is going on.  I would be shocked if he doesn't have a plan in mind already for what he wants to do and what it will cost.  And millions would likely be on the smaller end of the expenditures...

Ishbia is going to come here and try to make it a moneymaker, and then put money into it. what we want-- it's going to go the other way. at least at first

Cubs fans were openly told 'we are going to build the neighborhood up first' and big ticket FAs were not signed. and that is pretty ballsy to do in a case where you already have a big attendance you can risk losing. the sox dont even have That, as a start off point, though.

these are land deals. even though they are the stuff of our hearts

Edited May 19 by Princess Dye

[southsider2k5]

24 minutes ago, kgrittenburg said:

Ishbia is not going to come in and fork out millions right away

He bought the Suns in Feb 2023.  By that trade deadline he had brought in Kevin Durant.  The following off-season he brought in Bradley Beal.  Tell me why you wouldn't expect him to do similar here?

[Lip Man 1]

Some interesting comments in today's Sun-Times story:

 

“But it’s become apparent for them that no one has got any money for them, and the only way they get any break is from local school districts and municipalities”

Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and state Senate President Don Harmon have all consistently thrown cold water on the idea of giving any help to the team.

“The best thing that could happen for them is someone comes along and gives them a billion dollars, or the NFL steps up with more money. They’re getting zero from the city of Chicago, and they’re getting zero from the state. The money is not coming from here.”

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2025/05/19/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-chicago-brandon-johnson

[mac9001]

People keep confusing the the cost of the stadium or retail/entertainment development vs infrastructure (roads/sewer/electric/water). If a private developer comes in to build 1000 townhomes in AH the city would fund the development of the infrastructure, so would Chicago in the 78. Local governments in IL have been using TIFs exactly for this purpose and on large developments like in AH or the 78 they potentially have the ability to find a billion in infrastructure funding on just setting up a TIF district that is legally tied to a bond offering. If the only issue was basic infrastructure funding there would already be shovels in the ground.

 

Edited May 20 by mac9001

[WBWSF]

I read a couple days ago that one of the politicians told the Bears to try and get together with the White Sox in terms of 2 new stadiums. The Bears didn't do that.  I've read that the new Bears stadium will cost $5 Billion dollars. If that's true does anybody really think that the Bears are going to come up with that type of money? It wouldn't surprise me if they stayed at  their present stadium. Its been  really quiet about a new White Sox stadium.

[Lip Man 1]

2 hours ago, WBWSF said:

I read a couple days ago that one of the politicians told the Bears to try and get together with the White Sox in terms of 2 new stadiums. The Bears didn't do that.  I've read that the new Bears stadium will cost $5 Billion dollars. If that's true does anybody really think that the Bears are going to come up with that type of money? It wouldn't surprise me if they stayed at  their present stadium. Its been  really quiet about a new White Sox stadium.

It's been really quiet because I suspect JR and his minions have been told no money is going to be available from the state or the city, period. (Just like the Bears have been told)

There could be some movement when or if JR holds a press conference and says he will put in to the project a substancial amount of his own money.  

[kitekrazy]

1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

It's been really quiet because I suspect JR and his minions have been told no money is going to be available from the state or the city, period. (Just like the Bears have been told)

There could be some movement when or if JR holds a press conference and says he will put in to the project a substancial amount of his own money.  

He should try that with the baseball team.