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Is “The 78” Dead? Or even more alive? Fire announce plans for SSS


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17 minutes ago, ewokpelts said:

The 78 at one point was proposed as an actual neighborhood, complete with a mix of (very expensive) single family homes and condos/townhomes. 
 

what happened?

 

 

 

oh I know what, massive environmental cleanup costs for residential, hence the pivot to sports venues.  Not a skate park

Environmental remediation would still have to be done...

you're awfully aggressive. I might say again: chill out, guy with the star wars username.

Edited by nrockway
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11 minutes ago, ewokpelts said:

No. 

Also, the Sox proposal included additional housing. The Related Idiots just want someone else to pay for it. Part of the reason the Athletics weren't interested in the Howard Terminal site is because they'd have to pay to clean it up. 

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9 hours ago, soxrwhite said:

Northside Sox fan. Gotta love that!

Yeah but born on the Southside, Mom’s family were big Sox fans. Moved out of Wrigleyville in 1952 and moved to Rogers Park where I really grew up.

Edited by The Mighty Mite
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On 9/9/2025 at 1:10 PM, WBWSF said:

I'm  just worried about the team moving out of state. After paying $2 billion for the team and paying another $1billion for a new stadium is rather expensive. If some other city offers the new owner a sweetheart deal he might be tempted to take the deal. I just wish  that something is announced one way or another about a new stadium  or staying where they're at now.

This is such a dead horse. Not going to explain again why they wouldn't move, but you have nothing to worry about. 

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On 9/9/2025 at 1:10 PM, WBWSF said:

I'm  just worried about the team moving out of state. After paying $2 billion for the team and paying another $1billion for a new stadium is rather expensive. If some other city offers the new owner a sweetheart deal he might be tempted to take the deal. I just wish  that something is announced one way or another about a new stadium  or staying where they're at now.

 

20 hours ago, soxfan18 said:

This is such a dead horse. Not going to explain again why they wouldn't move, but you have nothing to worry about. 

I think the chances of this happening before expansion are basically zero.  MLB wants two prime markets available who will build them a publicly-funded new stadium.  They won't be eager for the White Sox to take one of those cities off the board like the A's did with Las Vegas.  I'm not sure how eager Nashville will be to fork over nearly $1B in taxpayer money for a baseball stadium either as they're spending a fortune on the new Titans stadium.  

After expansion?  Mayyyybe.  It depends on how the dust settles after expansion and realignment.  I'm still doubtful that Ishbia, who is based in Chicago, will want to move the team out of state.  But at that point, MLB wouldn't care because they'll likely have imploded the AL and NL, putting the Sox and Cubs in the same division and "conference" and thus making the Sox presence in the Chicago market seem superfluous.  Still a longshot, but at that point, I could see a series of events that maybe leads to their departure - perhaps the city blocks the team from building a privately-funded ballpark at the 78 because of neighborhood objections and some other city ends up getting spurned by MLB in expansion and is ready to make a generous stadium offer.  Maybe. But we're a long way from that point.

Most likely, if their only option is to stay at the current stadium and they won't or can't turn the area into a thriving "stadium district", then I don't expect them to move the team, but expect another 30 years of stagnant market share and arguing that Sox fans aren't fair weather even though they will only show up to games if they're winning and making deep playoff runs for an extended number of years.  

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4 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

 

I think the chances of this happening before expansion are basically zero.  MLB wants two prime markets available who will build them a publicly-funded new stadium.  They won't be eager for the White Sox to take one of those cities off the board like the A's did with Las Vegas.  I'm not sure how eager Nashville will be to fork over nearly $1B in taxpayer money for a baseball stadium either as they're spending a fortune on the new Titans stadium.  

After expansion?  Mayyyybe.  It depends on how the dust settles after expansion and realignment.  I'm still doubtful that Ishbia, who is based in Chicago, will want to move the team out of state.  But at that point, MLB wouldn't care because they'll likely have imploded the AL and NL, putting the Sox and Cubs in the same division and "conference" and thus making the Sox presence in the Chicago market seem superfluous.  Still a longshot, but at that point, I could see a series of events that maybe leads to their departure - perhaps the city blocks the team from building a privately-funded ballpark at the 78 because of neighborhood objections and some other city ends up getting spurned by MLB in expansion and is ready to make a generous stadium offer.  Maybe. But we're a long way from that point.

Most likely, if their only option is to stay at the current stadium and they won't or can't turn the area into a thriving "stadium district", then I don't expect them to move the team, but expect another 30 years of stagnant market share and arguing that Sox fans aren't fair weather even though they will only show up to games if they're winning and making deep playoff runs for an extended number of years.  

Look, if the White Sox leave Chicago, expansion teams will be fist fighting to take their place ala the Cleveland Browns. 

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14 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

Look, if the White Sox leave Chicago, expansion teams will be fist fighting to take their place ala the Cleveland Browns. 

No offense, but in this day and age would anybody care if the Sox moved out of state? We already have the Cub and the Sox because of Jerry and all this losing generally regarded as inconsequential IMO. The state is NOT gonna give Sox owners any money for a new stadium. We know that. So that means the Sox either shut up and stay at 35th and Shields or the new owners move or build their own stadia at the 78. ... I'm thinking most people in Chicago think of Jerry as a businessman making money off the people of Chicago, not trying in the least to entertain or win. Good riddance most will say or Bye Bye if they are kinder than that.

Edited by greg775
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3 minutes ago, greg775 said:

No offense, but in this day and age would anybody care if the Sox moved out of state? We already have the Cub and the Sox because of Jerry and all this losing generally regarded as inconsequential IMO. The state is NOT gonna give Sox owners any money for a new stadium. We know that. So that means the Sox either shut up and stay at 35th and Shields or the new owners move or build their own stadia at the 78. ... I'm thinking most people in Chicago think of Jerry as a businessman making money off the people of Chicago, not trying in the least to entertain or win. Good riddance most will say or Bye Bye if they are kinder than that.

I can see them staying at the current location with Ishbia trying to develop the surrounding areas and maybe make some updates to the stadium itself. 

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5 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

I can see them staying at the current location with Ishbia trying to develop the surrounding areas and maybe make some updates to the stadium itself. 

Agreed. As long as Pritzger is around (he's totally against helping pay for it) your comment makes GREAT sense. It's not like 35th and Shields and Bridgeport are going anywhere.

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8 minutes ago, greg775 said:

Agreed. As long as Pritzger is around (he's totally against helping pay for it) your comment makes GREAT sense. It's not like 35th and Shields and Bridgeport are going anywhere.

Why do you say that like it’s bad that Pritzker wants them to pay for it themselves?  

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4 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Look, if the White Sox leave Chicago, expansion teams will be fist fighting to take their place ala the Cleveland Browns. 

MLB wouldn't approve a Sox move before expansion as it would unnecessarily take a potential expansion market off the board and, despite my criticism of Rate Field, the Sox don't have a serious stadium problem anywhere close to what the A's had in Oakland and the Rays currently have.   I also don't expect MLB to expand beyond 32 teams - perhaps in my lifetime.  

For more than a half century, MLB hasn't moved any teams unless their current stadium situation became totally unacceptable - Olympic Stadium, Oakland Coliseum, and a Rays move is still possible if they don't get a replacement for Tropicana Field approved.  This goes back all the way to 1972.  It's been the most stable of the 4 major sports leagues in that regard.    

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4 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Why do you say that like it’s bad that Pritzker wants them to pay for it themselves?  

Fair question. I just think most cities wind up having the citizens pay for most of it. Although KC Royals right now may have to move to Kansas for their new stadium cause Missouri citizens don't wanna pay. If Missouri voters remain steadfast the Royals will be lost to the Kansas side.

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4 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

I can see them staying at the current location with Ishbia trying to develop the surrounding areas and maybe make some updates to the stadium itself. 

IMO, this is the most likely outcome to the Sox stadium saga.    

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1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

IMO, this is the most likely outcome to the Sox stadium saga.    

Stranger things could happen but this makes the most sense to me. JR isn't getting s#$% from the state and local politicians won't risk their careers giving him money. Maybe if he hadn't already extorted a stadium once before or maybe if the Sox were actually worth a damn on the field since 2007. 

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14 hours ago, greg775 said:

No offense, but in this day and age would anybody care if the Sox moved out of state? We already have the Cub and the Sox because of Jerry and all this losing generally regarded as inconsequential IMO. The state is NOT gonna give Sox owners any money for a new stadium. We know that. So that means the Sox either shut up and stay at 35th and Shields or the new owners move or build their own stadia at the 78. ... I'm thinking most people in Chicago think of Jerry as a businessman making money off the people of Chicago, not trying in the least to entertain or win. Good riddance most will say or Bye Bye if they are kinder than that.

I care......alot

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9 hours ago, greg775 said:

Fair question. I just think most cities wind up having the citizens pay for most of it. Although KC Royals right now may have to move to Kansas for their new stadium cause Missouri citizens don't wanna pay. If Missouri voters remain steadfast the Royals will be lost to the Kansas side.

So you think that Pritzker is wrong, and we should pay for Jerry’s new stadium?

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15 hours ago, greg775 said:

No offense, but in this day and age would anybody care if the Sox moved out of state? We already have the Cub and the Sox because of Jerry and all this losing generally regarded as inconsequential IMO. The state is NOT gonna give Sox owners any money for a new stadium. We know that. So that means the Sox either shut up and stay at 35th and Shields or the new owners move or build their own stadia at the 78. ... I'm thinking most people in Chicago think of Jerry as a businessman making money off the people of Chicago, not trying in the least to entertain or win. Good riddance most will say or Bye Bye if they are kinder than that.

With your status as a Cub fan, this makes sense.

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3 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

With your status as a Cub fan, this makes sense.

Ugh. I wouldn't go to a Cub game if u gave me free tickets and food and parking. Been there, done that as a kid. ... The alarming thing is how the Sox lost fans like me with their lousiness since winning it all in 05. I mean greg is/was a diehard! I talked about them like I post about Brother Rice now. Passion.  I still can't name our pitching staff; I do know the everyday players for the most part tho. 

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12 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Stranger things could happen but this makes the most sense to me. JR isn't getting s#$% from the state and local politicians won't risk their careers giving him money. Maybe if he hadn't already extorted a stadium once before or maybe if the Sox were actually worth a damn on the field since 2007. 

Well, he's certainly not getting money from the state other than infrastructure funds.  But, it's still possible that he got Ishbia  lined up as the next owner so that the Ishbias could privately finance a new stadium.   That could explain the timing of the ownership transfer announcement and the long-term time frame, which has options kick in the same year the Sox stadium lease is up.  

I just think that staying at the current park with renovations and parking lot redevelopment is the path of least resistance and the most likely outcome.  But we'll see what the Ishbias decide to do with their billions.

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4 hours ago, NO!!MARY!!! said:

My feeling is if the area around it hasn’t been developed by now, it never will be. 

Despite what I just said in my last post, this is a valid concern.  Could they just build a so-called entertainment district at the current location and have it attract enough people the 280 days a year the Sox aren't playing at home to support the businesses there?  I have no idea.

I just think something has to give.  The economics of sports franchises has changed and many teams are rushing to develop areas around their stadium.  I'd be surprised if the Ishbias are spending close to $2B for the Sox franchise just to keep the current park and parking lot arrangement and struggle with stagnant market share and attendance for the next 30 years.

And for those who think they can "just win" and everything will be wonderful.  Easier said than done.  Cohen has thrown a ton of money into the Mets payroll and how's that working out for them?   They'll barely make the playoffs thanks to the 3rd wild card spot.  I doubt that kind of success on the South Side would be enough to turn the tide of the Sox attendance woes.  And how has throwing money at payroll worked out for the Ishbias own Phoenix Suns?  Are they ready to raise any championship banners?

 

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