77 Hitmen Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 (edited) 4 hours ago, Dick Allen said: I've seen 2 developers, a politician, and Our Chuck just mentioned it the other day, but said he was then told it could work. Are there other developers involved at the site other than Related Midwest? I haven't heard Related Midwest shut the door on a Sox stadium there as far as I know. Interesting that Garfien initially said 2 stadiums wouldn't fit there but then was told it could work. That doesn't sound like the Sox are giving up on the site. I like Chuck, but he's essentially a Sox employee. He's not an independent journalist who is going to criticize or contradict the organization. I guess we'll all find out soon enough. Ishbia sure seems to have a new stadium somewhere in mind. Who knows, perhaps it'll be at 35th St. on the site of Old Comiskey. A new stadium there would also have to include some sort of "entertainment district" development because he ain't spending over a $1B on a new stadium only to keep it surrounded by acres of surface lots when much of the rest of the sports world is moving away from that business model. Edited November 22 by 77 Hitmen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WBWSF Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 5 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: The is the complete opposite area of the White Sox fan base. Th e west end of Rosemont is empty and big enough for a new stadium. Its near the tollway, expressway and the CTA Blue Line. AND most importantly the Mayor of Rosemont is a White Sox fan. He was willing to build a stadium for the Cubs. I would guess he would welcome the White Sox with open arms. I have to admit that most of the White Sox fan base is not close to Rosemont but keep in mind that JR wanted to build a stadium in Addison/Dupage County which wasn't close to the fan base either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 7 minutes ago, WBWSF said: Th e west end of Rosemont is empty and big enough for a new stadium. Its near the tollway, expressway and the CTA Blue Line. AND most importantly the Mayor of Rosemont is a White Sox fan. He was willing to build a stadium for the Cubs. I would guess he would welcome the White Sox with open arms. I have to admit that most of the White Sox fan base is not close to Rosemont but keep in mind that JR wanted to build a stadium in Addison/Dupage County which wasn't close to the fan base either. There's plenty of empty space on the Southside too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnetennba Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 2 hours ago, WBWSF said: Th e west end of Rosemont is empty and big enough for a new stadium. Its near the tollway, expressway and the CTA Blue Line. AND most importantly the Mayor of Rosemont is a White Sox fan. He was willing to build a stadium for the Cubs. I would guess he would welcome the White Sox with open arms. I have to admit that most of the White Sox fan base is not close to Rosemont but keep in mind that JR wanted to build a stadium in Addison/Dupage County which wasn't close to the fan base either. Jerry also does not care about the fanbase. Never has, never will. It would be bad business for a new owner to drop 2 billion on a franchise just to further f*** over an already beleaguered and dwindling fanbase. If Ishbia wants to see any ROI that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 (edited) 1 hour ago, Tnetennba said: Jerry also does not care about the fanbase. Never has, never will. It would be bad business for a new owner to drop 2 billion on a franchise just to further f*** over an already beleaguered and dwindling fanbase. If Ishbia wants to see any ROI that is. Surely that topic came up in discussions with 29 other owners...having a crown jewel stadium in Chicago, instead of bottom 3-5. Minnesota eliminated for Ishbia because they were 10-15 years at least from a new stadium project, maybe 20 or they end up potentially getting moved depending on new ownership group. And that debt load ... $500 million and climbing. Edited November 22 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 10 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Surely that topic came up in discussions with 29 other owners...having a crown jewel stadium in Chicago, instead of bottom 3-5. Minnesota eliminated for Ishbia because they were 10-15 years at least from a new stadium project, maybe 20 or they end up potentially getting moved depending on new ownership group. And that debt load ... $500 million and climbing. Minnesota was eliminated because Jerry offered him Chicago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleAleSox Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 39 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: Minnesota was eliminated because Jerry offered him Chicago. Yep. Can make way more money here if done right. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 On 11/19/2025 at 2:54 PM, Lip Man 1 said: “I wish it was yesterday. I’d love to be the steward of a wonderful franchise. I’m the biggest baseball fan you’ll find. My goal is to win." --Justin Ishbia. In one conversation he has shown himself to be a complete opposite of Reinsdorf and exactly what this franchise desperately needs. Just hope I'm around to see it when it happens. Honestly - it was a pretty refreshing interview but he also showed respect to Jerry and didn’t over step his bounds either. Very good public first impression from my end. Long time until he takes over but there is some hope in sight after years and years of this org being run down and completely not maintained. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 (edited) 13 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Surely that topic came up in discussions with 29 other owners...having a crown jewel stadium in Chicago, instead of bottom 3-5. Minnesota eliminated for Ishbia because they were 10-15 years at least from a new stadium project, maybe 20 or they end up potentially getting moved depending on new ownership group. And that debt load ... $500 million and climbing. 3 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: Minnesota was eliminated because Jerry offered him Chicago. 2 hours ago, PaleAleSox said: Yep. Can make way more money here if done right. I'm not sure why Ishbia would have pulled out of buying the Twins because he wanted to spend upwards of $1B on a new stadium. All things being equal, I'd think he'd prefer a team that already played in a well-liked stadium in a downtown location. For all the problems the Twins have, Target Field isn't one of them. It isn't bottom 3-5 like you pointed out is the situation with the Sox. Otherwise I agree that the Twins big debt load was another reason to pick the Sox over them....though I don't know how much debt the Sox have compared to the Twins. To @southsider2k5 and @PaleAleSox's points, not only is Chicago a bigger market, but it's Ishbia's hometown. He flat out said so to the media the other day. "If done right" is exactly the problem with the Sox. The incoming owner has his work cut out for him. Not only does he need to rebuild this organization from the ground up but he's coming in as the stadium issue comes to a head with the lease expiring in 2029. In order to make inroads against the Cubs in Chicago, they'll need the Sox to be a top-notch organization playing at a world-class stadium. Right now, they are near the bottom of the league for both. Edited November 22 by 77 Hitmen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 (edited) 15 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said: I'm not sure why Ishbia would have pulled out of buying the Twins because he wanted to spend upwards of $1B on a new stadium. All things being equal, I'd think he'd prefer a team that already played in a well-liked stadium in a downtown location. For all the problems the Twins have, Target Field isn't one of them. It isn't bottom 3-5 like you pointed out is the situation with the Sox. Otherwise I agree that the Twins big debt load was another reason to pick the Sox over them....though I don't know how much debt the Sox have compared to the Twins. To @southsider2k5 and @PaleAleSox's points, not only is Chicago a bigger market, but it's Ishbia's hometown. He flat out said so to the media the other day. "If done right" is exactly the problem with the Sox. The incoming owner has his work cut out for him. Not only does he need to rebuild this organization from the ground up but he's coming in as the stadium issue comes to a head with the lease expiring in 2029. In order to make inroads against the Cubs in Chicago, they'll need the Sox to be a top-notch organization playing at a world-class stadium. Right now, they are near the bottom of the league for both. Ishbia has previously said he was actively looking forward to being part of a new stadium project...that it was one of the most exciting aspects for a new owner. Twins $450-500 million Sox $125-140 million Edited November 22 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxrwhite Posted November 22 Share Posted November 22 7 hours ago, Chisoxfn said: Honestly - it was a pretty refreshing interview but he also showed respect to Jerry and didn’t over step his bounds either. Very good public first impression from my end. Long time until he takes over but there is some hope in sight after years and years of this org being run down and completely not maintained. Might not be a long time. Not completely unrealistic to think a 90 year old man could pass at anytime. Just sayin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 5 hours ago, caulfield12 said: Ishbia has previously said he was actively looking forward to being part of a new stadium project...that it was one of the most exciting aspects for a new owner. Twins $450-500 million Sox $125-140 million If Reinsdorf is in charge until 2029, he won’t be part of one when he gets the White Sox unless he lasts as long as as Jerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleAleSox Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 1 hour ago, Dick Allen said: If Reinsdorf is in charge until 2029, he won’t be part of one when he gets the White Sox unless he lasts as long as as Jerry. I highly doubt JR is making any stadium decisions without Ishbia. Ishbia is paying for it one way or another. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducksnort Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 (edited) After Ishbia spoke, it's pretty clear that he's getting a new stadium built. Shouldn't that all but solidify the Sox are inevitably moving away from 35th and shields? The ISFA owns Rate Field, which means Ishbia can't just tear the thing down and build new. Unless He purchases it from ISFA I guess and then proceeds to demolish Rate Field and build new, but that all sounds a lot more expensive than just building on empty land somewhere like the 78. Edited November 23 by Ducksnort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Mite Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 (edited) Looking at the 78 on Google Earth and with the new Fire stadium on the horizon where are the fans going to park? Of course that’s never been a problem with Wrigley as most take the L to that place, the question is how many Sox fans will take public transportation to see the Sox at the 78. Before we moved to Florida we lived in Wheaton and we always drove to 35th and Shields, I don’t think if we still lived in Wheaton that I would make many trips to the 78, certainly not night games, maybe the Metra for day games but it would still be a hike from the Northwestern Station to the 78, I guess we could take the bus the rest of the way but that’s a pain. I’m thinking at this point a new park at 35th and Shields on the location of old Comiskey might be the best way to go, transportation has never been a problem there with the Dan Ryan and the CTA Station right at the the doorstep along with the Metra station along the east side of the Ryan. Edited November 23 by The Mighty Mite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted November 23 Share Posted November 23 (edited) 22 hours ago, Ducksnort said: After Ishbia spoke, it's pretty clear that he's getting a new stadium built. Shouldn't that all but solidify the Sox are inevitably moving away from 35th and shields? The ISFA owns Rate Field, which means Ishbia can't just tear the thing down and build new. Unless He purchases it from ISFA I guess and then proceeds to demolish Rate Field and build new, but that all sounds a lot more expensive than just building on empty land somewhere like the 78. He could build a new stadium on the north side of 35th St. on the site of Old Comiskey. Does ISFA own that land? If so, he'd have to buy the land from them and also tear down the existing ramps, bar, and gift shop structure while Rate Field is still open to build a new stadium there. IMO, if he's going to build a new stadium, it's either going to build it at the 78 or the site of Old Comiskey. If he does choose the Old Comiskey site, it does make me wonder why he'd spend $1B+ to build at the exact same location that has somewhat problematic for the Sox for decades. Sure, it would erase all the oft-discussed design flaws of the current stadium, but you are still stuck with the nagging issue of a location where there isn't much else for fans to do before and after games. He'd have to build an entertainment district built along with the new park. That would be costly and he'd have to be confident that building an entertainment district from scratch there will actually succeed since the businesses will have to draw people the 280 days each year when the Sox aren't playing at home. Edited November 24 by 77 Hitmen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted November 24 Share Posted November 24 On 11/22/2025 at 12:46 PM, caulfield12 said: Ishbia has previously said he was actively looking forward to being part of a new stadium project...that it was one of the most exciting aspects for a new owner. Twins $450-500 million Sox $125-140 million So, about 3x as much debt as the Sox. Nonetheless, that sale may have gone through if Jerry didn't approach him with an opportunity to buy the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted November 24 Share Posted November 24 Honestly can’t think that Ishbia entered into Twins discussions with a new stadium in mind when Target Field is only 15 years old. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 https://www.si.com/mlb/twins/minnesota-twins-news/if-the-ishbia-brothers-buy-the-twins-imagine-a-2-value-menu-at-target-field-01jfdcacr6tz&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiFvNmqhoyRAxVpkmoFHc1tLTsQFnoECBMQAg&usg=AOvVaw3rAxCfkKPSAGWlVinT2k9w Older article, but worth revisiting what Twins' fans initially anticipated with Ishbia 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 (edited) Ishbia brother learning some valuable lessons with the Suns that bode well for the Sox... “After last season, we said, ‘That old stuff that we did? It didn’t work,'” Ishbia told reporters at Suns media day. “Let’s get it done the right way. Let’s build an identity. … I don’t have a game total that we’re going to win, but I do think the expectations are a team that we’re proud of, a team that plays hard, a team that competes, a team that’s getting better and is fun to watch.” That’s precisely what these Suns have been through the opening weeks of the season: a team that plays a tough, physical, relentless brand of basketball, an approach that starts with a commitment to getting stops." https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/how-suns-are-turning-the-page-on-the-kevin-durant-era--and-enjoying-unexpected-success-in-the-process-194200140.html They also did something unique bringing in a college guy (Gregory) as GM and finally stabilizing the head coaching spot after going through three in just two years. Brian Gregory was an assistant coach on that Izzo and Ishbia championship team and two other Final Four squads. He knows exactly what Ishbia means by “culture.” “That's why I'm here,” Gregory said at his introductory news conference, “to execute that vision.” "Brian Gregory is the perfect guy to execute job No. 1 when it comes to this franchise: Mat Ishbia wants to establish a culture and an identity that’s so clear and so consistent that the entire basketball world knows exactly what Phoenix Suns basketball is all about. “The vision,” Ishbia said at the end of the season, “starts with me delivering what the fans want, a competitive team that’s fun to watch … and has a chance of winning a championship.” https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2025/05/17/brian-gregory-mat-ishbia-james-jones-phoenix-suns-gm-nba-coach/83588272007/ Edited November 25 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 (edited) On 11/23/2025 at 1:00 PM, The Mighty Mite said: Looking at the 78 on Google Earth and with the new Fire stadium on the horizon where are the fans going to park? Of course that’s never been a problem with Wrigley as most take the L to that place, the question is how many Sox fans will take public transportation to see the Sox at the 78. Before we moved to Florida we lived in Wheaton and we always drove to 35th and Shields, I don’t think if we still lived in Wheaton that I would make many trips to the 78, certainly not night games, maybe the Metra for day games but it would still be a hike from the Northwestern Station to the 78, I guess we could take the bus the rest of the way but that’s a pain. I’m thinking at this point a new park at 35th and Shields on the location of old Comiskey might be the best way to go, transportation has never been a problem there with the Dan Ryan and the CTA Station right at the the doorstep along with the Metra station along the east side of the Ryan. It seems like this has been discussed several times in this thread and it's been stated repeatedly that even if the Sox built a new stadium at the 78, there almost certainly will be parking available for people who can't or won't take public transportation to the game. Now, it won't be the same number of parking spots as at Rate Field and it won't be on acres of surface lots and it won't cater to people who won't go to games unless the stadium has ample surface lots and is right next to an expressway, but I think it's time to put the rest the notion that a hypothetic stadium at the 78 (or anywhere else) would leave fans with nowhere to park and would only be accessible by mass transit. To your last point, you said transportation has never been a problem at 35th & Shields. Yeah, but has that really helped with attendance over the years? Since the new park opened, I believe Sox attendance has been 15th or lower in MLB all but the opening years of 1991-94 and 2006. Even when they were playing well a number of other seasons between 2000-2010, attendance was lackluster given the team's level of performance. They won 88 games in 2010 and were still 17th in MLB in attendance. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/mlb_attendance/ Are there downsides if they do indeed move to a new stadium at the 78? Yes. It won't be as convenient for fans driving in as the current park is. Each site has its pros and cons and will leave some fans unhappy. Same with possible suburban sites. It'll be up to the Ishbias to decide where they want to spend their money on this franchise. Maybe they'll decide to build a new park at 35th St and try to create an entertainment district around it. Edited November 25 by 77 Hitmen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnetennba Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 47 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said: It seems like this has been discussed several times in this thread and it's been stated repeatedly that even if the Sox built a new stadium at the 78, there almost certainly will be parking available for people who can't or won't take public transportation to the game. Now, it won't be the same number of parking spots as at Rate Field and it won't be on acres of surface lots and it won't cater to people who won't go to games unless the stadium has ample surface lots and is right next to an expressway, but I think it's time to put the rest the notion that a hypothetic stadium at the 78 (or anywhere else) would leave fans with nowhere to park and would only be accessible by mass transit. To your last point, you said transportation has never been a problem at 35th & Shields. Yeah, but has that really helped with attendance over the years? Since the new park opened, I believe Sox attendance has been 15th or lower in MLB all but the opening years of 1991-94 and 2006. Even when they were playing well a number of other seasons between 2000-2010, attendance was lackluster given the team's level of performance. They won 88 games in 2010 and were still 17th in MLB in attendance. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/mlb_attendance/ Are there downsides if they do indeed move to a new stadium at the 78? Yes. It won't be as convenient for fans driving in at the current park is. Each site has its pros and cons and will leave some fans unhappy. Same with possible suburban sites. It'll be up to the Ishbias to decide where they want to spend their money on this franchise. Maybe they'll decide to build a new park at 35th St and try to create an entertainment district around it. Parking has been discussed so many times, yet the question still arises because some just can’t fathom a ballpark without a sea of parking lots. The Cubs have managed to survive just fine without acres of parking as people became more car dependent and more people moved to the suburbs over the years. The Sox ballpark model is antiquated and 30 years behind the times, and is one of many reasons why they have struggled with attendance. Yet some just can’t or refuse to connect the dots. The future of the franchise hinges on changing the way the org operates once new ownership takes over, and it also means changing the fan experience before and after games to meet what consumers demand now. That simply cannot be done without a new park that caters to those interests, or drastically altering the area surrounding Rate Field. The later of which feels like a bandaid more than a long term solution. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said: It seems like this has been discussed several times in this thread and it's been stated repeatedly that even if the Sox built a new stadium at the 78, there almost certainly will be parking available for people who can't or won't take public transportation to the game. Now, it won't be the same number of parking spots as at Rate Field and it won't be on acres of surface lots and it won't cater to people who won't go to games unless the stadium has ample surface lots and is right next to an expressway, but I think it's time to put the rest the notion that a hypothetic stadium at the 78 (or anywhere else) would leave fans with nowhere to park and would only be accessible by mass transit. To your last point, you said transportation has never been a problem at 35th & Shields. Yeah, but has that really helped with attendance over the years? Since the new park opened, I believe Sox attendance has been 15th or lower in MLB all but the opening years of 1991-94 and 2006. Even when they were playing well a number of other seasons between 2000-2010, attendance was lackluster given the team's level of performance. They won 88 games in 2010 and were still 17th in MLB in attendance. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/mlb_attendance/ Are there downsides if they do indeed move to a new stadium at the 78? Yes. It won't be as convenient for fans driving in as the current park is. Each site has its pros and cons and will leave some fans unhappy. Same with possible suburban sites. It'll be up to the Ishbias to decide where they want to spend their money on this franchise. Maybe they'll decide to build a new park at 35th St and try to create an entertainment district around it. It's odd that people don't think that maybe more transit options would help attendance, instead of worrying about parking lots. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoUEvenShift Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 Tray has entered the chat. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Mite Posted November 25 Share Posted November 25 2 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said: It seems like this has been discussed several times in this thread and it's been stated repeatedly that even if the Sox built a new stadium at the 78, there almost certainly will be parking available for people who can't or won't take public transportation to the game. Now, it won't be the same number of parking spots as at Rate Field and it won't be on acres of surface lots and it won't cater to people who won't go to games unless the stadium has ample surface lots and is right next to an expressway, but I think it's time to put the rest the notion that a hypothetic stadium at the 78 (or anywhere else) would leave fans with nowhere to park and would only be accessible by mass transit. To your last point, you said transportation has never been a problem at 35th & Shields. Yeah, but has that really helped with attendance over the years? Since the new park opened, I believe Sox attendance has been 15th or lower in MLB all but the opening years of 1991-94 and 2006. Even when they were playing well a number of other seasons between 2000-2010, attendance was lackluster given the team's level of performance. They won 88 games in 2010 and were still 17th in MLB in attendance. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/mlb_attendance/ Are there downsides if they do indeed move to a new stadium at the 78? Yes. It won't be as convenient for fans driving in as the current park is. Each site has its pros and cons and will leave some fans unhappy. Same with possible suburban sites. It'll be up to the Ishbias to decide where they want to spend their money on this franchise. Maybe they'll decide to build a new park at 35th St and try to create an entertainment district around it. I agree that 35th and Shields has never been the greatest spot for the White Sox, they drew well in the early years of the franchise and again in the Go Go years. IMHO biggest problem has been that there has been no period of sustained winning baseball except again in the Go Go years but even then we only had 1 trip to the World Series in those 17 straight winning seasons. They win the division once in awhile, lose in the first round of the playoffs and then we have to go through 5-10 of mediocre baseball only to see the same scenario. Meanwhile I’m pretty sure the fan base because of Reinsdorf’s miserly ways has dwindled down pretty low to where most of the metro population could care less about the White Sox. The only hope right now is Ishbia but there are no guarantees, I thought when Reinsdorf took over in 1981 that we would have a premier franchise rivaling the Yankees, Dodgers and Cardinals, boy was I ever wrong. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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