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


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3 hours ago, Quin said:

Continues the trend of making Jerry look weak.

One of those slots is now hypothetically filled. Time to put up or shut up.

The Fire's owner is putting up $650M of private money toward this new stadium after recently spending $100M on a new practice facility for a franchise that is valued at $530M.  Meanwhile Billionaire Jerry says he can only put $200M in private financing toward a new Sox stadium for a franchise that is valued somewhere around $2B.  Pathetic.  

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/03/chicago-fire-new-soccer-stadium/

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2 hours ago, MiddleCoastBias said:

Yeah I'm cautiously optimistic that this is actually GOOD news for us. It's like filling the first home or shop in a new development - once one person bites, it makes the whole thing viable and others get on board.

This will have the city/state fund the infrastructure that Jerry needs and gives the ownership team confidence that the whole region is going to be developed. They aren't left holding the bag hoping to fill the whole thing.

 

 

2 hours ago, Sleepy Harold said:

IMO it's definitely good news in regards to having two "anchor tenants" at the site, and the ask for infrastructure $ should be more palatable if/when the Sox do confirm now that the Fire are locked in, especially if they privately finance the stadium themselves (Sox).  

Agreed.  If anything, this is great news for anyone who wants a new Sox stadium at the 78.  With the Fire kick-starting infrastructure work and the development of an entertainment district, this should make it more likely for the Sox to build on the site.   The hold up for the Sox is Reinsdorf's insistence on public funding for the stadium itself, but as we've discussed in other threads, the huge wild card here is the Ishbia brothers.  

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Could this soccer stadium and a second stadium (for whomever that may be) be constructed on the 78 simultaneously to a degree? How difficult would that be with different contractors (?) at each building site and truck traffic entering and leaving (hauling out) at the same time from two separate neighboring sites with Roosevelt Rd the being the only artery?

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9 minutes ago, Lightly Folded said:

Could this soccer stadium and a second stadium (for whomever that may be) be constructed on the 78 simultaneously to a degree? How difficult would that be with different contractors (?) at each building site and truck traffic entering and leaving (hauling out) at the same time from two separate neighboring sites with Roosevelt Rd the being the only artery?

Just draw a line with some paint that's onsite, and the crews can't pass cross the line. Easy.

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1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

The Fire's owner is putting up $650M of private money toward this new stadium after recently spending $100M on a new practice facility for a franchise that is valued at $530M.  Meanwhile Billionaire Jerry says he can only put $200M in private financing toward a new Sox stadium for a franchise that is valued somewhere around $2B.  Pathetic.  

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/03/chicago-fire-new-soccer-stadium/

You do know that he will build one on his own if he has to? He's done it. But good business is using others people's money if you can.

I wouldn't give him any but I don't blame him for trying.

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53 minutes ago, kitekrazy said:

Privately funded? That's unheard of.

For the majority of the time yes but the S.F. Giants and Dolphins built their own parks using owners money for most of the construction of it.  

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41 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

For the majority of the time yes but the S.F. Giants and Dolphins built their own parks using owners money for most of the construction of it.  

So did JR.

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2 hours ago, ptatc said:

You do know that he will build one on his own if he has to? He's done it. But good business is using others people's money if you can.

I wouldn't give him any but I don't blame him for trying.

Yes, I agree with this point.  Jerry didn't become a billionaire without knowing how to play hard ball in negotiations and that's certainly wise on his part to do so if he can get away with it.  We'll just see how this all plays out.  

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14 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Along with Wirtz, but this will be a new baseball stadium potentially without another sports owner pitching in.

It was mostly JR. It shows if he really wants to move, he is willing to do it. I don't think he'll do it unless yhe current stadium deal changes. He has too many advantages. Unless he really thinks he can go somewhere else to make more money.

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19 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yes, I agree with this point.  Jerry didn't become a billionaire without knowing how to play hard ball in negotiations and that's certainly wise on his part to do so if he can get away with it.  We'll just see how this all plays out.  

Agreed. Unless the current stadium deal changes to be worse for him, I don't see him moving.

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Assuming  Ishbia wants to buy the rest of the White Sox stock and will pay for the new stadium, I would hope JR has the decency to sell the team to him. The sooner the better.

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I would settle for a roof over the current stadium.  My interest in spending money is focused on the team.  Baseball can be played in parks a lot less expensive than these new proposals.  

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10 minutes ago, poppysox said:

I would settle for a roof over the current stadium.  My interest in spending money is focused on the team.  Baseball can be played in parks a lot less expensive than these new proposals.  

That is the important point. If they privately finance the stadium, there is a massive debt. Less money for operations and payroll until external revenue begins. That's the only reason to move within the city.

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https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-reveal-fifth-third-arena-expansion-plans-and-renderings

 

https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-reveal-fifth-third-arena-expansion-plans-and-renderings

Blackhawks Reveal Fifth Third Arena Expansion Plans and Renderings

Expansion includes 2,000-seat arena for Chicago Steel and new fan-focused Centennial Hall

 

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10 minutes ago, Soxfest said:

JR hiding under his desk currently 

He has been hiding for a long time. I would like to see the team have a regular Soxfest and have a seminar with JR taking questions from the fans. It would turn out to be a riot.

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1 hour ago, poppysox said:

I would settle for a roof over the current stadium.  My interest in spending money is focused on the team.  Baseball can be played in parks a lot less expensive than these new proposals.  

Meh. Times have changed. Cities and teams want to use these parks as development hubs and reap the collective benefits. I'm not an expert on Chicago land usage but it seems like the current area would need a total tear down in order to make that happen and nobody has the political will or dollars to make it happen. This new site seemed promising to me but ultimately it's JR here and he will not make any move without not just getting his fair share, but making sure he gets more than his at the expense of someone else. 

So yea, he needs to sell the damn team. He's standing in the way of any sort of progress on everything WS related.

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