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

[Lip Man 1]

6 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

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?

 

From a White Sox perspective the important item to note is that the Ishbia's at least tried to win. It didn't work out but they tired.

As a Sox fan I'll take that right now over what JR has been giving us especially since 2007. 

[GreatScott82]

With the lease at the Rate coming to an end after the 2029 season, I could imagine a stadium plan will be announced likely in the offseason or within the next 6 months at the latest. Ishbia will be in charge of that endeavor now that Jerry struck out on attempting to land more tax $$. It has been very quiet on the Sox front in regards to stadium plans go. Ever since the Fire took that 78 plot of land, I wonder if the Sox will feel motivated to land there as well in a potential shared site plan? 

A couple of other options include the Michael Reese site, building across the street where Old Comiskey used to be or a pivot to the suburbs like the Bears are doing. I just can't see Ishbia wanting to remain at the current Sox park. But who knows??? Only time will tell what the game plan is.....

Edited September 16 by GreatScott82

[waltwilliams]

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

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?

 

The only reason why there wasn't development around New Sox Park was because Reinsdorf never wanted it -- he wanted the parking lots. Period. Shortly before his death, Jim Thompson remembered that the master plan was always to build a hotel along with housing and retail complexes on the site of old Comiskey Park.

Here's Thompson's quote on this topic, from his State of Illinois Oral History.   Thompson:  "When I was chair of the Sports Facilities Authority, later, I had visions of building across the street from the park, on 35th Street, that whole block. But I couldn’t get Reinsdorf to do it. He just didn’t see the utility of that or its relevance to him and the White Sox organization and the ballpark. But I’m a dreamer and a builder—as we’ve already determined—so I wanted to see commercial activity right across the street. I was thinking of apartments and a hotel and a retail complex."

Here's the complete transcript: https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/oral-history/collections/thompson-james-1-1-1/interview-detail/

Also, remember that an entire neighborhood (South Armour Square) was leveled to build the new park, so there's plenty of room for a housing/hotel/retail complex -- much more acreage than the 78.. Also, note that Ald. Nicole Lee is in full support of development around the new park: https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/april-2024/the-new-sox-parks-billion-dollar-question/

And remember, the area is much different now that it was 30 years ago -- Bridgeport has been revitalized by the Chinese community and others. And Bronzeville on the other side is 30 years removed from housing projects, etc.

Could this attract visitors year round? It's a good question, although the infrastructure (multiple modes of transportation, existing vital neighborhood flanking the area) is already there. 

[Kyyle23]

As always, Reinsdorf can’t see how to make more money when he is making enough money 

[77 Hitmen]

7 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

From a White Sox perspective the important item to note is that the Ishbia's at least tried to win. It didn't work out but they tired.

As a Sox fan I'll take that right now over what JR has been giving us especially since 2007. 

Yes, it would be difficult for the incoming new owners to operate the franchise worse than Jerry has over the last 18 or so years.  And we've discussed it many times previously, it's not just major league payroll but investing in the rest of the organization and hiring personnel based on competence and not based on being a loyalist.  

But winning is tough and not guaranteed.  There's at least a dozen other teams out there who in decent sized markets and who are trying to win.  

  

Edited September 16 by 77 Hitmen

[WBWSF]

4 hours ago, GreatScott82 said:

With the lease at the Rate coming to an end after the 2029 season, I could imagine a stadium plan will be announced likely in the offseason or within the next 6 months at the latest. Ishbia will be in charge of that endeavor now that Jerry struck out on attempting to land more tax $$. It has been very quiet on the Sox front in regards to stadium plans go. Ever since the Fire took that 78 plot of land, I wonder if the Sox will feel motivated to land there as well in a potential shared site plan? 

A couple of other options include the Michael Reese site, building across the street where Old Comiskey used to be or a pivot to the suburbs like the Bears are doing. I just can't see Ishbia wanting to remain at the current Sox park. But who knows??? Only time will tell what the game plan is.....

i hope you're right about an announcement for the new stadium in the next few months. I will feel alot better about this situation if there was announcement coming soon. I don't see any other options for a new stadium except the South Loop. Where else would a stadium be built?

[Lip Man 1]

56 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

i hope you're right about an announcement for the new stadium in the next few months. I will feel alot better about this situation if there was announcement coming soon. I don't see any other options for a new stadium except the South Loop. Where else would a stadium be built?

I'd be shocked if there was any announcement or information "coming soon." 

Well there are a lot of empty areas right next to the current stadium as others have suggested or what I think will happen the Sox are going to stay right where they are with Ishbia trying to improve the surrounding areas and the park itself. 

[Kyyle23]

13 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

I'd be shocked if there was any announcement or information "coming soon." 

Well there are a lot of empty areas right next to the current stadium as others have suggested or what I think will happen the Sox are going to stay right where they are with Ishbia trying to improve the surrounding areas and the park itself. 

Nothing is coming soon, we both know that.  We are gonna be stuck in a yearly loop of WBWSF musing that we are losing the Sox out of state without any actual indication that is happening

[DoUEvenShift]

1 hour ago, WBWSF said:

Where else would a stadium be built?

The Chicago White Sox of Northwest Indiana

[WBWSF]

13 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

I'd be shocked if there was any announcement or information "coming soon." 

Well there are a lot of empty areas right next to the current stadium as others have suggested or what I think will happen the Sox are going to stay right where they are with Ishbia trying to improve the surrounding areas and the park itself. 

How could you improve the park?   The only thing wrong with the park is the upper deck.  You can't fix the dreaded upper deck.  It would make more sense to build a new stadium. 

[chitownsportsfan]

4 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

The Chicago White Sox of Northwest Indiana

Gary is gorgeous.

[Lip Man 1]

14 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

How could you improve the park?   The only thing wrong with the park is the upper deck.  You can't fix the dreaded upper deck.  It would make more sense to build a new stadium. 

Put a second deck in either left or right field for one thing. 

[DoUEvenShift]

27 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Gary is gorgeous.

Instead of the skyline view at the 78 we could get a great view of US Steel

[chitownsportsfan]

36 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

Instead of the skyline view at the 78 we could get a great view of US Steel

[Tnetennba]

1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Put a second deck in either left or right field for one thing. 

The upper deck rarely fills up, adding a new section doesn’t solve anything. Besides, the open air OF concourse is one of the best features IMO. 

 

[Kyyle23]

Yea another deck in the outfield bleachers when they can’t even fill the lower bowl (much less the current upper deck) isn’t really a good idea imo 

[77 Hitmen]

5 hours ago, waltwilliams said:

The only reason why there wasn't development around New Sox Park was because Reinsdorf never wanted it -- he wanted the parking lots. Period. Shortly before his death, Jim Thompson remembered that the master plan was always to build a hotel along with housing and retail complexes on the site of old Comiskey Park.

Here's Thompson's quote on this topic, from his State of Illinois Oral History.   Thompson:  "When I was chair of the Sports Facilities Authority, later, I had visions of building across the street from the park, on 35th Street, that whole block. But I couldn’t get Reinsdorf to do it. He just didn’t see the utility of that or its relevance to him and the White Sox organization and the ballpark. But I’m a dreamer and a builder—as we’ve already determined—so I wanted to see commercial activity right across the street. I was thinking of apartments and a hotel and a retail complex."

Here's the complete transcript: https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/oral-history/collections/thompson-james-1-1-1/interview-detail/

Also, remember that an entire neighborhood (South Armour Square) was leveled to build the new park, so there's plenty of room for a housing/hotel/retail complex -- much more acreage than the 78.. Also, note that Ald. Nicole Lee is in full support of development around the new park: https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/april-2024/the-new-sox-parks-billion-dollar-question/

And remember, the area is much different now that it was 30 years ago -- Bridgeport has been revitalized by the Chinese community and others. And Bronzeville on the other side is 30 years removed from housing projects, etc.

Could this attract visitors year round? It's a good question, although the infrastructure (multiple modes of transportation, existing vital neighborhood flanking the area) is already there. 

Yep, and they promised the owners of McCuddy's that they'd get a new bar across from the new stadium but I think they ended up trying to shove them off somewhere blocks away and it was never rebuilt.

Reinsdorf wanted people to spend all their money inside the stadium and didn't want other businesses on the site siphoning off his profits.   Just like how he pushed the upper deck above 3 levels of suites/premium seating (the Club level was initially a premium seating area) to maximize his profits.  The ways they screwed up New Comiskey was just astonishing and it had Jerry Reinsdorf written all over it.  

[nrockway]

On 9/14/2025 at 2:01 PM, 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 don't think it's a dead horse. Nashville is a good market. It's wealthy and growing. The team wants a new stadium. Is Nashville/Tennessee more willing to do it on the new owner's terms than Chicago/Illinois is? Maybe. I mean, Nashville might be a bigger draw than the current Sox depending on how the potential Sox stadium shakes out regardless of subsidies. 

Several great sites in Chicago including South Works and maybe Soldier Field, but will the city/state play ball? Is the new owner actually 'loyal' to the region?

[nrockway]

On 9/15/2025 at 4:35 PM, Kyyle23 said:

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

I'd prefer the state generate some revenue from a new stadium/district and have some sway over the project. PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) are not what they were 30 years ago. Consider a public 'investment' versus a simple 'subsidy'. It depends how they do it. A lot of the savvy teams want to do it all themselves these days, or with private financing, so they can reap all of the profits. It really depends. The public will never go for it obviously. But ATL and Arlington figured out a way and their public sectors are generating some pretty good return on investment from it. Also St Louis, Minneapolis, San Diego, probably some more.

 

Also why doesn't nepo baby JB who lives in Atherton, CA dig into his own pocketbook for a SoxPark

Edited September 17 by nrockway

[greg775]

7 hours ago, GreatScott82 said:

I just can't see Ishbia wanting to remain at the current Sox park.

Agree with you and some other posters who posted the same. Let's face it, 35th and Shields is a location nobody except die hard old time Sox fans can rave about.

My guess is rthe new owners would love the 78 location the most. If they sit down and think about their future, however in terms of making $$, there's only one choice: work something out with the Bears regarding Arlington Heights. Make it a huge sports district with bars, concert halls, a place for DePaul basketball, a place for Chicago Sky basketball. Just go crazy out there. ... A rich guy like Ishbia is NOT gonna accept 35th and Shields, the old neighborhood with the narrow old streets and old way of life. Seriously even though it makes the most sense in terms of government assistance, 35th and Shields has no chance to be home of the Sox. Bridgeport may be nice but forgetaboutit.

Remember u heard it here first. a.) Sox will locate to Arlington Heights out of nowhere. b.) 78 could definitely win out. c.) Soldier Field area. d.) 35th and Shields. e.) Revamp Midway Airport and put a stadium there.

[tray]

14 minutes ago, greg775 said:

Agree with you and some other posters who posted the same. Let's face it, 35th and Shields is a location nobody except die hard old time Sox fans can rave about.

My guess is rthe new owners would love the 78 location the most. If they sit down and think about their future, however in terms of making $$, there's only one choice: work something out with the Bears regarding Arlington Heights. Make it a huge sports district with bars, concert halls, a place for DePaul basketball, a place for Chicago Sky basketball. Just go crazy out there. ... A rich guy like Ishbia is NOT gonna accept 35th and Shields, the old neighborhood with the narrow old streets and old way of life. Seriously even though it makes the most sense in terms of government assistance, 35th and Shields has no chance to be home of the Sox. Bridgeport may be nice but forgetaboutit.

Remember u heard it here first. a.) Sox will locate to Arlington Heights out of nowhere. b.) 78 could definitely win out. c.) Soldier Field area. d.) 35th and Shields. e.) Revamp Midway Airport and put a stadium there.

You don't know what the fvk you are talking about. 

[Lip Man 1]

1 hour ago, nrockway said:

I don't think it's a dead horse. Nashville is a good market. It's wealthy and growing. The team wants a new stadium. Is Nashville/Tennessee more willing to do it on the new owner's terms than Chicago/Illinois is? Maybe. I mean, Nashville might be a bigger draw than the current Sox depending on how the potential Sox stadium shakes out regardless of subsidies. 

Several great sites in Chicago including South Works and maybe Soldier Field, but will the city/state play ball? Is the new owner actually 'loyal' to the region?

This really doesn't matter. What matters is MLB wants the money that a brand new franchise would go for (Sports Illustrated estimated it a two Billion dollars) as opposed to moving an existing one which would get them a lot less in fees. 

And again the Nashville Mayor has publicly said after contributing to the Titans new stadium there is no money available for a baseball stadium.

The idea of the Sox moving to Nashville is D.O.A. 

[GreatScott82]

1 hour ago, tray said:

You don't know what the fvk you are talking about. 

The mayor of AH has gone on record to say he wants both the Bears and White Sox to build stadiums there. That plot of land is HUGE! Although it seems far fetched, I wouldn’t necessarily rule out that possibility. 
Until the White Sox come out publicly and say they are still focused on the 78, all other options have to be on the table. 
If Ishbia can cut a deal with the bears for a smaller plot of the entertainment district and it can draw revenue year round for both franchises, you never know.. . 

"I want to have a conversation with the Chicago White Sox," Tinaglia said. "I would love, I've said this five years ago, I want this to be a wonderful entertainment destination complex. So if we can get more than the Bears there, I'm all in, and I think our community would benefit from a year-round entertainment destination."

-Mayor Tinaglia (April 2025) 

 

[nrockway]

1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

This really doesn't matter. What matters is MLB wants the money that a brand new franchise would go for (Sports Illustrated estimated it a two Billion dollars) as opposed to moving an existing one which would get them a lot less in fees. 

And again the Nashville Mayor has publicly said after contributing to the Titans new stadium there is no money available for a baseball stadium.

The idea of the Sox moving to Nashville is D.O.A. 

I don't think it's likely but there are plenty of large media markets with 0 MLB teams and Chicago is frankly declining. It's just not something to rule out entirely. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington is a growing statistical area, roughly the same size of Chicago's, which is shrinking. It could handle two teams especially in Dallas proper. Charlotte's MSA is quite large, growing, with 0 MLB teams. Indianapolis could draw an MLB team. or Virginia Beach or San Jose. It doesn't have to be specifically Nashville. Building a brand new ballpark is fundamentally the same idea regardless of what city it is in. Especially when there isn't a giant fan base. I think all of the Sox fans in existence post on this forum and many live outside Illinois (don't watch them on local TV, don't attend games). There is room to both move and to expand, clearly the Oakland team didn't care about leaving a large, wealthy market. Although quite a bit smaller than Chicago's, I think the parallels between Oakland A's and San Fran Giants is similar to the Sox and Cubs. Oakland is kind of like the South Side (the locale is also preferable to SF imo, I was debating a move to the Lake Merritt area but moved back to Chicago instead for some reason). New York could easily handle a third team.

I think they'll go where the gettin is good and I think Illinois/Chicago will inevitably play ball in some capacity even if it isn't a direct subsidy...so a move is unlikely in this sense. I bet there are more grants to apply for here than in Tennessee...a transit-oriented development, some structures/programs that help the poor. Doing something LEED-certified. Even the Republican dominated US Congress appears to be in the works of passing a bill that will give more public money to developers for environmental remediation (ie at the 78). But I bet the team under new ownership will analyze all options available to them for a new ballpark. It might be out of town. 

I just wouldn't rule it out is all. I don't think this Ishbia guy is some big ol Sox fan, he's just some guy that wanted to buy a ball team and the Minnesota team has a lot more debt, no more opportunity for new real estate development. I think it would be a mistake if the public didn't invest. 

[caulfield12]

12 hours ago, greg775 said:

Agree with you and some other posters who posted the same. Let's face it, 35th and Shields is a location nobody except die hard old time Sox fans can rave about.

My guess is rthe new owners would love the 78 location the most. If they sit down and think about their future, however in terms of making $$, there's only one choice: work something out with the Bears regarding Arlington Heights. Make it a huge sports district with bars, concert halls, a place for DePaul basketball, a place for Chicago Sky basketball. Just go crazy out there. ... A rich guy like Ishbia is NOT gonna accept 35th and Shields, the old neighborhood with the narrow old streets and old way of life. Seriously even though it makes the most sense in terms of government assistance, 35th and Shields has no chance to be home of the Sox. Bridgeport may be nice but forgetaboutit.

Remember u heard it here first. a.) Sox will locate to Arlington Heights out of nowhere. b.) 78 could definitely win out. c.) Soldier Field area. d.) 35th and Shields. e.) Revamp Midway Airport and put a stadium there.

Why would you want the constant noise bombardment of planes taking off and landing around the stadium?

How would that be easier access than the current location?

I mean...if it was something very unique like Osaka's airport is basically surrounded by the ocean/bay on all sides...splash home runs like SF are fun.

But then you're creating another problem for those landing and arriving for flights when they have to fight their way through game day traffic...causing untold numbers of accidents.

And that works in Japan because everyone in comfortable taking the incredibly safe and clean metro/subway to baseball games, so parking less of a concern.