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


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2 hours ago, WBWSF said:

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.

WBWSF:

For the millionth time, JR is NOT SELLING THE TEAM. Full stop. End of story.

His kids will sell it after he passes away. 

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Lip Man 1 said:

This article says:  "the Fire’s new stadium proposal almost certainly thwarts any Sox chances of also moving to The 78.  While there’s enough room for two stadiums and a mixed-use district that would feature housing, top-tier shopping and dining, outdoor spaces, and other community-building enrichments, it’s doubtful that the Sox will cohabitate with the Fire."

Why is it "doubtful that the Sox would cohabitate with the Fire" and why does this proposal "almost certainly" thwart any Sox chance to move to the 78?   And if the answer is because Jerry won't pay for it, that's not what is being talked about - that's a separate (though important) issue.  What about the Fire announcing plans to build on the site make it less likely that the Sox would build there and where did Jerry say that he wouldn't share the site with the Fire?

Edited by 77 Hitmen
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21 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

This article says:  "the Fire’s new stadium proposal almost certainly thwarts any Sox chances of also moving to The 78.  While there’s enough room for two stadiums and a mixed-use district that would feature housing, top-tier shopping and dining, outdoor spaces, and other community-building enrichments, it’s doubtful that the Sox will cohabitate with the Fire."

Why is it "doubtful that the Sox would cohabitate with the Fire" and why does this proposal "almost certainly" thwart any Sox chance to move to the 78?   And if the answer is because Jerry won't pay for it, that's not what is being talked about - that's a separate (though important) issue.  What about the Fire announcing plans to build on the site make it less likely that the Sox would build there and where did Jerry say that he wouldn't share the site with the Fire?

There’s no truth to any of that. Post reputable sources. 

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"Related Midwest first approached the White Sox about building a new ballpark on a piece of property they were developing, and we continue to consider the site as an option. We believe in Related Midwest’s vision for The 78 and remain confident the riverfront location could serve as a home to both teams. We continue to have conversations with Related Midwest about the site’s possibilities and opportunities."

 

And perhaps it's still possible, but Jerry Reinsdorf (or "sources close to him") expressed a willingness to only cover $200 million or so of a far more expensive project, and lawmakers at the local or state levels showed no appetite to cover the rest. Mansueto, meanwhile, has separated himself from most of his cohorts by saying that teams should be expected to pay for and own their facilities:

 

 

We'll see what happens when it comes to hammering out an infrastructure plan, but the willingness to cover construction would seem to make the Fire a superior partner for the city in comparison to the White Sox, whose approach to building a $2 billion stadium can be boiled down to:

  1. Showing some interesting renderings.
  2. Talking about how cool it would be.
  3. Saying "c'mon guys"

https://soxmachine.com/2025/06/chicago-fire-announce-plans-for-soccer-stadium-on-south-loop-site-white-sox-wanted

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12 hours ago, WBWSF said:

I read elsewhere that a new White Sox stadium at the 78 location would only cost $400 million. If that is accurate I would think it would be built there.

$400 million builds a minor league stadium.    Might be ok for the Sox now but hopefully not in the near future.

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42 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Every single estimate for the 78 Stadium has been in the $1.5 - 2+ billion range...

I didn’t realize how loaded the Fire owner is.  Mansueto is worth $6.6 billion according to Google.  Jerry is at $2.3 billion.

I just watched a CHSN interview with Mansueto and it sounds like he is going to build up the area and make it a place to be.  He mentioned having a beer at the park and a few more after the game.  🤣

He outclasses Jerry as an owner in every aspect, but maybe he would like Jerry to pitch in some money and make it an even bigger attraction.

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4 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

WBWSF:

For the millionth time, JR is NOT SELLING THE TEAM. Full stop. End of story.

His kids will sell it after he passes away. 

Didn't the last Orioles owner (who died a few months ago) have some arrangement with the  minority owner that he was running the team until the old owner died. And isn't that what happened.

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37 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I didn’t realize how loaded the Fire owner is.  Mansueto is worth $6.6 billion according to Google.  Jerry is at $2.3 billion.

I just watched a CHSN interview with Mansueto and it sounds like he is going to build up the area and make it a place to be.  He mentioned having a beer at the park and a few more after the game.  🤣

He outclasses Jerry as an owner in every aspect, but maybe he would like Jerry to pitch in some money and make it an even bigger attraction.

And almost all of Jerry’s wealth is illiquid.  It's all paper wealth base on franchise values.

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Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

And almost all of Jerry’s wealth is illiquid.  It's all paper wealth base on franchise values.

Yeah, I was questioning that Google result.  The Sox are probably worth almost $2.3 billion alone and Jerry still owns a ton of other properties, parking lots, land, etc., along with many other investments and savings.

Edited by WhiteSox2023
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20 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Yeah, I was questioning that Google result.  The Sox are probably worth almost $2.3 billion alone and Jerry still owns a ton of other properties, parking lots, land, etc., along with many other investments and savings.

The rate they're going, $1.8 billion is pretty decent considering the stadium issues and lack of a profitable/viable RSN deal...

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12 hours 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?

Don't ask any questions about any of the prior (Amazon, U of I) or current ideas/proposals floated for that site because you won't obtain any answers, at least not here.  Related/Auchi have never produced a single credible site plan (drawn to scale with elevations, streets, parking and infrastructure) not an architectural/artist's rendering.

OK. I'll play along with the Sox/Fire cohabitating the site.  Since the The Sox play 80 home games will the Fire work around that schedule?  

Meanwhile, I find the Sox statement that they are supposedly interested in relocating to the Related site (owned by Nadhmi Auchi)  to be about as insulting and self-serving as Einhorn and Reinsdorf's threat to move to Tampa. They need some leverage in Lease negotiations you know.  

And why don't the media interview Mr. Auchi about his intentions for the site? He is the decider. 

 

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Posted (edited)
23 minutes ago, tray said:

Don't ask any questions about any of the prior (Amazon, U of I) or current ideas/proposals floated for that site because you won't obtain any answers, at least not here.  Related/Auchi have never produced a single credible site plan (drawn to scale with elevations, streets, parking and infrastructure) not an architectural/artist's rendering.

OK. I'll play along with the Sox/Fire cohabitating the site.  Since the The Sox play 80 home games will the Fire work around that schedule?  

Meanwhile, I find the Sox statement that they are supposedly interested in relocating to the Related site (owned by Nadhmi Auchi)  to be about as insulting and self-serving as Einhorn and Reinsdorf's threat to move to Tampa. They need some leverage in Lease negotiations you know.  

And why don't the media interview Mr. Auchi about his intentions for the site? He is the decider. 

 

I’m not arguing your points here and I don’t know how easy or difficult it would be for the Sox to cohabit the same 78 location.

But wasn’t one of your original arguments that a stadium would be extremely difficult to build on The 78 site due to foundational issues (the river bed, silt, etc.)?  Why does Mansueto plan on building a new stadium at the site?  Is Mansueto not aware of these issues that you called out months ago?  Is this story just fake news?

Edited by WhiteSox2023
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1 hour ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’m not arguing your points here and I don’t know how easy or difficult it would be for the Sox to cohabit the same 78 location.

But wasn’t one of your original arguments that a stadium would be extremely difficult to build on The 78 site due to foundational issues (the river bed, silt, etc.)?  Why does Mansueto plan on building a new stadium at the site?  Is Mansueto not aware of these issues that you called out months ago?  Is this story just fake news?

It is axiomatic that buildings need to rest on footings with proper load bearing.  The prior river bed running through the site almost certainly make construction of buildings on it more costly. I don't believe that is even debatable. 

The main issue I saw/see with this site is the lack of meaningful ingress and egress.  Glaringly, the developer has failed to provide a site plan that makes any sense.  I have been down to the site and believe me,  it is hard to even get to it. 

My own personal view is based on my life as a Sox fan and knowing so many other fans over the years. I am sure others have their own opinions and, I suppose, age is one thing that might influence those opinions.  From my perspective,  I just don't see the point of moving the White Sox away from their historic home on 35th street to get to a substandard low lying lot that only has a tangential connection to the City.

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13 minutes ago, tray said:

It is axiomatic that buildings need to rest on footings with proper load bearing.  The prior river bed running through the site almost certainly make construction of buildings on it more costly. I don't believe that is even debatable. 

The main issue I saw/see with this site is the lack of meaningful ingress and egress.  Glaringly, the developer has failed to provide a site plan that makes any sense.  I have been down to the site and believe me,  it is hard to even get to it. 

My own personal view is based on my life as a Sox fan and knowing so many other fans over the years. I am sure others have their own opinions and, I suppose, age is one thing that might influence those opinions.  From my perspective,  I just don't see the point of moving the White Sox away from their historic home on 35th street to get to a substandard low lying lot that only has a tangential connection to the City.

Even if it is the unlikely chosen spot, it would definitely have to be built up over the years for people to want to hang around there, just like with United Center and The 1901 Project that another poster mentioned in another thread.

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21 minutes ago, tray said:

It is axiomatic that buildings need to rest on footings with proper load bearing.  The prior river bed running through the site almost certainly make construction of buildings on it more costly. I don't believe that is even debatable. 

The main issue I saw/see with this site is the lack of meaningful ingress and egress.  Glaringly, the developer has failed to provide a site plan that makes any sense.  I have been down to the site and believe me,  it is hard to even get to it. 

My own personal view is based on my life as a Sox fan and knowing so many other fans over the years. I am sure others have their own opinions and, I suppose, age is one thing that might influence those opinions.  From my perspective,  I just don't see the point of moving the White Sox away from their historic home on 35th street to get to a substandard low lying lot that only has a tangential connection to the City.

This is absurdly false.  The tallest building in the United States of America is built on land reclaimed from the Hudson River.  Most of the towers on the edges of downtown Manhattan are.  So are most of the lakefront towers in Chicago. 

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2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

This is absurdly false.  The tallest building in the United States of America is built on land reclaimed from the Hudson River.  Most of the towers on the edges of downtown Manhattan are.  So are most of the lakefront towers in Chicago. 

Honestly and as respectfully as I can be, I don't think you know much about this topic so I will not respond to your post. 

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31 minutes ago, tray said:

Honestly and as respectfully as I can be, I don't think you know much about this topic so I will not respond to your post. 

Tray, you don’t get to throw around your riverbed bullshit with zero citation and act like it’s not debatable.  When will you ever stop acting like this, every fucking time this topic comes up you wanna tell everyone that only you know all of the facts and everything you provide is opinion

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Much of the land was created through landfills in the 1920s as part of a $9 million realignment of the South Branch Chicago River.[1][9] The area then became a railyard for trains traveling to or from either the Grand Central station or LaSalle Street station.[10]

The railyard was eventually demolished in the 1970s, forming a 62-acre vacant lot. The former railyard remained in limbo for decades. In 2001, Tony Rezko bought the entire land for mixed-use development. His plan did not come to fruition and he eventually sold the land in 2005.[11]

Wikipedia

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11 hours ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

There’s no truth to any of that. Post reputable sources. 

Yeah, while I was sour on JR on the front page — they literally outline how it can still happen right there.

It's kind of like how Cohen (albeit, his wealth dwarfs JR) is trying to spearhead completely redoing the area around Citi Field. NYCFC is building its stadium nearby and that's no doubt being weighed as part of Cohen's bid to get a gambling license for a casino.

Both projects promise development of housing, but we'll see how that goes. It's also an established area. But there's precedent.

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10 minutes ago, Princess Dye said:

#RiverbedTalk

I just saw One World Trade fall into the river just now. Just tipped like a domino. As it hit the water, I heard Billy Joel's "Miami 2017" ring out but the lyrics started cryptically warning the White Sox.

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