9 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Wow - I didn't realize there is an MLB stadium that has tracks running under it like that. Now I can actually imagine a Sox ballpark fitting on the Amtrak land if they can build over those active train tracks similar to Target Field. They don't even have to build over the entire Metra yard, but it looks to me like they'd need at least 600 ft width from the river to fit a ballpark there.

I realize that there are other examples in Chicago of things being built over train tracks: Millennium Park, the old Post Office Building, McCormick Place and even Union Station. The One Central megaproject would be over train tracks if that's ever built. But it's good to see an actual MLB stadium example.

I started working in the financial district in 1998, and that whole entire area was nothing but warehouses and a few run down buildings. Watching the growth phase in the 2000's where all of the high rises went up between the south loop and McCormick place was wild. I hadn't seen anything about the One Central project, but holy crap is that ambitious. It would be incredible to get done, but as big as it is, I would be pretty surprised if it happens in the full form.

Here's a blog on a passenger rail advocacy group's website by one of its directors about Ishbia's efforts to by the Amtrak rail yard for a possible Sox stadium. There's no new information here, but it was a nice read from a life-long Sox fan who grew up a couple of blocks from Sox Park.

Take Me Out to the Train Yard | Rail Passengers Association

Has this been posted yet?

Chicago Magazine

A Modest Proposal for a Better Ballpark

Three ballpark enthusiasts imagine a new White Sox stadium that brings seats closer to the action, corrects past mistakes, and democratizes the fan experience.

1 hour ago, BrittBurnsFan said:

Has this been posted yet?

Chicago Magazine

A Modest Proposal for a Better Ballpark

Three ballpark enthusiasts imagine a new White Sox stadium that brings seats closer to the action, corrects past mistakes, and democratizes the fan experience.

They've put a lot of thought into it, of course if JR is still in charge he won't allow it to be called "Comiskey Park." Remember he supposed turned down part of a previous offer because the company offering to sponsor wanted it to be called "Comiskey Park" again.

I have a few questions about this including how and why it was generated.

-The article mentions that the stadium in this rendering was designed for the "78." Ishbia or someone on his team reportedly had questions about whether or not a stadium could fit between Wells and the Railroad tracks. Do you have exterior dimensions of the stadium and a site plan with basic dimensions?

-Having attended games in the lower deck at the old Comiskey, Wrigley and Tiger stadium, I recall that some sections in the lower deck do not see much sunshine. You look up and you see metal trusswork and decking. At Wrigley your view might even be obstructed by a steel post. As far as upper decks in the outfield with a large overhangs, once again, that comes at the cost of obscuring sunshine and obscuring exterior views.

-the outfield concourses at the Rate can be accessed from the entire 100 level. Instead of getting stuck in your seat you can walk all around the park, meet or make friends out there and enjoy food and beverages. I would like that in any new stadium.

I have other questions, but I will leave them for those on a higher pay scale so to speak. Good effort though.

FYI, Brian Powers has a very interesting site that virtually recreates views at Comiskey:

https://bandboxballparks.com/services/

Edited yesterday at 12:29 AM1 day by tray

https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2026/04/28/chicago-bears-hammond-hams-escalating-rhetoric-hoosiers-hope-bears-stadium

3 hours ago, BrittBurnsFan said:

Has this been posted yet?

Chicago Magazine

A Modest Proposal for a Better Ballpark

Three ballpark enthusiasts imagine a new White Sox stadium that brings seats closer to the action, corrects past mistakes, and democratizes the fan experience.

This looks pretty cool! I applaud them for obviously giving their vision for a new ballpark a lot of thought. It's a very interesting read. I like how they're being realistic and accepting that luxury suites are a financial necessity these days and including them in their plan. The exterior with the arches looks great.

That being said, I have a few thoughts/critiques of what they layout:

• if the Sox are building a ballpark on the Amtrak site, then having a huge upper deck in RF as they propose would block off any view of the river and eliminate any chance of hitting HRs into the water. At the 78 site, this wouldn't be an issue.

• They seem to be building in one of Old Comiskey's biggest flaws - that lower deck seats continue to face straight ahead all the way done the line. It looks to me like they even have the seats at the corners pointing toward other seats! That was terrible at the old park and would be bad at a new park.

• I'm not a huge fan of lots of outfield upper deck seats like they're showing. I just think those aren't very good seats at ballparks. Some OF UP? Yes, but not a huge one that goes all the way to the CF scoreboard.

• They see having only 2 levels as ideal, but I actually like how some of the popular new parks have 3 or 4 levels. I'm not against a "club level" either - something that is more expensive w/ more amenities than most seats, but not priced out of reach of everyday fans like the luxury suites are.

Again, I don't want this to come off as ripping on this proposal. It's just a few things that I disagree with. If the Sox ever do build a new stadium, I'd love it if they took some of the elements that are in this article.

4 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

They've put a lot of thought into it, of course if JR is still in charge he won't allow it to be called "Comiskey Park." Remember he supposed turned down part of a previous offer because the company offering to sponsor wanted it to be called "Comiskey Park" again.

If JR is in charge of designing a new ballpark, the name of the place will be the least of my worries. He already badly botched one new Sox stadium. If they do build another park, Ishbia is going to have to live with any design mistakes for decades to come. I wouldn't trust Jerry with decision making if I were the Ishbias.

It'll certainly have a corporate name anyway since Ishbia would almost certainly have to privately finance the place. But, if they do build on the Amtrak rail yard, maybe they can call in [CORPORATE SPONSOR} Field at Comiskey Yards or something like that.

On 4/28/2026 at 10:16 PM, 77 Hitmen said:

This looks pretty cool! I applaud them for obviously giving their vision for a new ballpark a lot of thought. It's a very interesting read. I like how they're being realistic and accepting that luxury suites are a financial necessity these days and including them in their plan. The exterior with the arches looks great.

That being said, I have a few thoughts/critiques of what they layout:

• if the Sox are building a ballpark on the Amtrak site, then having a huge upper deck in RF as they propose would block off any view of the river and eliminate any chance of hitting HRs into the water. At the 78 site, this wouldn't be an issue.

• They seem to be building in one of Old Comiskey's biggest flaws - that lower deck seats continue to face straight ahead all the way done the line. It looks to me like they even have the seats at the corners pointing toward other seats! That was terrible at the old park and would be bad at a new park.

• I'm not a huge fan of lots of outfield upper deck seats like they're showing. I just think those aren't very good seats at ballparks. Some OF UP? Yes, but not a huge one that goes all the way to the CF scoreboard.

• They see having only 2 levels as ideal, but I actually like how some of the popular new parks have 3 or 4 levels. I'm not against a "club level" either - something that is more expensive w/ more amenities than most seats, but not priced out of reach of everyday fans like the luxury suites are.

Again, I don't want this to come off as ripping on this proposal. It's just a few things that I disagree with. If the Sox ever do build a new stadium, I'd love it if they took some of the elements that are in this article.

Agree on seats down the lines, it’s the first thing I noticed and was the main flaw of old Comiskey, I would round off the corners like Tiger Stadium and cut down the size of the upper deck which looks enormous. I’m not sure how that huge upper deck could be built without posts, it would have to be an engineering marvel. Nowhere did I read what the capacity of this rendering was, these days it seems like a capacity of 40,000 is the norm.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by The Mighty Mite