11 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

I can think of at least 1 more

For all of the talking, I would bet money he doesn't even live in Bridgeport.

34 minutes ago, CBJ03 said:

Are the Bridgeport residents the only ones that are upset with this proposal or are there more?

I haven't really heard of others being upset about this. The local media has been all over this because a bunch of people shouting at officials at a public hearing makes for a good news story, but I haven't seen any indications that people outside of that neighborhood are mad about this.

Quigley and Mendoza are running for mayor and say they'd block this. Other politicians (the current mayor, the Gov, the 2 Senators, at least one other mayoral candidate) have only said that Amtrak needs to be transparent and should work with the residents to address their concerns.

FWIW, many people commenting on YouTube and Facebook in reaction to this news story point out that this facility will be on an existing railyard. But that's a very unscientific read.

I don't know if others here have a better read on the general reaction to this.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

Explain to me why long before Ishbia got into the picture, that it was Jerry who was first pushing for a stadium on this site?

Also, do you really not understand why a team that isn't dead last in MLB in overall revenues might actually be great for the future success of the franchise? The Cubs made an estimated $552 million last season. The Sox made $224m. Do you enjoy having a historically awful team? I know I don't. I would love to be able to do things like sign real free agents instead of D listers like Andrew Benitendi.

Your singular hatred of one person, for no good reason, blinds you to literally every single objective thought about the future of this franchise.

1) Jerry claimed the current location is not economically viable and wanted to move the team to the 78 closing in on 3 years ago (January 2024) - long before Ishbia entered the picture as a possible successor to him. His ask was ~$1B in taxpayer money for the ballpark.

2) Amtrak identified the Bridgeport railyard parcels as their desired location for a modernized maintenance yard several years ago - again, long before Ishbia entered the picture.

3) Ishbia was working on buying the Twins and not part of the Sox future ownership plans while the first two items were happening.

I mean, those are actual facts of what happened. The only thing that is opinion here is JR's assertion that the Sox cannot compete at the current site. That's open to debate, but the rest is just plain and simple facts of what has transpired. All the meltdowns, lashing out, manufactured motives, and laugh emojis can't change reality.

I suspect the singular, irrational hatred of Ishbia stems from the fact that he is the one guy who has the wealth to provide enough private investment to make this happen. Ishbia’s wealth enabling this to happen is probably true. If this were up to the Reinsdorfs, as rich as they are, they don't have the personal liquidity to make this happen, so the South Loop stadium would probably remain a pipe dream.

Almost all other new stadiums include hundreds of millions in public money to build the thing (including for the A's, Rays, and Royals). Here, Ishbia is suggesting that he'll privately finance the ballpark. I'd imaging that is welcome news to most fans and most taxpayers. Are residents suppose to be outraged because he'd also benefit from such an enormous private investment? What do residents of Nevada, Tampa, and KC think about a stadium being proposed in Chicago where the only public funding is for infrastructure?

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by 77 Hitmen

14 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

1) Jerry claimed the current location is not economically viable and wanted to move the team to the 78 closing in on 3 years ago (January 2024) - long before Ishbia entered the picture as a possible successor to him. His ask was ~$1B in taxpayer money for the ballpark.

2) Amtrak identified the Bridgeport railyard parcels as their desired location for a modernized maintenance yard several years ago - again, long before Ishbia entered the picture.

3) Ishbia was working on buying the Twins and not part of the Sox future ownership plans while the first two items were happening.

I mean, those are actual facts of what happened. The only thing that is opinion here is JR's assertion that the Sox cannot compete at the current site. That's open to debate, but the rest is just plain and simple facts of what has transpired. All the meltdowns, lashing out, manufactured motives, and laugh emojis can't change reality.

I suspect the singular, irrational hatred of Ishbia stems from the fact that he is the one guy who has the wealth to provide enough private investment to make this happen. Ishbia’s wealth enabling this to happen is probably true. If this were up to the Reinsdorfs, as rich as they are, they don't have the personal liquidity to make this happen, so the South Loop stadium would probably remain a pipe dream.

Almost all other new stadiums include hundreds of millions in public money to build the thing (including for the A's, Rays, and Royals). Here, Ishbia is suggesting that he'll privately finance the ballpark. I'd imaging that is welcome news to most fans and most taxpayers. Are residents suppose to be outraged because he'd also benefit from such an enormous private investment? What do residents of Nevada, Tampa, and KC think about a stadium being proposed in Chicago where the only public funding is for infrastructure?

I mean seriously, we have a dude saying I DO NOT WANT TAXPAYER MONEY, I GOT THIS, and somehow it is a bad thing. No more welfare queen billionaire hand outs sounds great to me.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

1) Jerry claimed the current location is not economically viable and wanted to move the team to the 78 closing in on 3 years ago (January 2024) - long before Ishbia entered the picture as a possible successor to him. His ask was ~$1B in taxpayer money for the ballpark.

2) Amtrak identified the Bridgeport railyard parcels as their desired location for a modernized maintenance yard several years ago - again, long before Ishbia entered the picture.

3) Ishbia was working on buying the Twins and not part of the Sox future ownership plans while the first two items were happening.

I mean, those are actual facts of what happened. The only thing that is opinion here is JR's assertion that the Sox cannot compete at the current site. That's open to debate, but the rest is just plain and simple facts of what has transpired. All the meltdowns, lashing out, manufactured motives, and laugh emojis can't change reality.

I suspect the singular, irrational hatred of Ishbia stems from the fact that he is the one guy who has the wealth to provide enough private investment to make this happen. Ishbia’s wealth enabling this to happen is probably true. If this were up to the Reinsdorfs, as rich as they are, they don't have the personal liquidity to make this happen, so the South Loop stadium would probably remain a pipe dream.

Almost all other new stadiums include hundreds of millions in public money to build the thing (including for the A's, Rays, and Royals). Here, Ishbia is suggesting that he'll privately finance the ballpark. I'd imaging that is welcome news to most fans and most taxpayers. Are residents suppose to be outraged because he'd also benefit from such an enormous private investment? What do residents of Nevada, Tampa, and KC think about a stadium being proposed in Chicago where the only public funding is for infrastructure?

KC only has two Big 4 professional sports franchises...while Vegas will have 3.

So part of it's a scarcity argument in those markets.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by caulfield12

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

The only thing that is opinion here is JR's assertion that the Sox cannot compete at the current site. That's open to debate, but the rest is just plain and simple facts of what has transpired.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

I mean seriously, we have a dude saying I DO NOT WANT TAXPAYER MONEY, I GOT THIS, and somehow it is a bad thing. No more welfare queen billionaire hand outs sounds great to me.

Yes and yes. The guy is funding the entire thing himself and only receiving help through taking advantage of existing federal programs for loans/grants. Although I can see the historical appeal of developing the existing area, since Ishbia’s paying for the whole damn thing, he’s more than entitled to use his preferred location.

2 hours ago, Mouthsider said:

Yes and yes. The guy is funding the entire thing himself and only receiving help through taking advantage of existing federal programs for loans/grants. Although I can see the historical appeal of developing the existing area, since Ishbia’s paying for the whole damn thing, he’s more than entitled to use his preferred location.

And he's just taking Jerry's half assed plan to ask for more money and doing it right.

3 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

KC only has two Big 4 professional sports franchises...while Vegas will have 3.

So part of it's a scarcity argument in those markets.

There are plenty of people in KC and Nevada who are not pleased with the amount of public money being given to those MLB stadiums.

https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/poll-more-than-half-of-las-vegas-voters-oppose-public-funding-for-new-as-stadium/

3 hours ago, Mouthsider said:

Yes and yes. The guy is funding the entire thing himself and only receiving help through taking advantage of existing federal programs for loans/grants. Although I can see the historical appeal of developing the existing area, since Ishbia’s paying for the whole damn thing, he’s more than entitled to use his preferred location.

Ishbia putting so much private money into a stadium means he has a lot riding on its success. Taxpayers paid for New Comiskey and when attendance faltered, Jerry wasn't the one on the hook for the cost of paying off the stadium other than the rent he owed to ISFA.

Given all that's at stake in privately-financing a new ballpark, there will absolutely be detailed analysis involved to determine whether spending $1B+ to move to the South Loop and build a new stadium is worth it over just signing a long-term lease at Rate Field.

On the whole, I would think most taxpayers would be happy to see the state of Illinois get out of the stadium financing and maintenance business.

5 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

I mean seriously, we have a dude saying I DO NOT WANT TAXPAYER MONEY, I GOT THIS, and somehow it is a bad thing. No more welfare queen billionaire hand outs sounds great to me.

Yeah, but he's from Michigan and lives in Winnetka. His money is no good here. MLB should decree that the Sox can only be sold to someone who was born on the South Side and who currently resides on the South Side.

....though I guess it's okay that Reinsdorf lives in Highland Park with a winter home in Scottsdale.

South side isn't about Reinsdorf and certainly not about Ishbia . South side means something to the White Sox community - a history here of hard working middle class people, many of whom immigrated in large numbers to the Delta and the South side.

I am not Irish but several of my closest friends are. Many years ago they helped me understand what it meant to be a Southsider and a White Sox fan and it became part of who I am as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Side_Irish

--Written by Tom Black, Tom Walsh, and Terry McEldowney A.K.A. The Irish Choir

We're the Windy City Irish-where the craic is always best
Where every day is Paddy's Day and everyone's a guest
If you're Irish on the North Side or Irish on the West
Welcome to the South Side come join our Irish Fest!

(Chorus) We're the South Side Irish as our fathers were before
We come from the Windy City and we're Irish to the core
From Bridgeport to Beverly from Midway to South Shore
We're the South Side Irish-Let's sing it out once more!

Our parents came from Mayo, from Cork and Donegal.
We come from Sabina's, St. Kilian and St. Gall
Leo, Visitation, Little Flower and the rest.
The South Side parishes are mighty-they're the best!

Chorus

We sing the songs our fathers sang when they were growing up
Rebel songs of Erin's Isle in South Side Irish Pubs
and when it comes to baseball-we have two favorite clubs
The Go-Go White Sox... and whoever plays the Cubs!

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by tray

Oh no, we don't want publicly owned stadiums and facilities. Lets continue to vector wealth inequality and usher in a new age of billionaire robber barons. Ishbia owns the most expensive home in Illinois while his brother has a mega mansion in Michigan and their father is maga wealthy. They own parts or all of major league soccer, baseball and basketball franchises. So you say that is good for everyone? OK then get ready to pay the prices they will charge and no, you will not have anything to complain about. Just look at what this guy is doing now if you have any question about that.

4 hours ago, tray said:

Oh no, we don't want publicly owned stadiums and facilities. Lets continue to vector wealth inequality and usher in a new age of billionaire robber barons. Ishbia owns the most expensive home in Illinois while his brother has a mega mansion in Michigan and their father is maga wealthy. They own parts or all of major league soccer, baseball and basketball franchises. So you say that is good for everyone? OK then get ready to pay the prices they will charge and no, you will not have anything to complain about. Just look at what this guy is doing now if you have any question about that.

I’m confused by this comment — their other sports team, the Phoenix Suns, early this year expanded their already low food prices that started in December 2024 with two additional options. These food prices are lower than I have ever seen at either White Sox or Bulls games.

Arizona Sports

Suns expand $2 value menu at Mortgage Matchup Center - Ar...

The Suns are expanding their $2 value menu at Mortgage Matchup Center with two more food choices beginning this Sunday.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by WhiteSox2023

4 hours ago, tray said:

Oh no, we don't want publicly owned stadiums and facilities. Lets continue to vector wealth inequality and usher in a new age of billionaire robber barons. Ishbia owns the most expensive home in Illinois while his brother has a mega mansion in Michigan and their father is maga wealthy. They own parts or all of major league soccer, baseball and basketball franchises. So you say that is good for everyone? OK then get ready to pay the prices they will charge and no, you will not have anything to complain about. Just look at what this guy is doing now if you have any question about that.

Jerry Reinsdorf was forced to lower prices due to three 100 loss seasons...to the point where revenues sunk to last in all of baseball.

From 2006-2012, White Sox prices for parking tickets concessions ranged between #8-12 in the major leagues.

Of course, the White Sox at least had winning/competitive seasons in 2006 08 10 12.

Jerry even said second place seasons could be considered successful.

He also said the team could never sell three million tickets at the current stadium and this were unable to be financially competitive with other teams.

5 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I’m confused by this comment — their other sports team, the Phoenix Suns, early this year changed their prices on concessions lower than I have ever seen at either Sox or Bulls games.

Arizona Sports

Suns expand $2 value menu at Mortgage Matchup Center - Ar...

The Suns are expanding their $2 value menu at Mortgage Matchup Center with two more food choices beginning this Sunday.

They also gave their games away on tv in Phoenix.

How long did that last with the 2025 Sox? One month? Remember the 1970's style "rabbit ears" free version of CHSN fiasco?

They even went on the higher priced cable tier compared to Marquee's positioning, reaching fewer households in the process.

Because their ratings were so poor due to perenially losing teams until this season.

9 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yeah, but he's from Michigan and lives in Winnetka. His money is no good here. MLB should decree that the Sox can only be sold to someone who was born on the South Side and who currently resides on the South Side.

....though I guess it's okay that Reinsdorf lives in Highland Park with a winter home in Scottsdale.

And is from Brooklyn.

6 hours ago, tray said:

Oh no, we don't want publicly owned stadiums and facilities. Lets continue to vector wealth inequality and usher in a new age of billionaire robber barons. Ishbia owns the most expensive home in Illinois while his brother has a mega mansion in Michigan and their father is maga wealthy. They own parts or all of major league soccer, baseball and basketball franchises. So you say that is good for everyone? OK then get ready to pay the prices they will charge and no, you will not have anything to complain about. Just look at what this guy is doing now if you have any question about that.

If you are talking about ballpark prices now I KNOW you haven't been to a game in forever, because they are already ridiculous, meanwhile, since you want to drag family in, his brother actually DROPPED concessions prices in Phoenix.

You literally just make stuff up.

Gee, I wonder if the guy who defends Schriff, claims Jerry is a good owner, and attacks the privately financed new stadium is trolling.

4 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Gee, I wonder if the guy who defends Schriff, claims Jerry is a good owner, and attacks the privately financed new stadium is trolling.

I feel like we just got expert testimony from John Gotti on the interworking of the mob.

20 minutes ago, ron883 said:

Gee, I wonder if the guy who defends Schriff, claims Jerry is a good owner, and attacks the privately financed new stadium is trolling.

Personally I am very excited for when shovels are in the ground for the Railyards presented by Tray of the Soxtalk

33 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Personally I am very excited for when shovels are in the ground for the Railyards presented by Tray of the Soxtalk

Are we in Dances with Wolves now?

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

They also gave their games away on tv in Phoenix.

How long did that last with the 2025 Sox? One month? Remember the 1970's style "rabbit ears" free version of CHSN fiasco?

They even went on the higher priced cable tier compared to Marquee's positioning, reaching fewer households in the process.

Because their ratings were so poor due to perenially losing teams until this season.

When Jerry and Eddie bought the Sox, within a year, they moved a vast majority of Sox games to Pay TV with a monthly subscription fee of between $15-$21. That's in 1982 dollars - that would be between $50-$70/month in today's dollars.

When Jerry got New Comiskey built, he saw to it that the design focused on premium/corporate customers as he had three levels of luxury seats/suites inserted between the lower and upper deck with the 500 level upper deck comprising of about 45% of the stadium's seats.

As you said, the reason why Sox tickets have been a relative bargain in the last few years is because the team has been so bad that they couldn't get enough people to want to come to the games. The upper deck seats, with the exception of perhaps the upper deck box (which aren't that bad), are affordable because they're lousy seats and a tough sell.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by 77 Hitmen

In other ballpark news: Goodbye Comerica Park, hello Fifth Third Park.

1 hour ago, Kyyle23 said:

Personally I am very excited for when shovels are in the ground for the Railyards presented by Tray of the Soxtalk

Maybe they can name the parking lot exits after him?

39 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

When Jerry and Eddie bought the Sox, within a year, they moved a vast majority of Sox games to Pay TV with a monthly subscription fee of between $15-$21. That's in 1982 dollars - that would be between $50-$70/month in today's dollars.

When Jerry got New Comiskey built, he saw to it that the design focus on premium/corporate customers as he had three levels of luxury seats/suites inserted between the lower and upper deck with the 500 level upper deck comprising of about 45% of the stadium's seats.

As you said, the reason why Sox tickets have been a relative bargain in the last few years is because the team has been so bad that they couldn't get enough people to want to come to the games. The upper deck seats, with the exception of perhaps the upper deck box (which aren't that bad), are affordable because they're lousy seats and a tough sell.

It was always a poorly designed stadium that missed out on the hindsight of the incredible ballparks that came after it. While it is perfectly fine, it definitely is loaded with opportunity cost of what could have been done with a few more bucks out of pocket.