1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

Knowing full well that Jerry doesn't spend unless Sox fans spend, and that the Sox are effectively a small market team under his leadership, revenue like this is vital to taking a team from Point B to POint C.

Teams are racing to copy what Atlanta and St. Louis have done with their entertainment districts for good reason - not only do they generate money but they get more fans to go to games. The era of relying on fans to only want to drive to the game, see it, and drive back home is over. All the "what about Milwaukee?" or "I personally just want to see the game and that's it because I'm a real fan" arguments don't change this economic reality.

Then the question becomes whether they could simply create a booming entertainment district at the current site that'll thrive year-round considering that there are 280 days a year that the Sox don't play at home.

1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Teams are racing to copy what Atlanta and St. Louis have done with their entertainment districts for good reason - not only do they generate money but they get more fans to go to games. The era of relying on fans to only want to drive to the game, see it, and drive back home is over. All the "what about Milwaukee?" or "I personally just want to see the game and that's it because I'm a real fan" arguments don't change this economic reality.

Then the question becomes whether they could simply create a booming entertainment district at the current site that'll thrive year-round considering that there are 280 days a year that the Sox don't play at home.

What about Milwaukee is a great question. What about using every single option available to you is an even better question. Teams like Milwaukee, and expanding the window outward to Tampa and Cleveland are flashes in the pan based on their ability to pack a lot of talent together in a short period of time, until they get too expensive and you have to start all over again. Meanwhile the LAD have been in the playoffs 14 times in a row and won WS in 3 of the last 7 seasons. Why not the Dodgers, I say. Hell why not both? In order to play at the top consistently, year after year, you have to have a steady and large revenue flow. It's not the only thing, but it is the most important.

51 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

What about Milwaukee is a great question. What about using every single option available to you is an even better question. Teams like Milwaukee, and expanding the window outward to Tampa and Cleveland are flashes in the pan based on their ability to pack a lot of talent together in a short period of time, until they get too expensive and you have to start all over again. Meanwhile the LAD have been in the playoffs 14 times in a row and won WS in 3 of the last 7 seasons. Why not the Dodgers, I say. Hell why not both? In order to play at the top consistently, year after year, you have to have a steady and large revenue flow. It's not the only thing, but it is the most important.

Yeah, the Brewers are obviously an extremely well run organization. But, they face a revenue crunch compared to other teams. The Rays very much intend to emulate the Battery at their new stadium in Tampa. The Royals are ditching the acres of surface lots for a downtown/stadium district development.

The Sox should be benefiting big time from being in the 3rd largest market in the US, but they instead had the lowest revenue stream of all MLB teams in 2025. That'll improve after this year, but they aren't going to shoot up to big market status either.

Edited Thursday at 08:10 PM1 day by 77 Hitmen

52 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yeah, the Brewers are obviously an extremely well run organization. But, they face a revenue crunch compared to other teams. The Rays very much intend to emulate the Battery at their new stadium in Tampa. The Royals are ditching the acres of surface lots for a downtown/stadium district development.

The Sox should be benefiting big time from being in the 3 largest market in the US, but they instead had the lowest revenue stream of all MLB teams in 2025. That'll improve after this year, but they aren't going to shoot up to big market status either.

Jerr-y! Jerr-y! Jerr-y!

54 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Yeah, the Brewers are obviously an extremely well run organization. But, they face a revenue crunch compared to other teams. The Rays very much intend to emulate the Battery at their new stadium in Tampa. The Royals are ditching the acres of surface lots for a downtown/stadium district development.

The Sox should be benefiting big time from being in the 3 largest market in the US, but they instead had the lowest revenue stream of all MLB teams in 2025. That'll improve after this year, but they aren't going to shoot up to big market status either.

Like I said, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tampa are incredible at what they do, but if you can't keep your guys for more than 4-5 years, it makes the loooong runs nearly impossible. You see it in their ups and downs. It's great Milwaukee developed a guy like Misiorowski, but if he ends up a Dodger in two to three years, then the Brewers have to start all over.

3 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Like I said, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tampa are incredible at what they do, but if you can't keep your guys for more than 4-5 years, it makes the loooong runs nearly impossible. You see it in their ups and downs. It's great Milwaukee developed a guy like Misiorowski, but if he ends up a Dodger in two to three years, then the Brewers have to start all over.

Sure but they have done that...without starting over while Braun and Yelich aged out.

Traded Hader D.Williams Peralta, etc.

Consistently top 3-5 farm system. Jesus Made is one of the best prospects in the game and not that far off.

8/11 playoffs

2 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Sure but they have done that...without starting over while Braun and Yelich aged out.

Traded Hader D.Williams Peralta, etc.

Consistently top 3-5 farm system. Jesus Made is one of the best prospects in the game and not that far off.

8/11 playoffs

As Charles Comiskey would have said 8 of 11 /= 14 of 14

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/general/mat-ishbia-s-hands-on-involvement-with-suns-is-getting-heavy-backlash/ar-AA2fWuRF?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Suns 1-5 start

2 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

As Charles Comiskey would have said 8 of 11 /= 14 of 14

Had it wrong

8/9

Not bad with Cubs and Cardinals in the same division.

16 hours ago, southsider2k5 said:

Like I said, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Tampa are incredible at what they do, but if you can't keep your guys for more than 4-5 years, it makes the loooong runs nearly impossible. You see it in their ups and downs. It's great Milwaukee developed a guy like Misiorowski, but if he ends up a Dodger in two to three years, then the Brewers have to start all over.

Interesting thing about the Milwaukee stadium is that the general area is not a district per se but there is a sprawl and accessibility is such that the congestion is purely stadium traffic so you can entertain one's self nearby and get to the stadium easily. Tailgating is also huge there. Atlanta/Georgia could have worse traffic than LA, it is a nightmare so they need the district Milwaukee does not. LA has the late arriving crowd. The cubs are similar in that regard. Rate should have used mixed income housing and entertainment on parts of their land but that ship has sailed.

13 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Sure but they have done that...without starting over while Braun and Yelich aged out.

Traded Hader D.Williams Peralta, etc.

Consistently top 3-5 farm system. Jesus Made is one of the best prospects in the game and not that far off.

8/11 playoffs

Milwaukee just uses their assets incredibly well. They will get an extra pick for Bauers and use the comp picks well. Then they develop players fantastically. They easily could have gotten Skubal this year, but no need.

The Brewers philosophy maybe through the Yelich deal is that the aging baseball player is not the asset you want, The Dodgers and Yankees can outspend to cover for those assets but as you see with the cubs and Yankees you need to develop talent as well. The Wild Bill contract is one that will be interesting to follow with Milwaukee.

25 minutes ago, Harry Chappas said:

Milwaukee just uses their assets incredibly well. They will get an extra pick for Bauers and use the comp picks well. Then they develop players fantastically. They easily could have gotten Skubal this year, but no need.

The Brewers philosophy maybe through the Yelich deal is that the aging baseball player is not the asset you want, The Dodgers and Yankees can outspend to cover for those assets but as you see with the cubs and Yankees you need to develop talent as well. The Wild Bill contract is one that will be interesting to follow with Milwaukee.

Catchers after age 30 are almost always diminishing returns...with a few notable historical exceptions.

Then there are the competitive balance picks as well.

Edited yesterday at 01:23 PM1 day by caulfield12

Another day, another Bears stadium proposal. This time for the old US Steel South Works site. Somebody wake us all up when there are shovels in the ground either in Arlington Heights or Hammond.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-chicago-bears-stadium-related-midwest-20261106/

11 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

Another day, another Bears stadium proposal. This time for the old US Steel South Works site. Somebody wake us all up when there are shovels in the ground either in Arlington Heights or Hammond.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-chicago-bears-stadium-related-midwest-20261106/

Proposals like this can be fun to think about...but it is almost absurd to consider how many groups have chimed in with ideas...at a time with this process should have been long over! The image on the article (can't get past paywall) is awesome looking (like most proposals would do) but transportation issues must be huge in that location...or am I wrong about that?

40 minutes ago, BrittBurnsFan said:

Proposals like this can be fun to think about...but it is almost absurd to consider how many groups have chimed in with ideas...at a time with this process should have been long over! The image on the article (can't get past paywall) is awesome looking (like most proposals would do) but transportation issues must be huge in that location...or am I wrong about that?

The McCaskey family has screwed this entire situation up about as bad as it could possibly be.

Crain's has a second Bears stadium article today. This one is about the general legislative efforts. I don't know how to post paywall-free links to these.

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-chicago-bears-stadium-20261106/

From the article:

"Goodell, Bears owner George McCaskey and team President Kevin Warren met with Pritzker’s key aides and the top legislative negotiators, state Sen. Bill Cunningham and Rep. Kam Buckner on Nov. 4, according to the sources.

“We expect productive dialogue with both leadership teams in the coming weeks. We have a responsibility and obligation to explore every option available to the club, and we look forward to developing a transformational project that will attract global events and deliver jobs and economic growth to all of Chicagoland,” the Bears statement said."

27 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

The McCaskey family has screwed this entire situation up about as bad as it could possibly be.

The Crain's article above shows how badly they've screwed this up. This is a quote from state Senator Cunningham.

“They have tried to hammer away at this narrative that it’s either Arlington Heights or or Hammond,” Cunningham said of the Bears organization. “They undermined that before by having ongoing discussions with the city in April and May of last year. They will say publicly that’s our only focus, but we’ve seen in the past that while they might say that publicly, they have been willing to talk about other proposals behind the scenes.”

If the Bears want to get this stadium built asap , it’s either AH or Indiana, and they aren’t moving to Indiana.

11 hours ago, Harry Chappas said:

Milwaukee just uses their assets incredibly well. They will get an extra pick for Bauers and use the comp picks well. Then they develop players fantastically. They easily could have gotten Skubal this year, but no need.

The Brewers philosophy maybe through the Yelich deal is that the aging baseball player is not the asset you want, The Dodgers and Yankees can outspend to cover for those assets but as you see with the cubs and Yankees you need to develop talent as well. The Wild Bill contract is one that will be interesting to follow with Milwaukee.

SI

One Decision That Will Shape Every National League Team’s...

Everyone is chasing the Brewers in the senior circuit. How will the also-rans approach hot stove season?

Contreras pending FA situation addressed...stay tuned

35 minutes ago, Sleepy Harold said:

Study bought and paid for by Ishbias.

Self fulfilling prophecy, etc.

Teal?

1 hour ago, Sleepy Harold said:

The Crain's article has the 59-page FRA report embedded at the end of the article.

Noteworthy items from the article:

• Public comment period ends on Dec. 7. Public hearings have not yet been scheduled.

• The FRA said noise impact from the new facility would be minimal, but identified four residential “clusters” where impact would be “moderate.” Those could be mitigated through the creation of a barrier along the western edge of the facility, though the report doesn’t require it as a condition for approval.

• The assessment called out potential traffic headaches during construction, mostly from structural repairs to 17 viaducts supporting the existing rail yard. Recommendations included limiting work when the White Sox are playing home games.

• The report singled out the viaduct improvements as a public safety benefit of the project, since many of the structures are about 120 years old.

• If the FRA ultimately clears the project, demolition to prepare the site for construction would begin in January, the report said. The facility would be completed in April 2028 and viaduct work would be finished in August 2028.

On 10/2/2026 at 4:40 PM, southsider2k5 said:

This. First you need the train yard stuff done. It is 2026 and we are still in the arguing about it phase. I mean MAYBE you get shovels in the ground at some point next year, but my guess is that 28 is more realistic to do all of the background work that needs to be done such as environmental studies, etc. So then you are probably taking to 2029, at least, if not 30 to get the yard done, then after they vacate the Railyards, THEN the team starts that whole process over again for remediation and such on their own site before they can get to work on building an actual stadium. I would think the 2033 season is a realistic goal to open a new Sox park with all of the moving parts. THEN the Bears could start on their stadium. We are probably talking 10ish years from today for them to move in.

9 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

The Crain's article has the 59-page FRA report embedded at the end of the article.

Noteworthy items from the article:

• Public comment period ends on Dec. 7. Public hearings have not yet been scheduled.

• The FRA said noise impact from the new facility would be minimal, but identified four residential “clusters” where impact would be “moderate.” Those could be mitigated through the creation of a barrier along the western edge of the facility, though the report doesn’t require it as a condition for approval.

• The assessment called out potential traffic headaches during construction, mostly from structural repairs to 17 viaducts supporting the existing rail yard. Recommendations included limiting work when the White Sox are playing home games.

• The report singled out the viaduct improvements as a public safety benefit of the project, since many of the structures are about 120 years old.

• If the FRA ultimately clears the project, demolition to prepare the site for construction would begin in January, the report said. The facility would be completed in April 2028 and viaduct work would be finished in August 2028.

So that puts us about about a year ahead of myguess, meaning we can get to it on the Yards in possibly 28 if you can open the new facility while the viaduct work could happen, but 29 if not. [Assessment, demo, remediation, etc]. 2032 to 2033 looks pretty solid for an opening date of a new park.

9 hours ago, 77 Hitmen said:

The Crain's article has the 59-page FRA report embedded at the end of the article.

Noteworthy items from the article:

• Public comment period ends on Dec. 7. Public hearings have not yet been scheduled.

• The FRA said noise impact from the new facility would be minimal, but identified four residential “clusters” where impact would be “moderate.” Those could be mitigated through the creation of a barrier along the western edge of the facility, though the report doesn’t require it as a condition for approval.

• The assessment called out potential traffic headaches during construction, mostly from structural repairs to 17 viaducts supporting the existing rail yard. Recommendations included limiting work when the White Sox are playing home games.

• The report singled out the viaduct improvements as a public safety benefit of the project, since many of the structures are about 120 years old.

• If the FRA ultimately clears the project, demolition to prepare the site for construction would begin in January, the report said. The facility would be completed in April 2028 and viaduct work would be finished in August 2028.

Hopefully this gets the ball rolling in starting the new stadium.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

So that puts us about about a year ahead of guess, meaning we can get to it on the Yards in possibly 28 if you can open the new facility while the viaduct work could happen, but 29 if not. [Assessment, demo, remediation, etc] 2032 to 2033 looks pretty solid.

Exactly. It looks like they could get working on clearing the Amtrak site as early as late spring 2028 or maybe fall '28/early '29 at the latest. I don't know what the timing is for BNSF getting a new Metra maintenance yard built (at 14th and Western) since all that's been reported so far is that Canal Edge is in advanced talks to buy that part of the property. But, there's no controversy regarding a possible relocation of the BNSF yard. Getting a new stadium built in time for the 2033 All Star Game certainly looks doable.

It's also noteworthy that the FRA found insignificant impacts. That's not the same as zero impacts on local residents, but I don't see a legal basis for the city taking legal action to block this. As I (and others) said, Amtrak moving their maintenance yard is only the first hurdle to clear before a South Loop ballpark becomes reality, but it sure seems like the biggest one.