5 minutes ago, 77 Hitmen said:

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.

And it looks like if they build a soundproof barrier type of thing, that the biggest impact is considered legally mitigated.

On 11/3/2026 at 5:56 PM, caulfield12 said:

Ishbia Brothers also reported to be only 40% owners of the team ATM...they don't possess the controlling shares either, so what exactly are they supposed to do here???

According to Forbes, Mat Ishbia, Justin Ishbia, and their father Jeff Ishbia. owners of a large share (appx 40%) of the Whote Sox shares, derive the vast majority of their collective family wealth from United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and major sports and private equity holdings reportedly worth appx 12 billion.

What are they supposed to do? Considering the absolutely filthy wealth they have (and their vested interest in the franchise), the answer is that they could do whatever they want. They certainly can do more than what private equity partners typically do, restructure debt and/or reduce the value of the shares in preparation for a takeover. What did they do Cauli? They have contingent contracts to purchase railroad property that is bisected by railroad tracks. That is where they want to relocate the White Sox from their historic home on the South side.

What could / should they do/have done? They could have helped the 2026 WSox at the trade deadline by co-signing on player contracts, knowing they will own the team in short order or right now, sign a big free agent or free agents. Prioritize building a winning team, not a substandard, inconvenient stadium so they can control all property and businesses in and around that stadium.

Oh and the proposed "Railyards stadium". The more I study the renderings of it, the more I think that it pure folly. 4-5 decks down the 1st base line, almost no seats in RF, all seats in LF and CF facing South, no surface parking, active railroad tracks adjacent to the stadium, roads the do not connect. OK thet is a rendering, but why and how do they plan to move there without some kind of at least a realistic site plan and building plan? It seems like they have put the cart before the horse.

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ? Why move the team? For personal profit and the vanity of a couple of billionaires?

1 hour ago, tray said:

According to Forbes, Mat Ishbia, Justin Ishbia, and their father Jeff Ishbia. owners of a large share (appx 40%) of the Whote Sox shares, derive the vast majority of their collective family wealth from United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and major sports and private equity holdings reportedly worth appx 12 billion.

What are they supposed to do? Considering the absolutely filthy wealth they have (and their vested interest in the franchise), the answer is that they could do whatever they want. They certainly can do more than what private equity partners typically do, restructure debt and/or reduce the value of the shares in preparation for a takeover. What did they do Cauli? They have contingent contracts to purchase railroad property that is bisected by railroad tracks. That is where they want to relocate the White Sox from their historic home on the South side.

What could / should they do/have done? They could have helped the 2026 WSox at the trade deadline by co-signing on player contracts, knowing they will own the team in short order or right now, sign a big free agent or free agents. Prioritize building a winning team, not a substandard, inconvenient stadium so they can control all property and businesses in and around that stadium.

Oh and the proposed "Railyards stadium". The more I study the renderings of it, the more I think that it pure folly. 4-5 decks down the 1st base line, almost no seats in RF, all seats in LF and CF facing South, no surface parking, active railroad tracks adjacent to the stadium, roads the do not connect. OK thet is a rendering, but why and how do they plan to move there without some kind of at least a realistic site plan and building plan? It seems like they have put the cart before the horse.

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ? Why move the team? For personal profit and the vanity of a couple of billionaires?

Ask Jerry. He's the one who started this.

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ?

Where is the proof or evidence for this?

2006? First year of the park?

Fans loved the Sox this year and they were still just 22nd in attendance.

Last year, they were at the very bottom in revenues generated among all 30 teams.

3 hours ago, tray said:

According to Forbes, Mat Ishbia, Justin Ishbia, and their father Jeff Ishbia. owners of a large share (appx 40%) of the Whote Sox shares, derive the vast majority of their collective family wealth from United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and major sports and private equity holdings reportedly worth appx 12 billion.

What are they supposed to do? Considering the absolutely filthy wealth they have (and their vested interest in the franchise), the answer is that they could do whatever they want. They certainly can do more than what private equity partners typically do, restructure debt and/or reduce the value of the shares in preparation for a takeover. What did they do Cauli? They have contingent contracts to purchase railroad property that is bisected by railroad tracks. That is where they want to relocate the White Sox from their historic home on the South side.

What could / should they do/have done? They could have helped the 2026 WSox at the trade deadline by co-signing on player contracts, knowing they will own the team in short order or right now, sign a big free agent or free agents. Prioritize building a winning team, not a substandard, inconvenient stadium so they can control all property and businesses in and around that stadium.

Oh and the proposed "Railyards stadium". The more I study the renderings of it, the more I think that it pure folly. 4-5 decks down the 1st base line, almost no seats in RF, all seats in LF and CF facing South, no surface parking, active railroad tracks adjacent to the stadium, roads the do not connect. OK thet is a rendering, but why and how do they plan to move there without some kind of at least a realistic site plan and building plan? It seems like they have put the cart before the horse.

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ? Why move the team? For personal profit and the vanity of a couple of billionaires?

Why don’t you expect the same sort of spending from the majority owner? Jerry is a billionaire as well.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by WhiteSox2023

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ?

Where is the proof or evidence for this?

Of course Cauli you and I know that ANY team will improve revenue streams and attendance with a better team including one with several star players. That should be the focus.. not the personal profit or vanity of the owners.

Meanwhile there is no evidence or proof that moving the White Sox to the railroad tracks on 14th street will attract more fans than say, a retractable domed stadium near the site of Comiskey. Ishbias know Detroit and Winnetka, but they know very little about the South side.

These guys are making a gamble. OK, It's their money but that gamble is with the team I have loved all my life.

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

Meanwhile, why not build at the site of the original Comiskey Park? Why not invest in a neighborhood that loves and wants their team there so badly ?

Where is the proof or evidence for this?

2006? First year of the park?

Fans loved the Sox this year and they were still just 22nd in attendance.

Last year, they were at the very bottom in revenues generated among all 30 teams.

This too. Cub fans show up when the team sucks, Sox fans don't. The last were literally last in MLB with revenue, it is kind of hard to say how much they want them when they only show up in good years. This move is to grow the fan base beyond the very limited one they have now.

23 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Why don’t you expect the same spending from the majority owner?

I do not expect Reinsdorf to put personal money into this franchise given the imminent takeover by 3 billionaires with almost unfathomable wealth. I think they are cheap.

These guys never approached the ISFA or the fans, or hired an architectural firm, to investigate the possibility of a new retractable dome stadium in Armour Park. They have not considered urban development around the existing park.

Abandoning the home of the White Sox may have negative consequences that they are not even able to understand right now. They are seeking to impose their will on fans in a city that they did not grow up in and from all appearances, do not understand. It's not Winnetka, or Detroit.

You tell em, tray

27 minutes ago, tray said:

I do not expect Reinsdorf to put personal money into this franchise given the imminent takeover by 3 billionaires with almost unfathomable wealth. I think they are cheap.

Until the transaction actually takes place, years down the road, this is Jerry's team.

Your weird stalkery thing for Ishbia is just irrational and a lame attempt to derail the intelligent discussions in this thread.

7 minutes ago, tray said:

These guys never approached the ISFA or the fans, or hired an architectural firm, to investigate the possibility of a new retractable dome stadium in Armour Park. They have not considered urban development around the existing park.

Abandoning the home of the White Sox may have negative consequences that they are not even able to understand right now. They are seeking to impose their will on fans in a city that they did not grow up in and from all appearances, do not understand. It's not Winnetka, or Detroit.

Jerry.

Jerry is the one who went downstate with the 78 proposal to start all this.

38 minutes ago, tray said:

I do not expect Reinsdorf to put personal money into this franchise given the imminent takeover by 3 billionaires with almost unfathomable wealth. I think they are cheap.

Reinsdorf is also a billionaire and he laid out the terms of the sale to Ishbia… which hasn’t been executed yet. Which means Jerry is still receiving the majority of the profits from the team at 90 years old. Who is the cheap one now? The guy could be buried with most of his money and still provide generational wealth to his entire family. He is Scrooge McDuck swimming in a pool of gold coins.

I don’t think it makes much sense for why you treat the Ishbia’s as cheap but not Jerry. It is completely hypocritical.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by WhiteSox2023

32 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Reinsdorf is also a billionaire and he laid out the terms of the sale to Ishbia… which hasn’t been executed yet. Which means Jerry is still receiving the majority of the profits from the team at 90 years old. Who is the cheap one now? The guy could be buried with most of his money and still provide generational wealth to his entire family. He is Scrooge McDuck swimming in a pool of gold coins.

I don’t think it makes much sense for why you treat the Ishbia’s as cheap but not Jerry. It is completely hypocritical.

Plus, the Bulls are worth $6.7 billion and do have what amounts to unconditional fan support despite mostly terrible teams the last decade...but the Bulls have never once managed to sign a true superstar free agent in his prime (D.Wade was closest) since the 1990s.

Not to mention the Reinsdorf Family still has the White Sox control shares as well as 60% of the team.

Jerry's new incentive with the Sox isn't just avoiding capital gains taxes and trust issues.

It's adding another $800 million to $1 billion in franchise valuation by breaking the union and imposing a salary cap, even though he might have just 2-3 seasons in the last twenty plus (2006/2021-22) where you could even dream about hitting a luxury tax threshold as a Sox fan.

As far as billionaires go my friend, I long ago soured on trickle down economics. I think a lot of people have.

The White Sox base is a share of the Chicago fan base, split roughly along N/S geography but more than that, by the history of the teams at their respective locations. I asked rhetorically, WTF (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) should these billionaires mess with that ? Tradition is such a huge part of baseball.

3 minutes ago, tray said:

As far as billionaires go my friend, I long ago soured on trickle down economics. I think a lot of people have.

The White Sox base is a share of the Chicago fan base, split roughly along N/S geography but more than that, by the history of the teams at their respective locations. I asked rhetorically, WTF (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) should these billionaires mess with that ? Tradition is such a huge part of baseball.

Do you think Jerry isn’t taking advantage of the same tax loopholes as the Ishbia’s? You rip the Ishbia’s non-stop and say nothing about Jerry and his own history. Jerry was an IRS lawyer. He used his knowledge of taxes to make much of his money.

Per Wikipedia:

“He made his initial fortune in real estate, taking advantage of the Frank Lyon Co. v. United States decision by the United States Supreme Court, which allowed economic owners of realty to sell property and lease it back, while transferring the tax deduction for depreciation to the title owner.”

That is literally “trickle-down economics” to the freaking T! Where is your equivalent souring on Jerry for engaging in the same strategy years before the Ishbia brothers were even born?

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by WhiteSox2023

2 hours ago, tray said:

As far as billionaires go my friend, I long ago soured on trickle down economics. I think a lot of people have.

The White Sox base is a share of the Chicago fan base, split roughly along N/S geography but more than that, by the history of the teams at their respective locations. I asked rhetorically, WTF (Whiskey Tango Foxtrot) should these billionaires mess with that ? Tradition is such a huge part of baseball.

Trickledown economics like trying to get a 3rd baseball stadium built for the 3rd time in 40 years with taxpayer dollars? Messing with the teams location by trying to move the team to Addison, no Tampa, oh wait, the 78...

Because you sure wouldn't be referring to the guy paying for his own stadium.