Lip Man 1 Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/15/mlb-lockout-salary-cap/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 (edited) Maybe if I had a shred of hope of the Sox being good again in the next 3 or 4 years (we already have a 6 page thread about that), I'd actually share in this "ominous" feeling. As it stands, I'm not going to lose sleep over it because IMO, my favorite team has been unwatchable for going on 3 years now with no end in sight by 2027. Edited July 16 by 77 Hitmen 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 you know the last 30 years or so the rise in broadcast rights made a pretty clear case the owners needed to stfu and allow the players to be paid more based on the team. But now that well has dried up, and the long time fans have been extorted to keep it going, and the game has zero brand outside its longtime fans...and I just can't stand either sides posturing. It's a great game but the professional sport absolutely sucks ass right now. I'm sure another bobble head night oughta fix it. Or wait,get this, maybe crossover jerseys with comcast xfinity? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tray Posted July 16 Share Posted July 16 49 minutes ago, bmags said: you know the last 30 years or so the rise in broadcast rights made a pretty clear case the owners needed to stfu and allow the players to be paid more based on the team. But now that well has dried up, and the long time fans have been extorted to keep it going, and the game has zero brand outside its longtime fans...and I just can't stand either sides posturing. It's a great game but the professional sport absolutely sucks ass right now. I'm sure another bobble head night oughta fix it. Or wait,get this, maybe crossover jerseys with comcast xfinity? That is your opinion. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 16 Author Share Posted July 16 1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said: Maybe if I had a shred of hope of the Sox being good again in the next 3 or 4 years (we already have a 6 page thread about that), I'd actually share in this "ominous" feeling. As it stands, I'm not going to lose sleep over it because IMO, my favorite team has been unwatchable for going on 3 years now with no end in sight by 2027. You make a great point. For me personally unlike in 1981 and 1994 I won't be that upset if the season in 2027 is wiped out. The Sox still won't be worth a damn. I can always watch stuff out of my library if I need a baseball fix. If the owners are going to die on that hill of demanding a salary cap it's going to be a long wait until baseball returns. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 5 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: You make a great point. For me personally unlike in 1981 and 1994 I won't be that upset if the season in 2027 is wiped out. The Sox still won't be worth a damn. I can always watch stuff out of my library if I need a baseball fix. If the owners are going to die on that hill of demanding a salary cap it's going to be a long wait until baseball returns. Yep, this won't be a repeat 1994 for me when JR shot down the Sox championship hopes. Even the 2022 lockout was worrisome when the Sox were supposedly entering the prime of their contention window. I'm not rooting for a shutdown in 2027, I'm just not going too be too bothered by it if it happens. It's not like it'll destroy the Sox playoff chances. Like I said, we already have a 6-page discussion about that in another thread. Something will have to give as baseball's economics are shifting quickly, especially with the collapse of their RSN gravy train. I have no idea what the solution is though. I doubt that a salary cap is the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 Why do I see a one year lock out followed by the cap and it will be right when Sox finally have an owner who would have been willing to spend like crazy…. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 2 hours ago, Chisoxfn said: Why do I see a one year lock out followed by the cap and it will be right when Sox finally have an owner who would have been willing to spend like crazy…. That would be SO typical White Sox, but the MLBPA will never agree to a salary cap. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitekrazy Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 AN opportunity for the WNBA to become more popular than MLB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSox2023 Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 18 minutes ago, kitekrazy said: AN opportunity for the WNBA to become more popular than MLB It all depends on Caitlin Clark’s injury status. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 1 hour ago, kitekrazy said: AN opportunity for the WNBA to become more popular than MLB Saw a story today where the WNBAPA is gearing up for a lockout/ labor impasse with the owners come this November. And as a side note saw where in a players poll the Sky tied for the worst team/organization to play for. They fit right in with the other organizations representing the city it seems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 What I'd like to know about is the reports that some teams (including the White Sox) have accumulated a sizable amount of debt. One of the earmarks for the infusion of cash by Ishbia into this organization over the next 2 years is reportedly to pay down the team's debt. Also, wasn't it mentioned in another thread that the Twins have a sizable debt? What is causing these teams to go into debt? Was it from operating expense during Covid? The collapse of money flowing in from RSNs? Other factors? And if teams aren't making money, why are the payrolls of some teams approaching the stratosphere? Are some owners like Steve Cohen (Mets) and Mark Walter (Dodgers) dipping into their personal fortunes to bankroll their teams? Or is it that some teams (mostly in the biggest markets) are still raking in the dough while other teams are struggling with revenue streams drying up? I know some teams like the Braves and Cubs are bringing in a lot of money from the entertainment developments around their ballpark. I'm not asking this as someone who is pro-owners or pro-players union, I just want to know what's really going on with the economics of MLB as we head to a possible in a year and a half. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 1 hour ago, 77 Hitmen said: What I'd like to know about is the reports that some teams (including the White Sox) have accumulated a sizable amount of debt. One of the earmarks for the infusion of cash by Ishbia into this organization over the next 2 years is reportedly to pay down the team's debt. Also, wasn't it mentioned in another thread that the Twins have a sizable debt? What is causing these teams to go into debt? Was it from operating expense during Covid? The collapse of money flowing in from RSNs? Other factors? And if teams aren't making money, why are the payrolls of some teams approaching the stratosphere? Are some owners like Steve Cohen (Mets) and Mark Walter (Dodgers) dipping into their personal fortunes to bankroll their teams? Or is it that some teams (mostly in the biggest markets) are still raking in the dough while other teams are struggling with revenue streams drying up? I know some teams like the Braves and Cubs are bringing in a lot of money from the entertainment developments around their ballpark. I'm not asking this as someone who is pro-owners or pro-players union, I just want to know what's really going on with the economics of MLB as we head to a possible in a year and a half. Until and unless the owners agree to open their books to an independent auditor (like they did in 1994 and swore they would never do that again after that person showed how they were cooking the books to show losses) we will never really know what is going on. I did see a story yesterday where the Braves who do have to open their books because they are publicly owned pulled in over 650 million dollars in revenue last year from the team and the entertainment district that they own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 20 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said: Until and unless the owners agree to open their books to an independent auditor (like they did in 1994 and swore they would never do that again after that person showed how they were cooking the books to show losses) we will never really know what is going on. I did see a story yesterday where the Braves who do have to open their books because they are publicly owned pulled in over 650 million dollars in revenue last year from the team and the entertainment district that they own. Which is why the Sox want to leave 35th. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 3 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: Which is why the Sox want to leave 35th. Understandable although Ishbia may also want to buy and develop the land around the current park and remove some of the parking lots. But regardless of where the Sox try to go to, or want to go to, unless they are willing to pay a very substancial portion of the price of a new stadium they aren't going anywhere since they aren't getting the financial backing from the state and city based on the overall current published comments from the politicians. That could change of course but I don't see that happening right now with everything going on in D.C. impacting individual states and cities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WBWSF Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 Its going to cost at least $900 million for the infrastructure for the 78. They are not going to spend that for 20 Chicago Fire soccer games. The 78 needs the White Sox at that location. The $900 million will come from the TIF funds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptatc Posted July 17 Share Posted July 17 4 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: Until and unless the owners agree to open their books to an independent auditor (like they did in 1994 and swore they would never do that again after that person showed how they were cooking the books to show losses) we will never really know what is going on. I did see a story yesterday where the Braves who do have to open their books because they are publicly owned pulled in over 650 million dollars in revenue last year from the team and the entertainment district that they own. No reason to open the books until the union agrees to a cap and/or floor that is a percentage of revenue. Even then its league wide not necessarily per team. They lose bargaining power if they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 37 minutes ago, ptatc said: No reason to open the books until the union agrees to a cap and/or floor that is a percentage of revenue. Even then its league wide not necessarily per team. They lose bargaining power if they do. Oh I know the owners will never again agree to open their books, I'd suggest under ANY circumstances. Just like the MLBPA will never agree to a salary cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 54 minutes ago, WBWSF said: Its going to cost at least $900 million for the infrastructure for the 78. They are not going to spend that for 20 Chicago Fire soccer games. The 78 needs the White Sox at that location. The $900 million will come from the TIF funds. Stranger things have happened but keep in mind the Fire owner said he'd pay for the new stadium himself. Which is something the Sox have not said they would do... not even say they'd contribute a substancial amount towards it. Based on published comments from politicians that is a deal breaker par excellence. Unless that happens a new stadium is a dream for the Sox. (And no they aren't moving to Portland, Montreal, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Nome, London, Istanbul or Calcutta...😆) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 8 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: Which is why the Sox want to leave 35th. And many other teams want to follow what the Braves did. I doubt there's a MLB team out there that thinks the key to future financial success is to have the stadium surrounded by acres of parking lots. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45392359/2025-mlb-ballpark-village-truist-park-battery-atlanta-future-business-cities-build Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 Hitmen Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 (edited) 5 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: Understandable although Ishbia may also want to buy and develop the land around the current park and remove some of the parking lots. But regardless of where the Sox try to go to, or want to go to, unless they are willing to pay a very substancial portion of the price of a new stadium they aren't going anywhere since they aren't getting the financial backing from the state and city based on the overall current published comments from the politicians. That could change of course but I don't see that happening right now with everything going on in D.C. impacting individual states and cities. 4 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said: Stranger things have happened but keep in mind the Fire owner said he'd pay for the new stadium himself. Which is something the Sox have not said they would do... not even say they'd contribute a substancial amount towards it. Based on published comments from politicians that is a deal breaker par excellence. Unless that happens a new stadium is a dream for the Sox. (And no they aren't moving to Portland, Montreal, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, New Orleans, Nome, London, Istanbul or Calcutta...😆) I think it's pretty clear to everyone that the only way the Sox are getting a new stadium is if they pay most, if not all, of it themselves. However, unlike with Reinsdorf, it's not out of the question to think that the Ishbias would indeed do that. We just don't know because they have said anything publicly about it one way or another. And yes, they could also decide to buy and develop the parking lots around the current park. I think that's the LEAST they will do moving forward. Edited July 18 by 77 Hitmen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldsox Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 What is the main flaw in current facility, other than the fact that the lease is about to expire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 1 hour ago, oldsox said: What is the main flaw in current facility, other than the fact that the lease is about to expire? -It is universally thought of as one of the most underwhelming facilities in baseball, typically residing in the bottom three. -There is no aesthetic or beauty to the park. -There is only game day revenue from inside the park, as there is literally zero to do besides a game in the area. -They absolutely did nothing to take advantage of their location within Chicago to emphasize the view or skyline. -The commonly held belief is that the area it is isn't safe, despite the neighborhood around Wrigley having a higher crime rate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 16 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said: -It is universally thought of as one of the most underwhelming facilities in baseball, typically residing in the bottom three. -There is no aesthetic or beauty to the park. -There is only game day revenue from inside the park, as there is literally zero to do besides a game in the area. -They absolutely did nothing to take advantage of their location within Chicago to emphasize the view or skyline. -The commonly held belief is that the area it is isn't safe, despite the neighborhood around Wrigley having a higher crime rate. I think all of this is true, but... I honestly think if there was a world where they stick there it eventually becomes a 'classic' park. It was never a p.o.s. like Oakland, and could feasibly become worn in in a nice way. And bridgeport around there really is becoming nice. The large parking lots which most sox fans love are the biggest hinderance to an amusement area around the park. I wish it wasn't so outlandish to stay in a perfectly functional park, but obviously I'm a big fan of the 78 as a way to help reconsolidate some of chicago toward the loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dam8610 Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 On 7/16/2025 at 2:02 PM, 77 Hitmen said: Maybe if I had a shred of hope of the Sox being good again in the next 3 or 4 years (we already have a 6 page thread about that), I'd actually share in this "ominous" feeling. As it stands, I'm not going to lose sleep over it because IMO, my favorite team has been unwatchable for going on 3 years now with no end in sight by 2027. Exactly, lock it out until Reinsdorf doesn't own the Sox for all I care. Get a salary cap, and eliminate all the "small market teams need a competitive advantage" bullshit that exists now. Make the cap also have a floor like the NFL, only preferably a stricter floor (90% each year rather than 85% on a 5 year rolling average), and if any owner complains about not being able to make a profit under those conditions, force them to sell. Make Jerry spend money until he wants to sell the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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