I know there was a thread a few months ago about it. I couldn't find it. Either way, we were discussing should the Sox look to move their stadium to a more desirable, centralized location. Many people thought the old PO would be a perfect place, but some millionaire in Europe was sitting on the property.

 

Well, it looks like it's finally for sale. Should JR pounce on it? Personally, I feel like moving there would create more interest and you would get a lot more people coming to the games, even when they stink. Then again, will the state ever allow them to leave the Cell before 2030?

 

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2014/12...up-for-sale.php

I know there was a thread a few months ago about it. I couldn't find it. Either way, we were discussing should the Sox look to move their stadium to a more desirable, centralized location. Many people thought the old PO would be a perfect place, but some millionaire in Europe was sitting on the property.

 

Well, it looks like it's finally for sale. Should JR pounce on it? Personally, I feel like moving there would create more interest and you would get a lot more people coming to the games, even when they stink. Then again, will the state ever allow them to leave the Cell before 2030?

 

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2014/12...up-for-sale.php

He can't afford it.

They would have to latch onto a broader development goal in order to pull it off.

I definitely want to see a new stadium some time within the next decade.

I definitely want to see a new stadium some time within the next decade.

If it's within the next 10 years they are no longer the Chicago White Sox.

I definitely want to see a new stadium some time within the next decade.

It won't be for the White Sox. Their lease runs another 15 seasons. It is a sweetheart lease. They make money just about every year. No reason to spend probably billions now.

They would have to latch onto a broader development goal in order to pull it off.

 

What do you have in mind?

It won't be for the White Sox. Their lease runs another 15 seasons. It is a sweetheart lease. They make money just about every year. No reason to spend probably billions now.

 

Even if it means, broadening the fanbase? Getting more people to go in the stadium. Hell, do a multi-purpose venue so you can also hold concerts there.

Even if it means, broadening the fanbase? Getting more people to go in the stadium. Hell, do a multi-purpose venue so you can also hold concerts there.

So JR should build a concert venue that competes with his other building? Besides, he isn't getting out of that lease, and why would he want to? And if he found some way to break it, why would the entity he just screwed, help him with his new project? There is more to building a stadium than just the stadium. It isn't going to happen.

 

There is a better chance Scherzer and Kershaw are added to the rotation, and Puig is in LF for the 2015 White Sox.

 

Stadiums cost $1 billion or more these days. If they can't afford a $120 million payroll, how do you afford financing that?

Edited December 13, 201411 yr by Dick Allen

It won't be for the White Sox. Their lease runs another 15 seasons. It is a sweetheart lease. They make money just about every year. No reason to spend probably billions now.

 

I know, I just hate the Cell compared to Comiskey. It's funny that the guy who designed The Cell went on to design Camden Yards. We know who got the better end of that.

I know, I just hate the Cell compared to Comiskey. It's funny that the guy who designed The Cell went on to design Camden Yards. We know who got the better end of that.

JR was offered the Camden design. He turned it down. He is a smart man but made a huge mistake there. If you want a tasted of Camden, sit in the Club Level. After the renovation, that level in both parks is nearly identical.

Even if it means, broadening the fanbase? Getting more people to go in the stadium. Hell, do a multi-purpose venue so you can also hold concerts there.

Eventually they are going to develop the crap out of the old PO, maybe the White Sox somehow get on board with a plan to turn it into some mixed entertainment venue (think Navy Pier). Other than that? Forget about it.

 

You should really forget about seeing the Old PO or some of those large empty fields in the South Loop developed for a while.

So JR should build a concert venue that competes with his other building? Besides, he isn't getting out of that lease, and why would he want to? And if he found some way to break it, why would the entity he just screwed, help him with his new project? There is more to building a stadium than just the stadium. It isn't going to happen.

 

There is a better chance Scherzer and Kershaw are added to the rotation, and Puig is in LF for the 2015 White Sox.

 

Stadiums cost $1 billion or more these days. If they can't afford a $120 million payroll, how do you afford financing that?

 

he can more than afford the 120 million payroll. he just want the attendance to equal

the payroll.

I know there was a thread a few months ago about it. I couldn't find it. Either way, we were discussing should the Sox look to move their stadium to a more desirable, centralized location. Many people thought the old PO would be a perfect place, but some millionaire in Europe was sitting on the property.

 

Well, it looks like it's finally for sale. Should JR pounce on it? Personally, I feel like moving there would create more interest and you would get a lot more people coming to the games, even when they stink. Then again, will the state ever allow them to leave the Cell before 2030?

 

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2014/12...up-for-sale.php

 

can you imagine the built in fan base???

 

hell yeah.

he can more than afford the 120 million payroll. he just want the attendance to equal

the payroll.

 

I was about to say this. They're not going to take the huge risk of adding 100 mil to the payroll if attendance has been bad the previous 3 years. They're doing the on the field/fan thing right. Build gradually, and when needed, do the spending.

I was about to say this. They're not going to take the huge risk of adding 100 mil to the payroll if attendance has been bad the previous 3 years. They're doing the on the field/fan thing right. Build gradually, and when needed, do the spending.

 

yeah if the timeline will give the team to do so, but when the sox have 4-6 players

starting their prime. JR will need to step that timeline up temporarily. put in an

additional 20-30 mil in jack the payroll up to that. the team going into the new season

will be able to play / win and the fans will more than come out.

If the Sox got a new stadium, what kind of stadium would you want it to be? A stadium more geared towards hitters or pitchers? Or what stadium would you want it to be like?

That property is worth at least 100 million dollars, if not more. It will become mixed use office and retail space, with condos likely thrown in.

If the Sox got a new stadium, what kind of stadium would you want it to be? A stadium more geared towards hitters or pitchers? Or what stadium would you want it to be like?

I think the goal is neutral. It doesn't always work out that way.

With the Expressway running underneath, it is hard to envision a baseball stadium being built on top.

 

With the Expressway running underneath, it is hard to envision a baseball stadium being built on top.

 

that will be one architectural greats. i can imagine the fans coming just for the

shear wonderment of experiencing it.

that will be one architectural greats. i can imagine the fans coming just for the

shear wonderment of experiencing it.

and it'll cost BILLIONS to build.

 

The reason why it hasn't been developed after the USPS left is because the cost to convert the site to ANY use is extremely expensive. The demolition costs alone are more than a top flight pitcher on the free agent market.

 

I love U.S. Cellular Field and the easy ride in from the SW Burbs. Leave it alone.

It won't be for the White Sox. Their lease runs another 15 seasons. It is a sweetheart lease. They make money just about every year. No reason to spend probably billions now.

 

When was the last time any owner invested in a stadium. There's tax payers to fleece.

 

So you want a guy who is relatively frugal as MLB owners go, to spend $100M+ on a property, to try to pull off an architectural miracle (fitting a stadium a hundred feet above true ground, hovering over an expressway, and abutting a river) and a multi-BILLION dollar stadium, when the one he has was just renovated and is only 25 years old?

 

And in an environment where Illinois and Chicago government weren't even willing to chip in on the Wrigley project?

 

Come on now. Let's re-join reality.

 

Now, I could see the Sox owners as a consortium trying to find a south loop or west loop property big enough and simply buy the land speculatively, to sit on for now. Rates are low, property prices have recovered but are still not at their previous peak. Might be worth the offset of property tax costs for undeveloped land. Maybe.

 

But even then, they won't be planning to build for a very long time. Decades really. So even that is unlikely.