CHICAGO | Will the Sox leave US Comiskular Rate Field?

[nomarandlee]

I like the idea of a downtown(sh) ballpark, but I hope they revisit the plans and locate it near the north side of the 78 off Roosevelt. It just seems to make more sense logistically, given that from the corner of Roosevelt/Clark, it is .20 miles to the Roosevelt L station.

There is a slew of off-site parking near Roosevelt/Canal, only .30 miles across the current viaduct. It is only a 1.15-mile walk from the Daley Center compared to a 1.50-mile walk if located near Clark/15th. Plus, I don't think the future 5k residents would love having the glare of the stadium lights shining in their windows nor much of the foot traffic wandering through the neighborhood on their way back north towards Roosevelt (which will serve as the main thoroughfare for the stadium regardless of where it is located at the 78). Having the stadium above grade on the north end would also make it easier to put below-grade parking and operations under a stadium plaza near the outfield gates connecting off of Roosevelt.

Also, I think the visibility of it being off Roosevelt is better from a promotional point of view than being tucked away in the southern section of the 78. A plaza off of Roosevelt wrapping around the ballpark would also provide a much more seamless graded transition to Wells Street.

[Klippenstein]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

I like the idea of a downtown(sh) ballpark, but I hope they revisit the plans and locate it near the north side of the 78 off Roosevelt. It just seems to make more sense logistically, given that from the corner of Roosevelt/Clark, it is .20 miles to the Roosevelt L station.

There is a slew of off-site parking near Roosevelt/Canal, only .30 miles across the current viaduct. It is only a 1.15-mile walk from the Daley Center compared to a 1.50-mile walk if located near Clark/15th. Plus, I don't think the future 5k residents would love having the glare of the stadium lights shining in their windows nor much of the foot traffic wandering through the neighborhood on their way back north towards Roosevelt (which will serve as the main thoroughfare for the stadium regardless of where it is located at the 78). Having the stadium above grade on the north end would also make it easier to put below-grade parking and operations under a stadium plaza near the outfield gates connecting off of Roosevelt.

Also, I think the visibility of it being off Roosevelt is better from a promotional point of view than being tucked away in the southern section of the 78. A plaza off of Roosevelt wrapping around the ballpark would also provide a much more seamless graded transition to Wells Street.

The biggest problem with that idea is the rock island metra line would be going right under it making everything more complicated including utilizing below grade spaces.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Klippenstein

The biggest problem with that idea is the rock island metra line would be going right under it making everything more complicated including utilizing below grade spaces.

I thought about that. You may be right. I was unsure where exactly the RI tracks should start their descent according to the current plans. I figure that wherever you put the ballpark, the RI line grade separation will have to be part of the project and run under the ballpark, given that I don't think the ballpark will be able to be built except over the RI line.

I figure why not start the below-grade rail separation a bit further north than planned (perhaps even starting at the Roosevelt Collection) so it can clear under the ballpark if it was situated on the north end.

[Busy Bee]

edit

[BruceP]

Personally, I don't care what they do as long as they honor all their financial obligations to the state for their current playlot and don't get a dime in government monies for a new one. Let these billionaire club owners pay for their for-profit toys out of their own pockets.

[MorganChi]

Dave kapland who covers all of Chicago sports and who has a morning show on ESPN 1000 says he has a close source that works in white Sox organization. The source tells him the stadium is pretty much a done deal. As a bulls and bears fan I can tell you Dave Kaplan’s sources are always on the mark.


https://youtu.be/9Mi5IbBymDA

[Steely Dan]

This all seems to be happening so fast.

But hey, I'm 100% in support of the sox staying in Chicago instead of going to fucking Nashville or sunbelt wherever.

There's only one city in the world that has both an old school national League team and an old school American league team still playing in their original city.

Let's pray to Pizza God that it stays that way.

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by MorganChi

Dave kapland who covers all of Chicago sports and who has a morning show on ESPN 1000 says he has a close source that works in white Sox organization. The source tells him the stadium is pretty much a done deal. As a bulls and bears fan I can tell you Dave Kaplan’s sources are always on the mark.


https://youtu.be/9Mi5IbBymDA

Oh boy.

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by MorganChi

Dave kapland who covers all of Chicago sports and who has a morning show on ESPN 1000 says he has a close source that works in white Sox organization. The source tells him the stadium is pretty much a done deal. As a bulls and bears fan I can tell you Dave Kaplan’s sources are always on the mark.


https://youtu.be/9Mi5IbBymDA

Perhaps, but the financing and who will pay are likely not settled. There is no universe I can think of where JR will not be asking for some substantial public handout. I just don't see the same man who strongarmed the city and state by threatening to move to Sarasota, suddenly turning around his modus Operandi.

[BrickellBased]

Something rather amusing about how the adjacent NIMBYs were complaining about the casino pitch may now be getting a MLB stadium instead.

I assume they'd redo the dank Roosevelt Red Line there as well and there'd be a considerable facelift to the surrounding area.

Also if they break ground for sure I could see this resulting in a development boom in the South Loop area - maybe even giving hope to a NEMA II.

In the interest of all skyscraper nerds, I say build it!

[k1052]

If the city/state is going to spend the money to keep a team this is immeasurably better than an NFL stadium. Hopefully this forecloses the possibility helping the Bears out in any real way.

[bnk]

Curious if the sox do move what the plan would be with the current field they play at. Tear it down? Repurpose? The sox had problems filling that stadium unlike Wriggley. Since there are so many less sox fans than cubs fans they are going to need a winning team to fill it.


https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life...d-school-park/

The White Sox Need a New, Old-School Park
Guaranteed Rate Field was built right before the retro ballpark movement, and it lacks the cozy atmosphere that could make it a destination.

BY EDWARD ROBERT MCCLELLAND
JANUARY 25, 2024, 1:15 PM

[lakeshoredrive]

Originally Posted by bnk

Curious if the sox do move what the plan would be with the current field they play at. Tear it down? Repurpose? The sox had problems filling that stadium unlike Wriggley. Since there are so many less sox fans than cubs fans they are going to need a winning team to fill it.


https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life...d-school-park/

The White Sox Need a New, Old-School Park
Guaranteed Rate Field was built right before the retro ballpark movement, and it lacks the cozy atmosphere that could make it a destination.

BY EDWARD ROBERT MCCLELLAND
JANUARY 25, 2024, 1:15 PM

Would Chicago Fire be interested? Could the park be retrofitted into a soccer stadium?

[DalronJ]

This would probably become my favorite project ever if this can be done right. I'm going to keep dreaming for

- Riverline & Southbank to fully complete
- A Bears Stadium/Dome on the level of SOFI built on/near the Soldier Field Site
- One Central
- Some type of train transit to connect all of these together, maybe even with the convention center also. (A Loop in the south loop)
- Also wouldn't mind a soccer venue somewhere in the downtown vicinity.

[Busy Bee]

^Was thinking the same thing. Might be a better fit. The stadium would probably need to be half demolished to reconfigure it though.

[nomarandlee]

New images inside....Looks pretty darn dope. Love how the outfield lets out to the neighborhood. Very cool.

https://wgntv.com/sports/white-sox/f...ark-in-the-78/

First time renderings revealed of White Sox proposal for a new ballpark in the 78
by: Tahman Bradley, Eli Ong, Jenna Barnes, Michael Johnson

Posted: Feb 7, 2024 / 05:25 PM CST

....In the article, Hinz said Reinsdorf is reportedly eyeing the same financial source from the ISFA for a potential new baseball stadium in the South Loop, and it’s not clear if ISFA funds from an existing 2% tax on Chicago hotel revenues would be sufficient to cover both projects.....

Bill Jackson, executive director of Discovery Partners Institute, told the Sun-Times he’s heard the White Sox have interest in The 78 and that a new ballpark and the institute would work well together sharing the land.

However, a Chicago developer familiar with the property and requesting anonymity told the Sun-Times the institute has been trying to get out of the deal and that there wouldn’t be enough room for both the institute and a new ballpark within The 78, anyway.

But veteran Chicago-based stadium consultant Marc Ganis disagreed with that assessment, telling the Sun-Times that about 12 to 14 acres would be required to build a baseball-only stadium that seats 35,000 or so, plus another three acres for a parking structure that would hold around 7,000 cars.....

[Steely Dan]

Dope.

As.

Hell.




But money?????????????

[CaptainJilliams]

*

[BVictor1]

https://www.chicagobusiness.com/spor...ect-renderings


Might as well post the renderings. All Credit: Related Midwest

[MorganChi]

Maybe this where they can meet at the high school playoff game